OCULUS on current architecture

The New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects Volume 44, Number 3, November 1982

Southwest tower of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine is sheathed in scaffolding in preparation for resuming construction after a hiatus of 41 years. page2 Oculus

Names and News

Volume 44, Number 3, November 1982 ago were apprenticed to cut stone for the purpose ... Peter C. Pran has joined The Grad Partnership as Oculus Director of Design and Associate of Editor: C. Ray Smith the firm ... Harold Francis Pfister has Managing Editor: Marian Page Art Director: Abigail Sturges been appointed Assistant Director of Typesetting: Susan Schechter Cooper-Hewitt Museum to succeed Christian Rohlfing, who is retiring ... The New York Chapter of Joseph M. Valerio of the University of the American Institute of Architects Wisconsin- School of 457 , Architecture and Urban Planning, and New York, New York 10022 Daniel Friedman, a graduate of the 212-838-9670 school, are the authors of Movie Pal,aces: Renaissance and Reuse George S. Lewis, Executive Director Cathanne Piesla, Executive Secretary published by Educational Facilities Laboratories . . . The National lnstitut~ Executive Committee 1982-83: for Architectural Education has Arthur I. Rosenblatt, President announced the following Fellowships Theodore Liebman, First Vice President for 1983: Lloyd Warren Fellowship 70th Richard Hayden, Vice President Paris Prize offering $25,100 in prizes Terrance R. Williams, Vice President for travel and/or study abroad, open to Alan Schwartzman, Treasurer participants who have a professional Doris B. Nathan, Secretary degree in architecture from a U.S. Joseph Bresnan F. Eric Goshow school of architecture or anticipate John A. Hagmann receiving one between June 1980 and Nancy A.T. Miao Tightrope walker Phillipe Pe tit carried a silver December 1983; William Van Alen Stuart K. Pertz trowel to Bishop Moore, waiting 150 fee t above Architect Memorial 12th Annual Mildred Schmertz the street to set the cornerstone of the tower in International Fellowship offering place. Photo: Stan Ries $25,100 in prizes for travel and/or NYC/AIA Staff study abroad, open to students Carol Jones Peter Eisenman and Dolores Hayden enrolled in an architectural or Jeannette Manzo are among the architects participating engineering school working toward a Eileen McGrath in the interdisciplinary Conference on professional degree; and a Traveling © 1982 The New York Chapter of Art and Architecture (see Calendar Fellowship in architecture of $5,000 the American Institute of Architects. Dec. 3-4) ... Der Scutt has been jointly offered b the NIAE and the commissioned to re-design the New American Academy in Rome, open to York Playboy Club building for the U.S. citizens who have or anticipate Corporate Headquarters of the receiving their architectural degrees George Lewis Resigning Hongkong and Shanghai Banking between June 1980 and June 1983. For Corporation ... Fumihiko Maki, information and official registration As Executive Director Kenneth Frampton, William H. White, forms: NIAE, 30 W. 22 Street, New and Herbert G. Gutman took part in a York 10010 ... Anthony T. Romeo has Some weeks ago George Lewis let it U.S.-Japan Symposium on Urban Life been appointed Director of Business be known that he would like to and Culture at Japan House last Development for Swanke Hayden relinquish the position of executive month ... Joseph D. Monticciolo was Connell to initiate, develop, and director, and it has been tentatively appointed to a five-year term on the supervise new business marketing set that this will happen in June at the State Board for Architecture by the programs conducted by the New York time of the annual meeting. A regents of the University of the State office. Swanke Hayden Connell also committee is being appointed. of New York, Albany ... Construction announced the establishment of offices on the cathedral of St. John the Divine in Washington, D.C. and New Orleans. was resumed after 41 years on ...The New York Landmarks September 29th with the setting of Conservancy is sponsoring a one-day the cornerstone of the cathedral's symposium on December 10th to southwest tower-a Gothic spire present the findings of a Sandstone designed by Ralph Adams Cram that Restoration Study commissioned by will eventually rise 152 feet over the the Conservancy ... Edgar Tafel present high point of the building. The received a special Honor Award last tower builders are some 24 month during the annual Forum of the neighborhood artisans who two years cont'd. p. 10, col 1 Oculus page3

Remodeling the Central Park Zoo

G/,ass colonnade, rep/,acing the present cafeteria, is intended to make a transition into the park.

