Category Archives: Book/Film Reviews

“Never fear, Prov. is here!”

Posted on October 20, 2015 by David Brussat

Apropos of apparently nothing in particular beyond the sheer deliciousness of it, the Providence Journal’s longtime food critic Gail Ciampa wrote a piece in today’s paper on movies where Rhode Island scenery shines. “Check it out: Five Hollywood movies that … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Architecture History, Art and design, Blast from past, Book/Film Reviews, Humor, Providence, Providence Journal, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Monopoly, Hasbro, P’tucket

Posted on July 3, 2015 by David Brussat

Now that the film Monopoly has been announced by the game’s owner, Hasbro, headquartered in Pawtucket, R.I., one can imagine where it might be shot. Of course, the street names that make up the most memorable aspect of the game … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art and design, Book/Film Reviews, Humor, Rhode Island, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Enigmatic at Bletchley Park

Posted on June 3, 2015 by David Brussat

My ongoing investigation of the alleged widespread dislike of Victorian architecture at some point in the past – which I dispute – led me to this passage from Enigma, by Robert Harris, a novel about the quest to decipher the … Continue reading →

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For Rhode Islanders only

Posted on April 30, 2015 by David Brussat

The trailer for Woody Allen’s movie Irrational Man, filmed on location in Rhode Island, is out. Here it is, released by Sony Picture Classics. Release date is July 24. Let’s see how many places we Rhode Islanders can identify! (Don’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Book/Film Reviews, Rhode Island, Video | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Beam me up, Alex!

Posted on March 31, 2015 by David Brussat

Boston Globe columnist Alex Beam recently saw “Look Up!” – the TV ad beamed around the country by the American Institute of Architects. In his latest piece, “Look up, there is a problem with architecture,” he seems not to have … Continue reading →

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Last wooden bridge in Prov.

Posted on March 30, 2015 by David Brussat

In an excellent online post for the Providence Journal, photographer Sandor Bodo notes the demise and, more recently, the removal of the last wooden river bridge in Providence. It is called “Documenting the fall of Providence’s last wooden river bridge,” … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Architecture History, Book/Film Reviews, Development, Preservation, Providence, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

At the Ecole des Beaux-Arts

Posted on March 28, 2015 by David Brussat

Friday evening’s lecture by Margot Ellis at the College Club of Boston about Americans in Paris, the book she wrote with Jean Paul Carlhian about the American students at L’École des Beaux-Arts, was a marvel to behold – as is … Continue reading →

Posted in Architects, Architecture, Architecture Education, Architecture History, Art and design, Book/Film Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

“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 →

Posted in Architects, Architecture, Art and design, Book/Film Reviews, Humor | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Architecture is qualiadelic

Posted on December 6, 2014 by David Brussat

My brother, who lives in Oregon, has just published a book. It delves into the most intimate and profound aspects of ritual, and how engaging with one’s own patterns of ritual creatively can improve one’s life, and open one’s mind … Continue reading →

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Column: The mathematician vs. the modernists

Posted on September 4, 2014 by David Brussat

Science and modern architecture have gone hand in glove for decades. Buildings of steel and glass are filled with high technology to protect office space and living space from sun and climate. Hermetically sealed cartoon futurism must be scientific, right? … Continue reading →

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