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Friday, April 22, 2011
REDACTED: The Rodney Dangerfield Of Architecture & Urbanism
"NEW URBANISM is the most important phenomenon to emerge in American architecture in the post-Cold War era" Herbert Muschamps wrote in the New York Times in 2004. So how come the movement can't get no respect? Muschamps himself never said anything good about it again. In fact, he actively worked behind the scenes to keep New Urbanists off the short list in the competition to redesign Ground Zero.
[REDACTED - I'm tired of the esoteric ideologues]
April 22, 2011 in Architecture, Classicism, Culture, Current Affairs, New Urbanism, New York, Urbanism | Permalink
Comments
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The vehimence of some of this commentary reflects a genuin fear that modernism's dominance is waning. Polite society would consider many of these reactions as some what unhinged. As for the Guardian and their Billy Graham bit, I might wager there's some cultural envy being disguised as snobbery. It's all quite pathetic when you look at the myriad of real problems the New Urbanists have sought to address.
Thanks for taking the time to call out this boorish behavior. To the well informed, results will always out shine rhetoric.
Posted by: Thayer-D at Apr 25, 2011 7:55:29 AM
The AIA are the main perpetrators of this schoolyard bullying and have been for decades. They frame the narrative and endorse (enforce?) regimentation under the guise of novelty. RIBA is no different.
Architects who won't toe the line are to be shunned.
Posted by: Costa, Angelique at Apr 28, 2011 5:55:26 PM
I have to say that the National AIA can be quite sympathetic and helpful, and I am an AIA member. I also know some sympathetic officers at the local chapter.
I've redacted the post since I was uncomfortable even repeating some of the attacks, so maybe I should just take the post down.
Posted by: john at Apr 28, 2011 5:59:18 PM
Heck...it is an ugly, ugly city experiencing serious de-inudstrialization and some of the grimmest lowest common denominator commercial architecture I have ever seen, but why blame Fort Wayne, Indiana for mud wresetling? (My hometown). The Wikipedia article doesn't mention any one source. heck, the French love it too! :)
Posted by: Brian M at May 5, 2011 7:28:07 PM