The renovation of the Central Park physical facilities will enhance the scheme will be a glass-covered Zoo is part of an overall plan approved environment for its inhabitants as well colonnade supporting a wood trellis­ last fall by the Board of Estimate. as for visitors. eventually to be covered with vines. Under this plan, the New York Philip N. Winslow is the landscape Zoological Society will operate the The $15 million renovation- $10 to architect. The colonnade will connect zoos in Central Park, Prospect Park, $11 million from the City's capital the various exhibit buildings. The and Flushing Meadow, as well as the budget, $4 to $5 million from private design of the colonnade, Roche says, is Bronx Zoo. donations-calls-for demolition of five derived from elements of the existing of the nine zoo buildings- preserving, neo-classical buildings and from Updating the loved but cramped 1930s of course, the 1848 Landmark Arsenal elements of Chinese garden Central Park Zoo to correspond with off -and constructing architecture. current zoological concerns and five new ones. considerations for the animals, Kevin Because the new structures that Roche's design for rebuilding the The organizing element of the new replace the existing animal buildings page4 Oculus

2

4 5 1. Pl.an of new Central Park Zoo: 1) Arsena~ 2) Formal Garden and sea lions, 3) Pol.ar Circle, 4) Intelligence Garden (temperate zone), 5) Tropic Zone, 6) Children's Garden, 7) Cafe.

2. Model of new Central Park Zoo showing its rel.ation to the park.

3. Detail of the colonnade.

4. View into the Pol.ar Zone of the new Central Park Zoo.

5. Corner of the formal garden showing colonnade in the background as it will connect with the existing Del.acorte Clock arcade on the right.

6. Harp seals and arctic fox as they will be shown in rock enclosure representing portions of their natural habitat.

7. Reconstructed Sea Lion Pool with colonnade in the background.

8. Rendering shows how penguins will be displ.ayed.

Photos: Courtesy Kevin Roche John Dinkeloo Associates

Renderings: Mark de Nalovy-Rozvadovski

7 Oculus page5

3 will be lower and located behind the new colonnade, the Zoo explains, visitors will not be aware of them as buildings but will be more conscious of the colonnade and the landscaping attached to them.

Connected by the colonnade will be a Tropical Building with simulated rain forest where, as in all the new facilities, there will be no bars. Only glass partitions will separate animals from visitors. Nearby, an outdoor landscaped garden - to be called "The Intelligence Garden" not out of pretension as it sounds but after a 12th century Chinese Emperor's name for his zoo - will include small lakes with islands on which pandas, otters, and snow monkeys will live. A Polar Circle will be far more spacious than the present polar bear habitat. A significant and controversial aspect of the renovation is the tearing down of the red-brick cafeteria building west of the seal pond, and the creation of a landscaped garden on its site. The effect aims to open up views to the 6 west into Central Park and will make a real transition from the Zoo into the Park. A new Cafeteria with trellis­ covered outdoor seating will be built south of the present Antelope House near the new entrance to the Zoo, where a new gatehouse will echo the architectural character of the glass­ covered colonnade.

Octa·gonal brick columns, which form the supporting structure for the colonnade, will be of the same color brick as the Arsenal building and will have limestone bases and caps similar in color to the limestone bands on the Bird House and Monkey House, two of the old buildings that will remain.

The old Monkey House will be renovated for classrooms and a small auditorium for educational programs; the old Bird House will become a bookshop and sales outlet for zoo­ related materials.

The expected reopening date: 1985.

