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Category Archives: Architecture History
Thos. Gordon Smith, R.I.P.
Classical architect Thomas Gordon Smith died peacefully in his sleep near the South Bend, Ind., campus of the University of Notre Dame, age 73. His many admirers have adorned pages with encomiums to his commitment to classical architecture, to its … Continue reading
Posted in Architecture, Architecture History
Tagged 1980 Venice Biennale, classical architecture, General Services Administration, Gordon Bock, GSA Chief Architect, Marika Smith, Modern Architecture, School of Architecture, Thomas Gordon Smith, Traditional Building, Trump Executive Ordeer, University of Notre Dame
19 Comments
Providence now and then
Among the most fascinating places I’ve recently discovered on the web is the Instagram site of Mike Ferguson, which takes new photographs of Providence and places them next to one or more old photographs of what used to be there. … Continue reading
Do people really feel beauty?
I recently received an interesting comment from a frequent visitor to my blog. John the First, as he styles himself, quoted from my January 31 post, “Learn more about classicism,” that “Europeans are surrounded by beauty.” He wrote: I live … Continue reading
Posted in Architecture, Architecture History
Tagged architecture, Beauty, Belgium, Ghent, Henry Hopse Reed, The Golden City
15 Comments
Before the London fire, 1666
An engraver by trade, John Thomas Smith trod this earth two centuries ago (1766-1833), and was also known as “Antiquity Smith.” He etched buildings in London that had survived the Great Fire of 1666, many of which were being demolished … Continue reading
Lost Providence still giftable
Lost Providence, by yours truly, would make a great gift for anyone keen on the history of Providence, the blessing of traditional architecture, or the bane of modern architecture. Or, dear reader, get it for yourself. Most bookstores in Providence … Continue reading
A view of Providence in 1808
The Rhode Island Historical Society yesterday displayed its amazing 1809 drop curtain, owned by the society since 1833 and depicting the town as it appeared in 1808, twenty years before the Providence Arcade was built in 1828. It is thought … Continue reading
Why the folks hate the mods
Mark Lamster’s The Man in the Glass House continues to offer up examples of Philip Johnson’s dislikeability, many of which amount to reasons why people dislike modern architecture. The following passage comes after Lamster has described how Johnson struck out … Continue reading
Lessons of the Berlin Wall
Yesterday was the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Many lessons have been learned, but this post will not, of course, comment on its geopolitical takeaways. Instead, and briefly, I hope a useful parallel can be drawn … Continue reading
Architecture Here and There 