Category Archives: Art and design

Betsky waxes nostalgic

Posted on December 4, 2015 by David Brussat

Aaron Betsky, regular columnist of Architect, mouthpiece of the American Institute of Architects, sees, in “Starchitects: The Next Generation,” the old guard of modern architecture being muscled aside by a new guard, who are winning big commissions and beginning to … Continue reading →

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A boulevard, not a highway

Posted on December 3, 2015 by David Brussat

The next big Providence project for a city that has seen many might be to turn the old Route 6/10 connector into a boulevard. The Providence Journal reports that the state’s transportation authorities seem surprisingly receptive to the idea as … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art and design, Development, Landscape Architecture, Providence, Rhode Island, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Kitsch or not too kitsch?

Posted on November 28, 2015 by David Brussat

The question of kitsch has arisen often in discussions of architecture. A house whose classical portico is not backed up by the orders in the rest of its makeup might be kitsch. Or a house whose classical portico is backed … Continue reading →

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Long competition shortlist

Posted on November 27, 2015 by David Brussat

Aside from repeating the headline that the World Architecture Festival’s shortlist for World Building of the Year 2015 is way too long, there’s not much to say for this year’s candidates. Nor even a lot to say against them. Most … Continue reading →

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Why Angry Birds are angry

Posted on November 26, 2015 by David Brussat

You think the three television networks are the same? Not so! Last year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was broadcast by NBC and this year CBS got the job. What a difference a network makes! So yes, the Angry Birds have … Continue reading →

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What is architecture about?

Posted on November 25, 2015 by David Brussat

Stephen Fry, celebrated British actor and humorist best known on this side of the pond for his portrayal of Jeeves, manservant to Bertie Wooster in the TV series Jeeves and Wooster, published his first novel, Liar, in 1991, which also … Continue reading →

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AIA artist exposes mods

Posted on November 23, 2015 by David Brussat

  Above on this page, Chicago illustrator Lauren Nassef reinterprets everyday objects that have become symbolic and, rendered as speculative buildings, could be iconic. Please don’t sue her. The passage appears at the end of an article in Architect, the … Continue reading →

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Descent from red to green

Posted on November 22, 2015 by David Brussat

This “charming” video is difficult to resist, and will resonate, perhaps, with drivers everywhere, especially in big cities. Although I myself am strikingly immune to the phenomenon of road rage, driving in Providence seems to grow increasingly akin to the … Continue reading →

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Our Downcity walkabout

Posted on November 21, 2015 by David Brussat

On a clear, modestly chilly evening that just about defines New England in November, hundreds were out on the streets of downtown Providence. No doubt thousands more were inside on the seats of downtown’s robust round-robin of local restaurants and … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Architecture History, Art and design, Preservation, Providence, Uncategorized, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Diss the Chicago Biennial!

Posted on November 19, 2015 by David Brussat

Architectural personages have been mulling the Chicago Architectural Biennial. It is the first such extravaganza to be held in the World Capital of Architecture. Chicago is also the Windy City. That comment is an example of “deep structure,” or meta … Continue reading →

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