8 OCULUS NYC/AIA NOV 82 CONTINUING EVENTS Oculus welcomes information for the SCANDINAVIAN MODERN: THE WOOD CHAIR IN AMERICA SPACE, THE MEDIUM IN WHICH calendar pertaining to public events about Photographs of New York. SPACED 1SS0-19SO Exhibition based on book of the same WE MOVE architecture and the other design Gallery, 165 W. 72 St. 787-6350. Exhibition of furniture, ceramics, name highlighting the history of the Exhibition. 100 Level. Avery Hall, professions. It is due by the 7th of the Closes Nov. 27. glass, metal work. Cooper-Hewitt wood chair in America. The Columbia University. 280-3414. month for the following month's issue. Museum, 2 E. 91 St. 860-6868. Closes Municipal Art Society, 457 Madison Closes Nov.19. Because of the time T,ag be tween THE BIRTH OF NEW YORK: Jan. 2. Ave. 935-3960. Closes Nov. 9. information received and printed, final NIEUW AMSTERDAM 1624-1664 THE ISOMETRICS OF ALBERTO details of events are likely to change. It is Exhibition. The New York Historical THE : PORTRAIT OF A LE CORBUSIER: FRAGMENTS OF SATORIS recommended, therefore, that events be Society, 170 Central Park West. CHANGING STREET INVENTION Exhibition of original silkscreens of checked with the sponsoring institutions 873-3400. Closes Dec. 31. Photographic documentation by Exhibition of Le Corbusier's private projects from the 30s and 40s by the before attending. Carin Krechsler Marx shared by the drawings. The National Academy of Italian architect. The Open Atelier of Museum of the City of New York, Design, 1083 Fifth Ave. 369-4880. Design, 12 W. 29 St. 686-8698. Closes Send Oculus Calendar information to: Fifth Ave. at 103 St. 534-1672, and Closes Nov. 14. Nov. 20. New York Chapter/AJA, 457 Madison Goethe House, 1014 Fifth Ave. at 83 Avenue, NY. 10022. St. Closes Jan. 23. MONDAY! TUESDAY2 WEDNESDAY3 THURSDAY 4 FRIDAY 5 SCANDINAVIAN DESIGN SINCE YALE LECTURE SERIES THE STATE OF THE ART WARD BENNETT SEMINAR ON SATURDAY, WORLD WAR II Frank Gehry on "Recent Work." 8 Goldberger on "The architecture of Lecture on "Total Design." 6-8 pm. NOVEMBER6 Final session on "Scandinavian pm, Hastings Hall, Yale School of New York" in series co-sponsored by Pratt Center, 685-3754. "The Relationship of Architecture to Modern: Innovation and Tradition, Architecture, 180 York St. New NYC/AIA. S pm. Met. Museum. the other Contemporary Visual Arts" Myth and Reality." 6:15 pm. Cooper­ Haven. 203-436-0853. S79-!'i!'i10. PRECURSORS OF POST with Jorge Glusberg of Argentina. Hewitt Museum, 2 E. 91St.860-6868. MODERNISM 10-12noon,1-4 pm. ICASA/NYU, ART AND ARCHITECTURE: FORUMS ON FOR~l Photographs of Milanese Room 408, Main Building, NYU, 100 ARCHITECTURE & INTERIORS OF WRESTLING WITH DESIRE Arthur Drexler on The Architecture architecture 1920s-30s. The Washington Square East. $5, THE80'S Final lecture in the Germano Celant of RichardNeutra. 12:30 pm. Urban Architectural League, 457 Madison 598-3481. Lecture by Stephen Jacobs on series. 6:30 pm. The Architectural Center Books, 935-3595. Ave. 753-1722. Closes Dec.18. "Making Preservation Pay." 6-8 pm. League at The Urban Center, 457 CAST-IRON WALKING TOUR ON Pratt Manhattan Center, 160 Madison Ave. 753-1722. $5 for COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE ANDREA PALLADIO: PART II SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7 Lexington Ave. 685-3754. $20. nonmembers. Seminar by Pratt Manhattan Center. First of 5 lectures by William Ellis on Walk through the SoHo Landmark 9-12 noon. 909 Third. $50. 