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.

Down to the Big Apple

We are heading by Amtrak down to New York City on a four-day vacation. If I can’t figure out how to post to this blog while I’m away, I will post when I get back. Meanwhile, here’s a view of … Continue reading

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RISD alumni fair, Benefit St.

Here are some random shots of Benefit Street – Providence’s “Mile of History” – during the annual alumni art fair at RISD (riz’-dee, the Rhode Island School of Design). This was just before my Jane’s Walk, which was loads of … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Art and design, Photography, Providence | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

This old neighborhood

A modest modernist house a Raleigh, N.C., historic district has all of Christendom up in arms. Paul Goldberger has ridden to the defense of the couple, the Cherrys (he’s an architect), who are building the house, arguing that the city’s … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Massengale Square, Addis Ababa

An inside joke, to be sure, but check this out and then ask whether local planners have stocked up on “Street Design” yet. A major intersection in the capital of Ethiopia.

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Bulfinch entries by June 30

June 30 is the deadline for submitting work for the Fifth Annual Bulfinch Awards, established in 2009 by the New England Chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art. Eligible for the award are works in New England by architects with … Continue reading

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Column: Warren speaks truth to preservation

Ocean State preservationists gathered on Saturday in Warren to celebrate pride in preservation, the theme of the 29th annual conference of the Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission. It rained on their parade but not on Warren’s robust sense of … Continue reading

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Blast past: A Warren warning

During Saturday’s preservation conference in Warren, while listening to speaker Mark Fenton remind us that Warren fended off a Walgreens long ago, I was reminded of a column I wrote in 1997 about how the megadrugstore tried to plop one of its pug-uglies … Continue reading

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Gdansk after a rain

Gdansk, Poland (from a set of very lovely photographs sent by e-mail with no apparent address).

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My upcoming Jane’s Walk

My first Jane’s Walk, one of seven in Providence May 2-4, takes place this coming Saturday. It is free and open to the public. Jane’s Walk is an annual global city touring festival in which citizens volunteer to guide tours … Continue reading

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Painted girl evolves

Here, courtesy of Gizmodo.com, is an intriguing stop-action video of a girl, a dozen or more cans of paint and a camera. Very amusing, and delicious. She’s a lovely girl, apparently named Elvis, and I post this under the rubric … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Art and design, Humor | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments