My friend Steve “The Philatecstatic” Mields has sent me more “First Issue” envelopes, this time celebrating the 100th anniversary of the American Institute of Architects. They are not as funny as the first-issue envelopes of the American Planning Association, with their silly engravings of suits dreaming up ways to uglify the built environment. Yet this sort of thing always raises eyebrows among those who recognize how the celebrated organizations have evolved over time. The packet of envelopes was sent by Steve in a 4×8 inch manila envelope half covered with 15 of the AIA stamps. These had nothing to say about how the AIA has ditched the one form of capital in favor of the other, which may or may not be a capital but is certainly not capital. There is also a 33¢ stamp, popped to the right just below the 3c stamps, of the United Nations with the motto “International Style of Architecture.” Chuckle if you wish.
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About David Brussat
This blog was begun in 2009 as a feature of the Providence Journal, where I was on the editorial board and wrote a weekly column of architecture criticism for three decades. Architecture Here and There fights the style wars for classical architecture and against modern architecture, no holds barred.
History Press asked me to write and in August 2017 published my first book, "Lost Providence." I am now writing my second book.
My freelance writing on architecture and other topics addresses issues of design and culture locally and globally.
I am a member of the board of the New England chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art, which bestowed an Arthur Ross Award on me in 2002.
I work from Providence, R.I., where I live with my wife Victoria, my son Billy and our cat Gato.
If you would like to employ my writing and editing to improve your work, please email me at my consultancy, dbrussat@gmail.com, or call 401.351.0457.
Testimonial: "Your work is so wonderful - you now enter my mind and write what I
would have written."
- Nikos Salingaros, mathematician at the University of Texas, architectural theorist and author of many books.
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