Tag Archives: Making Federal Buildings Beautiful Again

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 →

Posted in Architecture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Trads trash mods in new poll

Posted on October 22, 2020 by David Brussat

Now would not seem to be the moment for convergence on a major cultural issue in America. Division is everywhere. And yet a new survey by the Harris Poll, done for the National Civic Art Society, shows an overwhelming public … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Today: Panel on classical EO

Posted on October 19, 2020 by David Brussat

Today at 2 p.m., a distinguished panel on the proposed White House executive order “Making Federal Buildings Beautiful Again” will be held in Washington. The panel, with Justin Shubow of the National Society of Civic Art, Philip Bess of Notre … Continue reading →

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

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 →

Posted in Architecture | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

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 →

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

E.O. to protect the statues

Posted on July 16, 2020 by David Brussat

After he spoke at Mount Rushmore to celebrate Independence Day, Donald Trump signed an executive order to protect public statuary, to reconstruct statues damaged or destroyed by vandals in the weeks leading up to the president’s oration, and to create … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art and design | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

A preview of the E.O. era?

Posted on June 13, 2020 by David Brussat

At the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, which oversees the aesthetic evolution of the federal district in Washington, D.C., a battle over renovations to the Federal Reserve Building, 1937, designed by Paul Philippe Cret in a stripped classical style, hints … Continue reading →

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

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 →

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

EO: The two paths ahead

Posted on March 4, 2020 by David Brussat

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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments