Tag Archives: Notre Dame

Learn more about classicism

Posted on January 31, 2021 by David Brussat

Alexis de Tocqueville discovered, during his visit to our country in the early 1830s, that we Americans form more associations to pursue civic goals than in Britain or, I suppose, in France, his native land, else he would not have … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Architecture Education | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 15 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 →

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“Building Notre Dame”

Posted on May 1, 2020 by David Brussat

PBS has broadcast a brilliant documentary, “Building Notre-Dame,” on the construction, over some 800 years, of the cathedral in Paris. We all know that the building arose as the cutting edge of architecture in the Middle Ages, and that a … Continue reading →

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

A threat to Europe’s beauty

Posted on January 4, 2020 by David Brussat

Modernists are trying to reverse trends in cultural-heritage preservation by subtle interventions in several key conservation standards of the European Union. Writing from Norway, Audun Engh of the International Network for Traditional Building, Architecture & Urbanism (INTBAU) warned me today … Continue reading →

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

Future of buildings revealed

Posted on July 14, 2019 by David Brussat

Nir Buras, founder of the Washington chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art, sent out to the Pro-Urb (New Urbanist) discussion group an article from the BBC that has much to say about buildings and which of them … Continue reading →

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Posted in Architecture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

People’s Notre-Dame contest

Posted on July 8, 2019 by David Brussat

GoArchitect offers “The People’s Notre-Dame Design Contest,” supposedly as distinct from the international design competition announced by France after the cathedral fire in April. So far as I can tell, the announcement has not been followed up officially with a … Continue reading →

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While Our Lady is restored

Posted on May 14, 2019 by David Brussat

The as yet officially unannounced international design competition on how to repair Notre-Dame de Paris after her extensive damage by fire has already spawned a number of predictably ridiculous proposals. One would replace the roof with a swimming pool intended, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Flèche of Viollet-le-Duc

Posted on April 21, 2019 by David Brussat

The lost spire of Notre-Dame must be rebuilt, but how? An international design competition has been announced to decide how to rebuild it, whether as it was or as “adapted to techniques and challenges of our times.” These last are … Continue reading →

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

Notre Dame redivivus?

Posted on April 16, 2019 by David Brussat

Notre Dame lives! Monday was pure concentrated stress and sadness – the horror! – watching the spire teeter and fall, then seeing the fire creep along what remained of the roof toward the betowered west façade, and then, as flames … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

The path now against Fane

Posted on December 14, 2018 by David Brussat

The Providence City Council has overridden Mayor Elorza’s brave veto of a bill to allow developer Jason Fane to proceed with a tower that plainly violates city zoning law. The building would no longer violate the height limit for Parcel … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Development | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments