Category Archives: Architecture History

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 →

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An idea for visual pushback

Posted on February 16, 2015 by David Brussat

Architecture, along with almost every other major human endeavor outside of food and music, is largely visual in its effect. Traditional architects rely on the appeal of their work to the eye as they try to push back against the … Continue reading →

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Restore Macintosh’s GSA

Posted on February 15, 2015 by David Brussat

I am pleased and indeed almost amazed that Rowan Moore, the Guardian’s architecture critic, has emerged in favor of restoration of the Macintosh Library that was the greatest loss in the fire last May at the Glasgow School of Art, … Continue reading →

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‘The Hidden Light of Objects’

Posted on February 14, 2015 by David Brussat

The fragility of culture, even of culture wrought in the hardness of masonry, is one of the themes of the ten short stories in Mai Al-Nakib’s first book, The Hidden Light of Objects. The second story, “Echo Twins,” is set … Continue reading →

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The human classical genome

Posted on February 13, 2015 by David Brussat

Nathaniel Walker, newly minted architectural historian and professor of same at the College of Charleston, recently joined the TradArch list and launched into debate on the vital issues facing architecture’s future. In discussion with others on the list, who were … Continue reading →

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Save the Yale Club!

Posted on February 12, 2015 by David Brussat

The title above could as easily have been “Save the Roosevelt Hotel!” or for that matter “Save Grand Central Terminal!” “Save the Chrysler Building!” might also be apt. Or it could be “All is lost!” … “Or maybe not!” could … 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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Buda + Pest = Budapest x 3

Posted on February 7, 2015 by David Brussat

Here are three videos of Budapest, “Gay and Beautiful Budapest” from 1938 of 10:28 minutes in length; the second a Rick Steves travel TV episode from 2004 of 26:08 minutes; and, finally, from 2014, “AMAZING Walking Tour!!!” of the Hungarian … Continue reading →

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Grr! Paul Rudolph cat fight

Posted on February 2, 2015 by David Brussat

Goshen, N.Y., is up in arms again as the city enters a new phase of combat over saving the Orange County Government Center (1967), designed by iconic modernist Paul Rudolph in the Brutalist style. Most of the public wants it … Continue reading →

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