Category Archives: Architecture

Save Pawtucket’s Ott Mansion

Posted on February 10, 2024 by David Brussat

The headline of this post is the same as when I wrote it as my weekly column for the Providence Journal in 2008. The Read-Ott Mansion was at a most dire risk of demolition then, and remains so now. Its … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Architecture History, Preservation, Rhode Island | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Best trad buildings of 2023

Posted on January 26, 2024 by David Brussat

It is past time for my annual roundup of best buildings from 2023. I confess, the time blew right past me. Maybe it is not too late now, but I am too busy (and lazy) to wrap it all up … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture | Tagged , , , , , | 9 Comments

Gaza as we’ve never seen it

Posted on January 15, 2024 by David Brussat

I occasionally devote a blog to cities devastated by war or natural disaster, showing how beautiful the place used to be (and to some extent may still be) as disaster consumes its ancient buildings. In most cases, the allure of … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture | Tagged , , , , | 11 Comments

Behold, NYC’s Tudor City

Posted on January 11, 2024 by David Brussat

I had lunch today (by now, yesterday) at Maven’s, a newly opened Jewish delicatessen in that plaza just off Hope Street as it becomes East Avenue, in Pawtucket. I’ve eaten there once before with my wife, Victoria – delicious, though … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Architecture History | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

Losing Providence, bit by bit

Posted on December 12, 2023 by David Brussat

The Downtown Design Review Committee met a couple of days ago to consider applications to demolish a couple of buildings on Chestnut Street and Richmond Street in the Jewelry District. I looked them up to see whether I should be … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Development, Preservation | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

Don’t demo this sad trio

Posted on November 27, 2023 by David Brussat

Someone has it in for a row of decent old houses on Angell Street. Specifically, they are Nos. 209, 211 and 217. They should be preserved. Their preservation should be second nature at every level of policy in Providence. Yet … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Development, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Attack on downtown beauty

Posted on November 15, 2023 by David Brussat

Providence Mayor Smiley has smudged a frown on the beauty of downtown. He has demolished the decorative brick and stonework at the intersection of Westminster and Dorrance streets. This is the intersection, part of former Mayor Paolino’s excellent redesign of … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Anacostia waterfront in D.C.

Posted on November 1, 2023 by David Brussat

I grew up in Washington, D.C., and probably gained my affection for classical architecture from its grand public spaces. I went off to college and upon my return found a striking new waterfront along the Potomac River, parallel to M … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

100 mill for a new archives?

Posted on October 18, 2023 by David Brussat

The committee seeking a new home for the Rhode Island State Archives left wiggle room on whether to erect a new building for that purpose across Smith Street from the State House. It seemed from yesterday’s discussion in the Library … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , | 9 Comments

Attack on Wickenden St.

Posted on October 16, 2023 by David Brussat

Thayer Street lost its character over the past two or three decades, as Providence and Brown shrugged their shoulders when “the Main Street of Brown University” saw its carriage trade and mom & pop shops ousted in favor of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments