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Tag Archives: classical architecture
EO: The two paths ahead
The draft executive order that is stirring within the Trump administration is forcing classicists in the field of architecture to choose one of two paths forward. The path that goes through the E.O., if it is not already throttled in … Continue reading
Posted in Architecture
Tagged classical architecture, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Donald Trump, General Services Administration, Henry Hope Reed, ICAA, Institute of Classical Architecture & Art, Making Federal Buildings Beautiful Again, McKim Mead & White, Modern Architecture, National Civic Art Society, Penn Station, Sir Roger Scruton, Washington DC, World's Columbian Exposition
19 Comments
America’s favorite buildings
For its 150th anniversary, the American Institute of Architects commissioned a double-blind survey of American citizens to discover their favorite American buildings. To the dismay of the AIA, which is modernist to the core, the survey confirmed what everyone already … Continue reading
Parsing classical creativity
The proposed executive order encouraging classical architecture for federal buildings in Washington and elsewhere, if adopted by President Trump, would replace Kennedy-era guidelines that have encouraged modern architecture for federal buildings since 1962. Enough time has passed to declare modern … Continue reading
Readings on the exec. order
Here is a list of readings, pro and con, from newspapers and magazines, plus original source material, to help readers judge the wisdom and validity, such as they may be, of the draft proposed executive order from the White House … Continue reading
Unify in the fight for beauty
The draft executive order to encourage classical architecture for federal buildings in Washington and elsewhere has shifted the world of architecture on its axis. Patrick Webb, a teacher of ornamental plastering at the American College of Building Arts in Charleston, … Continue reading
Posted in Architecture, Urbanism and planning
Tagged American College of Building Arts, classical architecture, Donald Trump, Draft Executive Order, Hitler, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Making Dystopia, Making Federal Buildings Beautiful Again, Modern Architecture, Nazis, Patrick Webb, The Man in the Glass House, Third Reich, TradArch
7 Comments
Gone fishing, be back soon
Those who have wished me the best* have my heartfelt thanks, but please, let us not forget what I was really fishing for – examples of new traditional architecture completed during this past year of 2019. As a reminder, I … Continue reading
Lessons of the Berlin Wall
Yesterday was the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Many lessons have been learned, but this post will not, of course, comment on its geopolitical takeaways. Instead, and briefly, I hope a useful parallel can be drawn … Continue reading
Scruton’s architecture school
There’s much in the air these days about architecture school. British students have petitioned for architecture schools across the pond to do a better job teaching how architecture school can be more relevant to climate change. Sir Roger Scruton has … Continue reading
Hunting the Bristol baluster
Some collections grow slowly. My collections of miniature buildings and of historical balusters are moribund. I have about twenty or thirty of the little buildings (gathered mostly on overseas trips) and two balusters – one from the Rhode Island State … Continue reading
Posted in Architecture, Rhode Island
Tagged Baluster, Balustrade, Bristol RI, classical architecture, John Brown House, Linden Place, Rhode Island State House, RISD
6 Comments
Reverse landscape of despair
Understandably, an overlooked part of the debate about architecture is the ease of moving back to tradition in building cities and towns. My blog on Friday, “Modern architecture is killing us,” quoted extensively from James Howard Kunstler’s essay “The Landscape … Continue reading