685-3754. reincarnations of Palladianism. 8 pm. District. Meet N. W. corner Cooper-Hewitt, 860-6868. & Howard St. 369-6004. MONDAYS TUESDAY9 WEDNESDAY 10 THURSDAYll FRIDAY 12 ARCHITECTURE & INTERIORS OF YALE LECTURE SERIES THE STATE OF THE ART STAINED GLASS FURNITURE BY AMERICAN THE SO'S Edward B. Allen, Assoc. Professor of Brendan Gill on "The Preservation of INTERNATIONAL/ 19S2 ARCHITECTS Lecture by Theo Prudon on Architecture, MIT. 8 pm. Hastings our architectural heritage" in series Conference, seminars, and Exhibition. The Whitney Museum of "Preservation Technology: Old and Hall, Yale School of Architecture, 180 'co-sponsored by NYC/AIA. S pm. workshops (Nov.11-13). The New American Art, Fairfield County, 1 New." 6-8 pm. Pratt Manhattan York St., New Haven 203-436-0853. Metropolitan Museum. S79-55l 0. York Statler. Information: Champion Plaza, Stamford. Center, 160 Lexington Ave. 685-3754. Interglassmetal Corp. 682-7681. 203-358-7652. Closes Jan. 26. $20. ARCHITECTURE & INTERIORS IN FORUMS ON FORM THE SO'S Craig Castleman on his book, Getting SEMINAR ON SATURDAY COMPUTER AIDED James Wines on "The Urban Home­ Up Subway Grafitti in New York. NOVEMBER 13' ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN The Future of Living." 6-8 pm. Pratt 12:30 pm. Urban Center Books, 457 "The Language of Architecture" with Sweet's 3-day seminar. Grand Hyatt Manhattan Center, 160 Lexington Madison Ave. 935-3595. Angiola Churchill and Daie Hotel, Park Ave. at Grand Central. Ave. 685-3754. $20. McCarnathy.10-12 noon, 1-4 pm. Enrollment: 800-257-9406. ARCHITECTURE & INTERIORS IN ICASA/NYU, Room 408, Main PRECURSORS OF POST­ THE SO'S Building, NYU, 100 Washington STAINED GLASS IN THE FRENCH MODERNISM Jack Le nor Larsen on "A Designer Square East, $5. 598-3481. COURT STYLE Lecture by Fulvia Irace. 6:30 pm. The Re'sponds to Questions on Design" in Slide lecture by Cloisters curator Dr. Architectural League. 753-1722. P_r.att Manhattan sru:ies. 6-8 nm_ T.ofL MONDAY15 TUESDAY16 WEDNESDAY 17 THURSDAY18 FRIDAY 19 ARCHITECTURE & INTERIORS IN ARCHITECTURE & INTERIORS IN THE STATE OF THE ART 1983 HONOR AWARDS WORKSHOP THE SO'S THE SO'S James Marston Fitch on "The Deadline for mailing submissions: "Housing and Urban Development: Lecture by Georgio Cavaglieri on Louis Tregre on Design for the American dream-the garden city" 19S3 Honor Awards Program. The New Directions from Washington" "Adaptive Reuse of Historic Elderly and Physically Handicapped. co-sponsored by NYC/AIA. S pm. American Institute of Architects, 1735 led by Lee Goodwin, member, Buildings; Purposes and Problems." 6-8 pm. Pratt Manhattan Center, 160 Metropolitan Museum. 879-5510. New York Ave. NW, Wash., D.C. 20006. President's Commission on Housing. 6-8 pm. Pratt Manhattan Center, 160 Lexington Ave. 685-3754. $20. 9:30 am-4:30 pm. $55. Center for New Lexington Ave. 685-3754. $20. FORUMS ON FORM INTERIORS COMMITTEE York City Affairs, New School for ARCHITECTURE & INTERIORS IN Robert Jensen and Patricia Conway Meeting of NYC/AIA's Interiors Social Research, 66 W. 12th St. 20TH CENTURY STAINED GLASS THE SO'S on their book, Ornamentalism. Committee with slide program Registration: 7 41-5690. Lecture by Kenneth van Roenn. Kevin Walz on "Making Design Introduction by Richard Haas. 12:30 developed by National AJA. 6 p.m. Sponsored by the Glassmasters Good" in Pratt Manhattan series. 6-8 pm. Urban Center Books, 457 NYC/AIA, 457 Madison. 286-0212. Guild. 6 pm. Donnell Library pm.143 W. 20 St. 685-3754. $20. Madison Ave. 935-3595. Auditorium, 20 W. 53 St. ARCHITECTURE & INTERIORS IN LECTURE SCOTT BURTON THE SO'S Richard Etlin: "The first 'post' Exhibition of recent furniture. The Lecture by Bart Voorsanger on "An modernism: Stille Novecento." 6:30 Max Protetch Gallery, 37 W. 57 St. Architecture Within Architecture." pm. The Architectural League, 457 838-7436. Closes Nov. 30. 6-8 pm. Pratt Manhattan Center, 160 Madison Ave. 753-1722. Lexington Ave. 685-3754. $20. MONDAY22 TUESDAY23 WEDNESDAY 24 THURSDAY25 FRIDAY 26 ARCHITECTURE & INTERIORS IN ARCHITECTURE & INTERIORS IN ARCHITECTURE THE SO'S THE SO'S THE STATE OF THE ART Lecture by Kent Barwick: "How Are Lecture by Sam De Santo on "An British architect Norman Foster on We Doing?" 6-8 pm. Pratt Manhattan Approach to Design: Concept, "An overseas view of architecture" in Center. $20. 685-3754. Materials, Execution." 6-8 pm. Pratt series co-sponsored by NYC/AIA. 8 Manhattan Center, 160 Lexington pm. Metropolitan Museum. S79-5510. THE ONCE AND FUTURE CITY Ave. 685-3754. $20. Opening session, 6-week course ($80), FORUMS ON FORM Kent Barwick, chairman; with Gill, Lunchtime lecture by James Wines Johnson, Goldberger, Bowers, on his book, The Highrise of Homes Barlow, Willensky, Wiseman. New (Rizzoli). Introduction by Pilar School for Social Research. Vilades. 12:30 pm. Urban Center Registration: 741-5690. Books, 457 Madison Ave. 935-3595. AMERICAN PICTURE PALACES Exhibition of "Golden Age" of movie houses. Cooper-Hewitt Museum, 860-6868. Closes Feb. 27 MONDAY29 TUESDAY30 WEDNESDAY 1 DEC WEDNESDAY 1 DEC ARCHITECTURE & INTERIORS OF YALE LECTURE SERIES ARCHITECTURE ART AND ARCHITECTURE THE SO'S Andrea Leers, visiting critic in THE STATE OF THE ART Two-day interdisciplinary conference Wrap-up session on Preservation Architectural Design, on "Recent Moshe Safdie on "Private Jokes in on art and architecture. 9:30-5 pm. Issues with Kent Barwick, Giorgio Work." 8 pm. Hastings Hall, Yale Public Places" in series co-sponsored (Dec. 3-4). The Great Hall, Cooper Cavaglieri, Stephen Jacobs, Theo School of Architecture, 180 York St., by NYC/AIA. S pm. Metropolitan Union for the Advancement of Prudon. 6-8 pm. Pratt Manhattan New Haven. 203-436-0853. Mu~E>um . ~79-!l!llO. Science and Art. $35 for general Center, 160 Lexington Ave. 685-3754. public, $15 for full-time students. $20. ARCHITECTURE & INTERIORS OF FORUMS N FORM Information: Ellen Meyer, Director of THE SO'S Galen Cranz on The Politics of Park Extension, Minneapolis College of Jack Dunbar on "Diversity- A Design A History of Urban Parks in Art and Design. 612-870-3065. Design Approach." 6-8 pm. Pratt America. (MIT Press). Introduction Manhattan Center, 160 Lexington. by Thomas Bender. 12:30 pm. Urban WORK OF CARLO SCARPA 685-3754. $20. Center Books, 457 Madison Ave. Exhibition of original drawings and 935-3595. photographs by the late Venetian BUILDING OF THE MONTH master. The Open Atelier of Design, Round table discussion on Michael 12 W. 29 St. 686-8698. Closes Jan. 15. Graves's Portland project with Douglas Brenner as moderator. 6:30 pm. The Architectural League at The Urban Center. 753-1722. page8 Oculus

Lecture at the Architectural On October 5, the Architectural Biennale 1,976. A panel discussion League League presented a speech by with Vittorio Lampugnan~ who is Vittorio Gregott~ architect and Casabella's managing editor, along editor-in-chief of the distinguished with Massimo Vignelli and Peter Italian architectural}ournal Eisenman was deftly moderated by Casabella, and director of the Nory Miller. architecture section of the Venice

The invitation to Mr. Gregotti was to the margins of the discipline. But this sure. There are many aspects of life outline the new editorial policy that is only possible when a discipline is today which represent real change and he has been establishing for Casabella sure of its own identity, its own center yet date back more than half a over the past year and "discuss it in from which to look out at the world. It century. The fundamental principles the context of the role of architectural is like when each one of us speaks to of our age, be they true or false, have }ournalism and criticism in Italian another person: to communicate, we been preached for many decades. This design." The panel made some must first of all be ourselves. does not mean we are restricted to attempt to turn this into an pure repetition, nor does it mean that opportunity to knock American However, beyond the common view of the world has not changed; it is architectural publications. the necessity to reconstruct an precisely the things which have architectural theory, I would like to go changed which are interesting. It just In his speech, Mr. Gregotti outlined back and emphasize that such a theory means that there are certain historical his editorial policy virtually as a should be firstly considered as material jumps of which it is important to be State-of-the-A rt overview on the for the artistic practice of architecture, conscious. present condition of world for the process of design. I mean by architecture. And he expressed it this that theoretical reflection (the There is no doubt that one of the most profoundly and passionately. Not "theme" as my friend Ungers calls it) important of these is the industrial many speeches about architecture like is an intrinsic element of design work, age. If we could draw up an account of that have been heard here for some time. but only when it is not external to it, the industrial age, it might come out that is, when it is born out of the negatively: but we are nevertheless At the expense of its direct relevance substance itself of architectural immersed in it, and our task as to architectural}ournalism, Oculus experience. intellectuals is to transform the has concentrated on the larger aspects material offered by the barbarians of of Mr. Gregotti's overview, in the Evidently, we architects are not the the mass civilization into culture. following excerpts of his speech. only ones facing the problem of the reconstruction of a theory. The search The incomplete "modern project" (as by Vittorio Gregotti for unitary reflection (or what should defined by Jurgen Habermas) has, in be considered as such) is a problem the whole of its course, always Theory and history are the most that theoretical philosophy itself has attempted to provide an answer, an important constituents of design for the abandoned for more than half a alternative, a negation or consent to architects of my generation. Architects century. It is likely therefore, that the this condition. These reactions must have a very special concept of theory. fragmentation of theoretical thought always be committed ones, through They often confuse it with personal with which we are faced, will not find a constant criticism, not only of our poetics; they find difficult to quick solution. It is also likely that this difficult general conditions, but comprehend the relation between fragmentation is actually a new mode addressed specifically to the tradition theory and practice; and when they do, of being of the theoretical issue. of modern architectural culture. they fall into the worst kind of simplistic pragmatism. What is certain is that in the To do this, we must take a stance in a architectural field, this fragmentation reconstitution of the integrity or Since theoretical reflection as has not been able to form itself into a completeness of our disciplinary represented by the great treatises­ theoretical system of different theses process. Casabella always attempts to those of Palladio or Vitruvius for provided with meaning as a whole. It is refer to the integrity of the example-has been abandoned for probably for this reason that the architectural project in its technical, historical reasons, architectural different standpoints in architecture ideological, and craft aspects - as theory has become criticism, today resemble the pleasing and opposed to the predominance of the aesthetics, ideology, poetics, and in transitory images of a fashion, goaded purely formalistic image. We are well the best case methodology. But it has, by the market to constant changes, aware of the image's capacity of nevertheless, ceased to be material for rather than a real cultural position. synthesis with respect to experience, architectural design. but we also know that it represents a In the claim for the different, the short cut as well, of momentary Often the most obvious theoretical brand new or the "open-minded" use defence against the difficulties and results of this have been the of style, the primary aim seems to be complexities of the design process. transformations, betrayals, and the creation of a slogan. But the slogan transpositions of ideas that apparently is the product of the copywriter and This idea of the integrity of come from other disciplines. It is true not the intellectual, as I believe architecture may appear to be in that often the most interesting and architects have a duty to be. contrast with the tendency to accept creative aspects of the architectural very open-ended ideas, such as the discipline have come from, and in the Every one is saying that these are idea of context, or planning as a pre­ last century have been developed at, times of rapid change: well, I'm not so · eminent content of the project, or the Oculus page9

