Author Archives: David Brussat

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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.

Imagine AIA’s neighborhood

Posted on April 20, 2015 by David Brussat

Then there’s this! Here are the 10 award-winners for 2015, just announced by the American Institute of Architects. Imagine throwing them together into a “neighborhood” alongside the winners of the AIA’s previous decades’ worth of residential design competitions. Consider how … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Development, Humor, Landscape Architecture | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

College Hill places fourth

Posted on April 20, 2015 by David Brussat

GoLocalProv.com posted a story this morning ranking College Hill as the “fourth most beautiful neighborhood in America.” The website Thrillist.com published the list, and ranked Boston’s Beacon Hill as No. 1. It’s hard to argue with that. But Thrillist cast … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Architecture History, Art and design, Providence, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Belle Beaux-Arts Academy

Posted on April 19, 2015 by David Brussat

The demand for education in classical art and architecture is growing faster than the need can be accommodated. That is good news. Better news would be the growth of existing schools of design where classical beauty is taught, and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Architecture Education, Art and design, Video | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Dredging? Yes, dredging!

Posted on April 18, 2015 by David Brussat

Yes, dredging. The view above depicts Waterplace Park’s basin at low tide yesterday afternoon. I got a call from Joan Slafsky, among the city’s most “connected” citizens, who helps keep WaterFire running. She promising a surprise if I showed up … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Architecture History, Development, Humor, Providence, Rhode Island, Urbanism and planning, Video | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Outpost of beauty at I’On

Posted on April 17, 2015 by David Brussat

Northeast of Charleston, over the Ravenel Bridge across the Cooper, in the town of Mount Pleasant, is the curiously named I’On, named for a historic personage of South Carolina. It is worthy of the name – quaint, charming, beautiful, historic … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Architecture Education, Architecture History, Art and design, Development, Urbanism and planning, Video | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Pleasant PawSox palace

Posted on April 17, 2015 by David Brussat

I see little reason after a half-season of public discussion of the plan to move the Pawtucket Red Sox to a proposed stadium in downtown Providence to get off the fence. A more detailed plan was released by the new … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art and design, Development, Providence, Rhode Island, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , | 12 Comments

Capturing Charleston charm

Posted on April 16, 2015 by David Brussat

Here are more than a few photos of Charleston. There are none of the city’s beautiful civic buildings on this post. Instead, I’ve tried to reveal the breadth of ornamental elegance in all of its 50 shades of great, from … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Architecture History, Art and design, Development, Landscape Architecture, Photography, Urbanism and planning, Video | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Trading TradArch trash talk

Posted on April 14, 2015 by David Brussat

The gloves came off at TradArch on Sunday, not in the least a day of rest but one on which a host of disputes were engaged. Nothing was resolved, or was likely to be resolved. Each time a voice rang … Continue reading →

Posted in Architects, Architecture, Architecture Education, Architecture History, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , | 20 Comments

Fisticuffs at garden party?

Posted on April 12, 2015 by David Brussat

Not yet! This reporter can state categorically that no roundhouse punches were signed, sealed or delivered at yesterday evening’s TradArch garden party, in Charleston, at least none that William Hazlitt would feel obliged to discuss in a latter-day version of … Continue reading →

Posted in Architects, Architecture, Architecture Education, Architecture History, Art and design, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Crank up the cliche machine

Posted on April 10, 2015 by David Brussat

I am reprinting Denver architect Jeff Sheppard’s reply to my reply to his reply to my post because my host, WordPress.com, supplies no avenue to continue discussions beyond two or three levels, depending on how you count. In Growing dull … Continue reading →

Posted in Architects, Architecture, Architecture Education, Architecture History, Art and design, Development, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments