Category Archives: Development

The Granoff showdown

Posted on December 11, 2014 by David Brussat

At Wednesday evening’s meeting of the Blackstone Neighborhood Organization, at the Central Congregational Church, some attendees reported they’d seen surveyors at the Granoff estate. This suggests that Paula and Leonard Granoff may attempt to complete their supposedly incomplete application for … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Development, Preservation, Providence, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Disproportion by definition

Posted on December 10, 2014 by David Brussat

Above is my promised second reclining nude by Ingres, “The Sleeping Odalisque,” to be delivered after responses to my post “Naked proportion.” My promise to post another reclining nude by Ingres was slowed down by an apparent insufficiency of response. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art and design, Development, Humor | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Placemaking under siege

Posted on December 9, 2014 by David Brussat

Audun Engh, of INTBAU, the International Network of Traditional Building, Architecture and Urbanism, recently sent to TradArch readers an update by Ellie Violet Bramley on the work of Jan Gehl, the pioneer of city livability. Bramley’s article in the Guardian, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Development, Preservation, Providence, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

South Street Seaputz?

Posted on November 21, 2014 by David Brussat

Why does no one seem upset that the venerable South Street Seaport, in New York City, is about to be zapped and tricked out as a squat Miesian glass box, courtesy of SHoP, one of the world’s worst architectural firms? … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Architecture History, Development, Preservation, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Victory in Charleston

Posted on November 19, 2014 by David Brussat

On the heels of a major setback for modernism’s assault on Paris – its city council voted narrowly against it on Monday – comes an even bigger victory against a similar assault in Charleston, S.C., where Clemson University has withdrawn … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Architecture Education, Development, Preservation, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Character versus reputation

Posted on November 19, 2014 by David Brussat

Last night’s City Plan Commission meeting over the fate of the Granoff estate pitted the Blackstone Neighborhood Association’s lawyer, Bill Landry, against the Granoff’s lawyer, Tom Moses, a former director of the city’s planning office. Does the law require more … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Development, Preservation, Providence, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Wisdom of the Bulfinch

Posted on November 18, 2014 by David Brussat

Last week I attended the fifth annual ceremony at Charles Bulfinch’s Massachusetts Statehouse honoring the awards named in his honor by the New England chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art. The usual crowd of people was there … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art and design, Development, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Good news from Paris!

Posted on November 18, 2014 by David Brussat

Bravo! The city council of Paris has voted narrowly to reject the proposal for a skyscraper in the city center. Le Tour Triangle, designed by Herzog & de Meuron, lost an 83 to 78 vote. Mayor Hidalgo, a Socialist, immediately … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Development, Other countries, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

A city’s steepled horizon

Posted on November 17, 2014 by David Brussat

Shot these photos after penning a strategy for the beautification of Providence that ran last Monday, Nov. 10, at GoLocalProv.com (where I now do a weekly column). The basic thrust of the plan requires the demolition of the city’s 10 … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Development, Photography, Preservation, Providence, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Girding against the Granoffs

Posted on November 11, 2014 by David Brussat

A neighborhood meeting I had thought might blow up in anger last night instead displayed a steely determination to resist a sneaky subdivision of the Granoff estate behind a stone wall at Blackstone Boulevard and Rochambeau Avenue. Last week’s meeting … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Architecture History, Development, Landscape Architecture, Preservation, Providence, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment