Category Archives: Architects

Polemicists in pen and ink

Posted on February 28, 2015 by David Brussat

Someone recently twitted me for displaying on my blog beautiful drawings of a proposed new Boston City Hall designed (and illustrated) by Aaron Helfand. My correspondent said the building might not look as nice as the drawing when it is … Continue reading →

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“My Modernist Parents”

Posted on February 27, 2015 by David Brussat

What would it be like as a 7-year-old to have “modernist architects” for parents? The film Me and My Moulton answers that question. Inspired by director Torill Kove’s growing up in Norway under the roof of such a species, the … Continue reading →

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Corbusier invades New York

Posted on February 20, 2015 by David Brussat

Le Corbusier, a founder of modern architecture, traveled in 1935 on his first trip to America. A Frenchman born in Switzerland, he thought New York City would receive him like a god and was mistaken. Here I am pleased to … Continue reading →

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“Design for a Living Planet’

Posted on February 18, 2015 by David Brussat

In their newly published book, subtitled “Settlement, Science and the Human Future,” authors Michael Mehaffy and Nikos Salingaros argue that human well-being, indeed survival here on Earth, requires replacing our overly mechanized, technologized way of life with patterns of living … Continue reading →

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

Imber’s nimble AIA tag

Posted on February 16, 2015 by David Brussat

Architect Michael Imber is well known among classicists in America. His practice in Texas ranges from classicism touched with a coy creativity to a Mission style elegantly reflecting its Southwest influences. He has become increasingly perturbed at the state of … Continue reading →

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PoMo in revival mod(e)?

Posted on February 10, 2015 by David Brussat

It was sort of a meh moment for me to learn a few moments ago that the Portland Building, the postmodernist icon by postmodernist starchitect Michael Graves, will be preserved. News a year or so ago of its proposed demolition … Continue reading →

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Parsing fraud and timidity

Posted on January 29, 2015 by David Brussat

Two examples of modern architecture in deep perspiration came across my desk today. First came Robert Ivy‘s tremulous three minutes of AIA video advice – “Hello, everyone. This is Robert” – to rattled architects, and second came Norman Weinstein‘s fraudulent … Continue reading →

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‘Legendary’ Moshe Safdie

Posted on January 28, 2015 by David Brussat

Actual text from the Boston Design Guide Blog: Legendary architect Moshe Safdie recently won the 2015 Gold Medal from the American Institute of Architects for his 85 amazing, awe-inspiring futuristic designs. If Moshe Safdie is a legend, then what does … Continue reading →

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Betsky at Taliesin . . . Duck!

Posted on January 26, 2015 by David Brussat

Amusing to hear that modern architecture’s ranter-in-chief, Aaron Betsky, has been hired as dean of the School of Architecture at Taliesin West – in Scottsdale, Ariz – where Frank Lloyd Wright spent his final years as an architectural provocateur. How … Continue reading →

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Klaustoon klaustrophobia

Posted on January 23, 2015 by David Brussat

I’ve just put Klaustoons on my “Blogs I Follow” list. Here are two, one about the Walkie-Scorchie by Rafael Viñoly, who did the Birdshitcatcher Building (the Watson Center) on Thayer Street in Providence, and the other about Rem Koolhaas. The … Continue reading →

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