Tag Archives: City Journal

Bad language/bad buildings

Posted on June 14, 2021 by David Brussat

There is a difference between language and architecture. Language, to riff off the saying attributed to Talleyrand, aims to disguise the absence of thought; whereas architecture aims to express the thoughtlessness of fatuous design. The critic Theodore Dalrymple, a retired … Continue reading →

Posted in Art and design | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Comparing Italy and Britain

Posted on March 11, 2020 by David Brussat

What makes a good society? Part of the answer is good architecture. Yet the good that is done by good architecture reaches well beyond beauty. Good architecture does much to create the conditions in which health, prosperity and happiness grow. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Save the Frick Music Room

Posted on November 18, 2019 by David Brussat

Boards of institutions always seem to want to do more for the institution than the institution needs. And whenever a board proposes to do something, it is normally more than is judicious, often a lot more – a unwitting attack … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Catesby Leigh on Penn Sta.

Posted on April 3, 2018 by David Brussat

The National Civic Art Society, in Washington, has named the critic Catesby Leigh, one of its co-founders and early board chairmen, as its research fellow for 2018-2019. This salutary honor will enable Leigh to continue studying the phenomenon of monuments, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Berlinski: Sacking of Paris

Posted on February 25, 2018 by David Brussat

Claire Berlinski’s masterful summary of the sad situation in Paris is out in the latest City Journal under the title, “The Architectural Sacking of Paris.” I am looking also for Joe Queenan’s no doubt hilarious essay “London Beats Paris in … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Development | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The uses of preservation

Posted on January 12, 2018 by David Brussat

“The Uses of Corruption” is an essay by Theodore Dalrymple published in the Summer 2001 issue of City Journal, the quarterly of the Manhattan Institute. Dalrymple is a British sociologist and commentator who argues that Italy is more prosperous and … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Fix in on worse Ike Gehry

Posted on May 31, 2017 by David Brussat

Catesby Leigh, writing in City Journal, reports the terrible news about the Frank Gehry designed proposal for an Eisenhower memorial. The formerly skeptical Eisenhower family now backs it. President Trump now backs it. In his proposed 2018 budget, Trump throws … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Vote’s “style wars” tea leaves

Posted on November 9, 2016 by David Brussat

It’s hard to say, to say the least, what, if anything, Donald Trump’s victory may mean for architecture. It is easier to imagine that a Hillary Clinton win would have meant more of the same for how we build. Trump … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Time to redo Lincoln Center

Posted on July 29, 2016 by David Brussat

The Future Symphony Institute has reprinted on its website three plans to rebuild Lincoln Center, published in the autumn 2000 issue of City Journal, the quarterly of the Manhattan Institute. “A New Lincoln Center,” though or in fact because it … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Allan Greenberg’s classicism

Posted on June 5, 2015 by David Brussat

While the contagion of “global architecture” today dilutes the individual character of our cities, turning them into bland collections of interchangeable buildings, we now have voices offering a fresh choice: classical architecture based on local traditions and ideals. With the … Continue reading →

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