notion of environment (rather than of complexity. The tools of the second disappearance of both the rule and its space). As opposed to the purity of the are the assessment of physical infraction. Or rather, breaking rules idea of space, the notion of relations, formal definition, and now acts as an innocuous show of environment seems to bring with it interiorization of complexity. cleverness, a sign of the the physical and historical dross, by interchangeability of the new fashion. now indispensable to the specificity of This second attitude is capable of the project, and enables the basing its real meaning on the It is clear that the idea of objective assessment of the different qualities of assessment of the impossible reason (the reason of the the site to give them central combination of the natural and Enlightenment) controlling the importance in design. artificial, or of the new and the pre­ relationship between nature and existing. This second attitude is based artifacts, between the individual and The worst enemy of modern on a series of difficult acts of division: the collective, was replaced during the architecture is the idea of space raising a wall, building an enclosure, last century by a notion of subjective considered solely in terms of its defining a region, creating an interior reason. The possibility that reason economic and technical exigencies that is appropriately modulated to our might once more become civil reason indifferent to the idea of the site. The fragmented behaviour, and a simple (as in the French revolution), with all built environment surrounding us is exterior that indicates the measure of its connected advantages of stability the physical representation of its the large scale of environmental and communication for society, seems history, and the way in which it has architecture: large not in the physical to be lost for a good many years to accumulated different levels of sense, but in as much as it possesses a come. meaning-to form the specific quality large capacity for contextual of the site, not just for what it appears modification. It is true that the coherence between to be, in perceptual terms, but for means and ends preached by the what it is, in structural terms. To build a project, rules must be Modern Movement was conceived as Geography is the description of how -established: these rules are basically the knife capable of revealing the the signs of history have become concerned with the craft and the essence of the phenomenon and thus forms; therefore, the architectural stylistic tradition of architecture and restoring its ontological truth. Yet project is charged with the task of its progress; but the thing that gives the today the progressive fading of the revealing the essence of the geo­ reules architectural identity and sense of ends has in itself brought environmental context through the precision is their relationship with the about a disastrous degradation of the transformation of form. The site; only from the experience of the site methodological instruments of the environment is therefore not a system come the possibilities that open up anct Modern Movement. in which to dissolve architecture. On form architecture. the contrary, it is the most important In this new desire for order there is material from which to develop a If the linguistic question is rather left something more remote that concerns project. ou~tt~notbecauselanguage~not our uneasy relationship with the time. important. Its capacity to represent Take for example the renewed success Indeed, through the concept of the site the symbolic organization through that the idea of monumentality has met and the principle of settlement, the which architectural intention takes with. This idea can only be the environment becomes the essence of shape, is vital. However, at this consequence of collective and architectural production. The origin of moment in history, it represents too historical judgment and not the architecture is not in the primitive weak a tool to create a genuine voluntary act with which the effect to hut, or the cave or the mythical transformation or to open promising be produced is measured a priori. It "Adam's House in Paradise". Before prospects: that is, to fix the moments of now seems to be strongly motivated transforming a support into a column, reality like the moments of truth. From by the subjective obsession with a roof into a tympanum, before this vantage point, we can approach lasting works, stability, and placing stone on stone, man placed the the problem of the rule that, for at recognition that characterizes an stone on the ground to recognize a site least a decade, has predominated the experience lacking in the elements of in the midst of an unknown universe: architectural debates. collective identification that are not in order to take account of it and purely empirical. modify it. It would be hasty and one-sided to put the whole thing down to the mere It may therefore be that the rule we As with every act of assessment, this revival of the return-to-order ideology feel the need of is first and foremost one required radical moves and that made its sinister way through the desire to think of our actions as apparent simplicity. From this point of Europe at the beginning of the necessary. That is, the desire for view, there are only two important thirties. Of course it is clear that so meaningful simplicity, amidst the attitudes to the context. The tools of much emphasis has been placed on the noise of the world. the first are mimesis, organic spirit of exception that the tradition of cont'd. p. 10, col 2 imitation, and the display of the new has brought about the page 10 Oculus

