Tag Archives: Executive Order

Mandating beauty in Britain?

Posted on February 4, 2021 by David Brussat

How thrilling to read that Great Britain’s housing ministry has just issued a proposal to bring beauty and the public more to the forefront of planning and design decisions on the Sceptered Isle. Is this a “mandate” for beauty? Certainly … Continue reading →

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Betsky on classical popularity

Posted on December 26, 2020 by David Brussat

Before I applaud modernist critic Aaron Betsky’s kind words for classical architecture in the wake of the Harris Poll confirming its popularity, let me note, also with approval, the even more recent article by critic Kriston Capps, entitled “Why Trump’s … Continue reading →

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E.O. just signed by Trump

Posted on December 21, 2020 by David Brussat

I have just now learned that the draft executive order on federal architecture that was leaked last April has today been signed by President Trump. “Making Federal Buildings Beautiful Again” is now entitled “Promoting Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture.” I see … Continue reading →

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Confusion to Trump’s E.O.?

Posted on November 27, 2020 by David Brussat

“Confusion to Boney” was a toast raised by the British Navy in the Napoleonic era. No doubt “Confusion to Trump’s E.O.” is a toast raised today by modernists fearful of the president’s draft executive order favoring classical styles for federal … Continue reading →

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Architecture and the ballot box

Posted on November 2, 2020 by David Brussat

Few votes are likely to be influenced by a post on the eve of Election Day, but architecture will be heavily influenced by the vote. If Donald Trump wins, classical architecture will receive a boost. On the other hand, if … Continue reading →

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Animal spirits of the E.O.

Posted on September 3, 2020 by David Brussat

The General Services Administration, which designs, builds and maintains all federal buildings, has issued a pair of RFQs (Request for Qualifications) for architects to design two federal courthouses, one in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and another in Huntsville, Ala., in a … Continue reading →

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Amend GSA’s guidelines?

Posted on July 31, 2020 by David Brussat

After February’s leak of the draft executive order to prefer traditional design for federal architecture, many architects, including some classicists, worried that classicism would be hurt by any proposal linked to President Trump. Now, on the heels of a congressional … Continue reading →

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Tradition vs. modernism

Posted on July 22, 2020 by David Brussat

Bring it on. Legislation has just been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to block a proposed executive order that would replace a mandate favoring modernist styles for federal buildings with a new and better mandate favoring traditional styles. … Continue reading →

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Melania’s tennis pavilion

Posted on April 20, 2020 by David Brussat

It will be of some modest good cheer for most readers of this blog to learn that a classical tennis pavilion is under construction in the back yard of the White House. The project has been led by First Lady … Continue reading →

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