Monthly Archives: June 2014

Blast: Memories of Seaside

Here is a column I did after visiting Seaside, Fla., the first showcase project of the Congress for the New Urbanism: If only we could clone Seaside December 13, 2001 SEASIDE, Fla. JAMES KUNSTLER writes of approaching Seaside, on Florida’s … Continue reading

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Blast: CNU in Providence (2)

Here is the second of those two columns: The New Urbanists in Providence II June 8, 2006  THE QUESTION most asked at last week’s 14th Congress for the New Urbanism was: If style doesn’t matter, why are we always discussing … Continue reading

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Blast: CNU in Providence (1)

The lengthy thread called “CNU is burning” began on the TradArch listserv with architect David Rau’s ringing expression of concern that the Congress of the New Urbanism, which recently met in Buffalo, is opening its doors too widely to modern … Continue reading

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An ecclesiastical mood

Something of an agnostic myself (and a Jewish one, to boot), I used to take my son to various churches not to give him a taste of theology (he was only 2 then, and we lived near Grace Church in … Continue reading

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Palladio the Erroneous

Along with Calder Loth, in his latest essay for the Classicist Blog at the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art, I mean no disrespect to Andrea Palladio, the 16th Century architect and teacher of classicism. His influence on architecture has … Continue reading

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Blast from past: Casino at Waterplace

Back when a casino was proposed for the Rhode Island town of West Greenwich, I wrote a column that bears rereading in light of the proposal to turn the Newport Grand slots shed into a genuine casino. By the way, … Continue reading

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Column: Newport Grand: Guffaw or grandeur?

  The appliqué of classical elements to the shed that once housed Newport’s jai alai fronton may take the cake in the sweepstakes for the world’s most ridiculous architectural renovation. Newport Grand, with its big red “S-L-O-T-S” sign emblazoned on … Continue reading

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Union Studio enchantment

The sketch above really threw me for a loop a while back, during the evolution of the 257 Thayer St. project, when Gilbane Properties (or Development) gave the flawed original design to Union Studio Architects in downtown Providence. I visited … Continue reading

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Gilbane politely objects

Robert V. Gilbane of Gilbane Properties is developer of residential apartments at 257 Thayer St., a new building that replaces nine old houses, which are gone. Construction has begun on the building. Bob objected to my portrayal, in last week’s … Continue reading

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Henry Hope Reed live!

Henry Hope Reed, who passed away last year, spoke to an audience a decade ago about the architecture of the U.S. Capitol at the National Building Museum in 2004, just before the publication of his excellent book on that building. … Continue reading

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