Lecture at the Architectural League

cont'd. from p. 9 Historical material is increasingly llvsRcrunsh,- GatnmoU-. The:~~ T~ . O:uiba-19JIM26 , NtMmbn-2 457 ~"- . Nrw'Ulc , Nrw'lbrttDl22 being used in architecture: it has AJlka\ftlbrgia•6:30pm ~ (112)7)}-[722 One aspect of our attitude toward the Mmlhm &ct. Nan-membm n.oo integrity of the architecture we value, shifted from being an ideological is the question of its relations with concern to one of style, evocation, or a planning. I believe we must stop demonstration of a rejection of the claiming our independence from contemporary. The Modern Movement planning, but on the contrary, we must tradition itself is often adopted only return to the use of "architectural" as a stylistically and, therefore neutralized Art and Architecture:Wrestling with Desire qualitative verification of planning, from an ideological standpoint. just as planning must become one of the New Architectural L eague poster. main contents of architecture. I believe that this period's obsession with history is, somehow, the answer to Names and News Given the general condition of the city the loss of integrity of architecture. The cont'd. from p. 2 and territorial malaise (and here I'm integrity of architecture requires the Pennsylvania Society of Architects in referring in particular to Europe) existence of a relationship with reality. recognition and appreciation of his architecture's main task, in the next The breakdown of this relationship years of dedication and contributions twenty years, will be one of putting with the world of needs, production, to the preservation of the work of the pieces back together. This task is urban browth, collective meaning, Frank Lloyd Wright ... Lost America, something very different from the pure tradition itself, and professional a collection of 12 of John Margolies' ideology of conservation or worse still, practice corresponds to its projection color photographs, ranging from a the pretensions to the reconstruction of onto an imaginary plane of historical whale-shaped carwash in Oklahoma an imaginary nineteenth-century city­ conjecture. City to an art deco movie theater in of well-being and equilibrium that Alabama that is now an evangelical never existed. This piecing together So, what is the answer? There is no church, has been published in a requires great creative drive, which answer except reverting to the postcard format by the Dial Press ... must be expressed in terms of uncertainty of reality, maintaining "a The Landmarks Preservation architectural proposals. complete lack of illusions about one's Commission designated the following age, yet supporting it without as Landmarks in I would finally like to introduce a reserve". How to revert to reality is September: Greenpoint Historic question that constitutes the most without doubt, a very complex District in Brooklyn; Pomander Walk important attack on the integrity of theoretical and ideological matter. (3-22 Pomander Walk, 261-267 W. 94th architecture: that is, the question of This becomes apparent as soon as one St., 260-274 W. 95th St.) and the Red history and its use. Indeed, obsession goes beyond reality's empirical House (350 W. 85th St.) in Manhattan; with history dominates recent tangible surface and defines it in and the Washington Bridge (spanning architectural design and is reflected terms of deliberate choices and the River from Manhattan to and magnified by architectural projects, as a "concrete utopia", a the Bronx) ... The Turner reviews. This idea is, in a way, parallel "principle of hope", to borrow Ernst Construction Company as contractor to another one which has haunted Bloch's beautiful expressions. But it is and John Milner Associates of West contemporary culture for more than also a constructive effort, a problem Chester, Pennsylvania, as architect, fifty years: the obsession with the new. concerning the choice of tools and have completed the restoration of the methods. 1652 Wyckoff House in Brooklyn, The awareness of history's which will soon be open to the public complexity was one of my In the course of thirty years- during as a museum operated by the Wyckoff generation's more difficult and which the obsession with history has House Association, Inc. in cooperation important achievements. However, its emerged and developed-the belief with the Society for the Preservation value has gradually shifted, and has taken root that architecture of Long Island Antiquities ... The City eventually reached a point where its cannot be a means for changing Council Finance Committee endorsed meaning has been completely upset. society. I maintain, however, that the bill that requires all city-financed The old image of history has now been architecture itself needs the element of buildings, both new and those replaced by a far more conciliatory social relations for its very production. undergoing major reconstruction to one: history as the mother's womb, as Architecture cannot live simply by devote one percent of the first $20 a continuous flux, of one's legitimation mirroring its own problem, exploiting million of costs and a half percent and reconciliation with the past. The its own traditions, even though the beyond that to art works ... A new problem of the relationship with the professional tools required for Architectural League poster designed past is no longer one of comparison, architecture as a discipline, can only be by Michael Beirut of Vignelli but of consensus. Thus, even the found within that tradition. Associates to announce the lecture preoccupation with symbolism, series by Italian art critic Germano characterizing contemporary research Celant (see calendar, Nov. 2), features in design, becomes mere nostalgia. a Robert Mapplethorpe photograph. Oculus page 11

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