Monthly Archives: November 2015

Kitsch or not too kitsch?

Posted on November 28, 2015 by

The question of kitsch has arisen often in discussions of architecture. A house whose classical portico is not backed up by the orders in the rest of its makeup might be kitsch. Or a house whose classical portico is backed … Continue reading →

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Long competition shortlist

Posted on November 27, 2015 by

Aside from repeating the headline that the World Architecture Festival’s shortlist for World Building of the Year 2015 is way too long, there’s not much to say for this year’s candidates. Nor even a lot to say against them. Most … Continue reading →

Posted in Architects, Architecture, Architecture Education, Art and design, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Why Angry Birds are angry

Posted on November 26, 2015 by

You think the three television networks are the same? Not so! Last year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was broadcast by NBC and this year CBS got the job. What a difference a network makes! So yes, the Angry Birds have … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Architecture History, Art and design, Books and Culture, Development, Humor, Urbanism and planning, Video | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

What is architecture about?

Posted on November 25, 2015 by

Stephen Fry, celebrated British actor and humorist best known on this side of the pond for his portrayal of Jeeves, manservant to Bertie Wooster in the TV series Jeeves and Wooster, published his first novel, Liar, in 1991, which also … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art and design, Books and Culture, Humor, Landscape Architecture, Photography, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

AIA artist exposes mods

Posted on November 23, 2015 by

  Above on this page, Chicago illustrator Lauren Nassef reinterprets everyday objects that have become symbolic and, rendered as speculative buildings, could be iconic. Please don’t sue her. The passage appears at the end of an article in Architect, the … Continue reading →

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Descent from red to green

Posted on November 22, 2015 by

This “charming” video is difficult to resist, and will resonate, perhaps, with drivers everywhere, especially in big cities. Although I myself am strikingly immune to the phenomenon of road rage, driving in Providence seems to grow increasingly akin to the … Continue reading →

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Our Downcity walkabout

Posted on November 21, 2015 by

On a clear, modestly chilly evening that just about defines New England in November, hundreds were out on the streets of downtown Providence. No doubt thousands more were inside on the seats of downtown’s robust round-robin of local restaurants and … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Architecture History, Art and design, Preservation, Providence, Uncategorized, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Diss the Chicago Biennial!

Posted on November 19, 2015 by

Architectural personages have been mulling the Chicago Architectural Biennial. It is the first such extravaganza to be held in the World Capital of Architecture. Chicago is also the Windy City. That comment is an example of “deep structure,” or meta … Continue reading →

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Let Adelaide be Adelaide

Posted on November 18, 2015 by

Adelaide, Australia’s fifth-largest city, gracing the continent’s southwestern quadrant, has almost 10 times the population of the city of Providence but the same perceived needs. Manufacturing having vamoosed (you can’t say headed south), Adelaideans seek to develop medical services and … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Architecture Education, Architecture History, Art and design, Development, Other countries, Preservation, Uncategorized, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Your best lost building here!

Posted on November 17, 2015 by

The other day I received an email from Edward Mack, an editor at The History Press, an imprint of Arcadia Publishing. You all know their books. The regional literature shelves of your local bookstore are struggling even now under the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Architecture History, Blast from past, Books and Culture, Development, Preservation, Providence, Providence Journal, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments