National News Spring2003
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docomo mo national news spring 2003 INSIDE PUERTO RICO’S TROPICAL MODERNISM WELCOME, p. 2 The buildings and natural landscape of the University of DOCOMOMO 2004 CONFERENCE, p. 3 Puerto Rico—Río Piedras, embody Hispanic tradition, the principle root of Puerto Rican culture. They are symbolic of CHAPTER UPDATES, p. 3 the permanent presence of that tradition and of the con- stant struggle to preserve and extend it. The campus has been the cradle of ideas, initiatives, and plans of Puerto Rico’s coming of age politically, socially and economically. Its architecture heralded the fusion of modernism with the CONFERENCES tropical climate of the Island. With the general loss of many significant structures from the recent past, conserving the Society of Architectural Historians, architecture and open spaces of the campus is of great 56th Annual Meeting, Denver, importance. Colorado, April 23–27 Although founded in 1903, the first 20 years after the second World War saw the greatest physical growth of the SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AACUPR, 28th Annual California Preservation campus, when the Hispanic Revival style was discarded in FACULTY CENTER, UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO, HENRY KLUMB, 1948. Foundation Conference, Santa favor of a modern vision of Puerto Rico. The new architec- ings. He created a tropical modernism for Puerto Rico using Barbara, California, April 24–27 ture of this period was the product of an innovative archi- horizontality, spaciousness, and a fluidity of space, promot- tect, Henry Klumb, who worked on the master plan and many ing natural ventilation and illumination. Klumb’s buildings AIA 2003 National Convention and buildings between 1945–1965. Klumb arrived in Puerto Rico were the first to bring international attention to the campus, Exposition: “Design Matters,” after emigrating to the United States and working with Frank appearing in Progressive Architecture, Architectural Forum, San Diego, May 8–10 Lloyd Wright. His campus master plan aligned new buildings Interiors, AIA Journal, and Fortune Magazine, among others. orthogonally to the original quadrangle. Beyond this quad- The Student Center is his most significant work on APT International Annual Conference: rangle Klumb generated a new rotated organizational grid campus. Designed in 1948, it is one of the ten best modern “21st Century Preservation— more in keeping with the dictates of the hot, humid tropics. buildings in Puerto Rico. It embodies his design fundamen- Conservation and Craftsmanship,” The 26 buildings that Klumb designed, 19 of which were tals: liberty of movement, continuity between interior and Portland, Maine, September 17–20. built, were radically distinct from the original campus build- continued on page 5 EXHIBITS Windshield: Richard Neutra’s House for the John Nicholas Brown Family Carnegie Museum of Art - The Heinz Architectural Center, Pittsburgh, PA March 1 to May 11 In Our Time: Modernism in Litchfield 1949–1970, Litchfield, CT, April 11– November 30 (see article, p. 9) DOCOMOMO US contact information: E-mail: [email protected] Mail: P.O. Box 230977 New York, NY 10023 AACUPR, SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AACUPR, www.docomomo-us.org STUDENT CENTER, UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO, HENRY KLUMB, 1948. MODERN MINNEAPOLIS: ALWAYS NEW, NOW AT RISK WELCOME Throughout the twentieth century, Minneapolis. The library complex fea- Sadly, though, floors have been filled Minneapolis took pride in always look- tured a straightforward form-follows- in beneath the suspended central sec- ing to the future, and always wanting function arrangement: a multistory tion, grounding the once graceful what was newest. One unfortunate cube for books, reading rooms and structure. result was that early preservationists offices; a lower section with an audito- A few miles to the south, Michael were regarded as Luddites, and met rium and bookstore, and beneath a Graves has reconsidered a kitschy addi- DOCOMOMO US was founded seven with little success. This mindset, how- jewel-box dome, a planetarium. The tion to the 1974 wing of the Minneapolis years ago at a time when interest in ever, produced some great modern wrecking crew was hard at work all Institute of Arts by Kenzo Tange. The the preservation of modern architec- buildings. Today, preserving ornamen- winter. Photographs can be viewed at wing is an elegant, minimalistic design ture was limited. We have since grown tal buildings from the late-nineteenth www.mplib.org/ncl_demo.asp. added to the original McKim, Mead, and to have members and chapters and early twentieth centuries is seen While the library finishes fundrais- White museum. Graves has scaled back around the country providing advice, as progressive, while some Streamline ing for its new building on the same his proposal—commissioned by the scholarship and action on both Moderne designs are still scorned by site and awaits completion of plans by Minneapolis Children’s Theatre—cover- national and local preservation the old guard and more recent struc- Cesar Pelli, limited library operations ing less of the wing, and adopting more issues. Chapters are active in New tures are viewed with apathy. have moved to the “old” Federal subtle coloration than his earlier England, Northern California and the The preservation battle over Ralph New York tri-state region; Chicago, Rapson’s 1963 Guthrie Theatre is an Seattle and Philadelphia. New chap- exception. The energetic group of ters are starting in Dallas, Puerto Rico musicians, architects, and other and the South East region. activists behind the Save the Guthrie DOCOMOMO US is unique as a organization have generated a stimu- preservation organization because it lating debate about the merits of pre- is interested not only in advocacy, serving the structure. Its listing on the but also in scholarship, preservation National Trust for Historic Preser- technology and design. Recognizing vation’s “Eleven Most Endangered List” the responsibilities of a growing put a national spotlight on the contro- organization—and the need to main- versy. Theater advocates have hired tain this unique character—the Board AMS Planning and Research to conduct of DOCOMOMO US recently adopted a a reuse study to counter the reuse new strategic plan. One of our first study produced by the Walker Art CHARLENE ROISE endeavors is to bring out a national Center, which plans to demolish the GUTHRIE THEATER, MINNEAPOLIS, RALPH RAPSON, 1963 newsletter more regularly. Broadening Guthrie. Ultimately, the current eco- our website is also a part of our plan. Reserve Building. Ironically, this mod- version. Sketches of the new design are DOCOMOMO US is one in a network ern landmark designed by Gunnar on the theater’s web site and give a of 45 national organizations that “A CENTRAL SECTION IS SUSPENDED Birkerts and built between 1968 and glimpse of the Tange wing. make up DOCOMOMO International. No BY A GIANT CATENARY ARCH 1972 has recently received question- Threats to other Modern buildings other preservation organization able modifications. The unique struc- appear on a regular basis. Even with brings together local, national and DRAPED BETWEEN TWO TOWERS” ture has a suspended central section the depressed economy, the rate of international membership. Linking to supported by a giant catenary arch change in Minneapolis remains swift, an international network serves two nomic downturn might prove to be the draped between two towers. A devel- and mid-twentieth-century buildings important purposes for the US group. most potent preservation tool. The oper recently bought the building, and are usually swept aside with little It brings fresh perspective to the dis- Guthrie Theater organization has been added a forty-foot-deep addition to thought. As the twenty-first century cussion of regional preservation planning a move to a new location, but the back. The addition adopted materi- progresses, it will be interesting to see issues and generates international is having difficulty raising needed als and massing that complement the when citizens wake up to the impor- attention to the preservation of inter- funds—especially critical state bonds. original building, and its understated tance of this period. nationally known buildings in the With Minnesota’s deficit pegged at well design keep it clearly subservient. —Charlene Roise United States. This status, as a over $4 billion, bonds to help the regional, national and international theater are not a high priority for organization, will culminate in the many legislators. Fundraising for the VIIIth International DOCOMOMO Walker’s expansion is also rumored to Conference to be held in New York be slow. The status quo might be the City in 2004. This is a very ambitious only option. For the latest updates, undertaking for what is still primarily visit www.savetheguthrie.org. a volunteer organization. (see p. 3). While the Guthrie has elicited pas- We hope you will continue to sionate support, the demolition of support DOCOMOMO US while partici- another mid-century landmark pating in local and regional activities received nearly universal approval. as well as the 2004 International Only a few brave preservationists Conference. dared suggest that the Minneapolis —Theo Prudon Public Library (McEnary and Krafft, President, DOCOMOMO US 1958–1961) deserved a second look. The library and its plaza occupied a city block fronting a pedestrian and bus CHARLENE ROISE corridor in the heart of downtown FEDERAL RESERVE BUILDING WITH THE LOWER FLOORS FILLED IN, MINNEAPOLIS, GUNNAR BIRKETS, 1972 DOCOMOMO-US/SPRING 2003/2 DOCOMOMO/US