"How many more monuments to Trump's implacable vanity can we expect?" asks commenter

In this week's comments update, readers are discussing details of Trump's White House plans as the US president finishes demolishing the East Wing to construct a ballroom.

Originally built in the 1940s, Trump's demolition of the East Wing began on 20 October and was completed by 24 October, with plans in place for a neoclassical ballroom extension designed by McCrery Architects.

"Kitsch luxury, that's all" 

Many Dezeen commenters were outraged. "Just look at the 'golding' of the Oval Office and his attempt at Versailles in his new Trump tower apartment – it tells us everything we need to know about the illusions of this vulgar barbarian," scorned Tom Roberts.

Chuck Anziulewicz was similarly incensed, writing "I wonder how many more monuments to Trump's implacable vanity we can expect over the next three years".

"The architectural team probably went to Las Vegas to study and get inspired," suggested Milton Welch. Commenter Pdias was on the same page, calling it "kitsch luxury, that's all."

"Lovers of historic styles just witnessed an authentically historic structure being torn down," reflected JZ. "In its place will be a new structure, imitative of the same western classical forms, just way larger and possibly disproportionately so," they said.

However, on the other side of the argument, Chaos had nothing but praise, arguing "the new White House ballroom is a tour de force in design appropriately done by a local architecture office".

"It looks amazing – a much-needed space for bigger gatherings," they wrote, before suggesting that "a modern-looking (!) building would be highly inappropriate".

Meanwhile, The Discreet Architect took a more balanced view. "I don't have a problem with the overall concept or style, and I can support the use of a local architecture firm and a contextual response," they wrote.

However, they did say "I worry that it is too large in proportion to the main part of the White House".

Have you weighed in on the White House debate? Join the discussion ›

"An exceptionally detailed and beautifully executed project"

Another US project causing a stir in the comments section was Snøhetta's expansion of the Hopkins Center for the Arts at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, with two new cubic volumes added onto an existing 1960s building.

"I'm not usually a fan of Snøhetta's work, but this looks well considered and contextual," admitted AlfredHitchcock.

"An exceptionally detailed and beautifully executed project," commended ABruce.

But the project had just as many critics as it did admirers. For Harold G, there were "lots and lots of fussy and over-worked detailing, all competing for attention at the expense of creating a cohesive building as a whole."

On the same page, Portia S argued that "in pursuit of contrived details, Snøhetta lost sight of the bigger picture".

Which side are you on? Join the discussion ›

"Lovely brickwork and articulation on the extension"

Also getting readers talking this week was a Victorian house in London updated with an angular brickwork extension.

RK thought it was "busy for busy's sake", while Alfred Hitchcock felt "the new interventions have a curious, uncomfortable and jarring aesthetic considering this was once a characterful Victorian terrace that has had an unwelcome art-deco split-personality imposed on it."

Other commenters were more measured in their assessments. "Lovely brickwork and articulation on the extension, but some sloppy details are happening elsewhere in the house," wrote Eric.

"They had some good ideas here, but ultimately poorly implemented into this old house – another case of context not being considered within the concept," they concluded.

This was in direct opposition to Jb, who thought that "drawing on architecture of the context to create new and interesting forms has paid off here". Meanwhile, Aigoual simply thought that "the garden is spectacular."

Have you had your say? Join the discussion ›

Comments update

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