OCULUS N E W y O R K C H A p T E R A M E R I C A N I N S T I T U T E 0 ·F A R C H I T E C T S

FDR AWARDS ANNOUNCED CHAPTER BACKS ZONING One Chapter member was among the six winners of the first b11 E. 0. TANNER stage of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial Competition In connection with last month's hearings on 's zoning announced last month: Abraham proposals, Chapter President Frederick J. Woodbridge and. members .of W. Geller (in association with the Civic Design Committee strongly endorsed the P~annmg Co~1s­ Douglas Gordon, Diana Kirsch, sion's revised comprehensive amendment. The committee urged it be and Claude Samton), and Rolf enacted into law without further delay. In a news story in the New York MyHer (who is also Books and Times President Woodbridge said the city "desperately needs a zoning Travel Editor of Oculus). Other amendment to make a master plan possible," and that while no plan was winners, chosen from 57 4 entrants without flaws the present rezoning propose! would effect density controls, from all parts of the country, were would discou'rage "wedding-cake" de~ign. and e~courage . plazas and Architects Tasso Katselas of Pitts­ arcades around buildings, and would s1mphfy parkmg reqmrements for burgh, Pedersen & Tilney of Bos­ shopping districts. ton, Sasaki-Walker-Luders Asso­ "While some still cry for more ciates of Watertown, Mass., and time to study the proposals," said Joseph J. W ehrer of Michigan. The MEDAL OF HONOR Woodbridge, "the amendment is jury commented on the wide va­ TO L. W. ORTON actually the result of a process riety of solutions submitted, rang­ started in 1948. Furthermore, the b11 SAUL ELLSNBOGllN amendment has been available for ing from pure sculpture to abst~a~t analysis and review at many meet­ architectural forms, from c1v1c The Medal of Honor for City plazas to quiet, simple garden ings and hearings for the past Planning will be awarded to Law­ year and a half. This has been schemes. First stage winners will rence M. Orton, a charter member a matter of greatest urgency" be awarded $10,000 each and will of the City Planning Commission, prepare detailed drawings and Woodbridge told the Times, "but on Wednesday evening, November it is now crucial. With increas­ models for submission in the final 2, 1960, at a Formal Dinner given stage. The winner of the second ing problems of neighborhood re­ at the Sheraton-East, N. Y. C. newal, of traffic and parking con­ stage will be awarded $50,000. This award is given jointly by the gestion, of schools and other pub­ After the final judging on Decem­ Metropolitan Section of the Amer­ lic construction, we lack a master ber 29-30, there will be an exhibi­ ican Society of Civil Engineers, tion ·of winning -and h

A Hole in the Street FREDERICK J. WOODBRIDGE ...... •...... President DAVID L. EGGERS ·················-··········-····· Vice President Excerpt from a letter written to PETER S. VAN BLOEM ...... •...... •...... Secretary the Mayor on June 13, 1960: " ... On East 55th Street between MICHAEL M. HARRIS ...... Treasurer Park and Madison Avenues there exist a series of excavations which are improperly protected and PAUL JOHN GRAYSON, Editor which run the full length of the block. I am aware that there is in progress a vast program of repair and improvement to our under­ FREDERICK J. WOODBRIDGE ground network of water, electric This issue of the Oculus marks NEW FORMAT and steam supply, however there one of those recurrent beginnings With this issue of the Oculus, are certain regulations regarding which characterize the life of any .the Publications Committe is try­ the protection of such excavations active professional organization. ing out a new format. We hope a to prevent damage to vehicles and Administrations change, and with new banner and a three-column injury to pedestrians . . . " them come inevitable changes in layout, plus broader news and fea­ Excerpt from a letter from the committees and their chairmen. ture columns, will provide livelier Mayor's Legal Aide on June 21, This year there has been a consider­ and more informative reading. In 1960: ". . . The Mayor acknowl­ able amount of carrying over very addition to our regular depart­ edges your letter to him, . . . and largely to preserve a degree of ments, we plan to run occasional has forwarded a copy to Bureau continuity, which is just as impor­ guest columns and special features of Franchises, and the Borough tant as change. The Oculus itself on subjects of particular and time­ President's Office ... for their at- has a new format in the hope that ly interest. You will also notice a tention and consideration " more of you will read it! new department titled "Improving When I asked my partner what New York," where new ideas, com­ October, 1960 ... I should write as a message he ments, and reports on the City can No action and although work cynically asked what difference it find an outlet. We welcome your was completed a few months ago, made because who would read it contributions to the Oculus. and a concrete base was prepared anyway. It is perfectly true that for asphalt there still remains . . . we all receive so much "literature" "a hole in the street" ... 600 feet in our daily mail that we end by WHO IS THE long by 6 inches deep by 2 feet reading almost none of it. wide. One might also cynically ask TROUBLEMAKER? why such a substantial number of It Grows on You busy architects are willing to He is the silent one. He never spend so much time on committee speaks up on issues. He never The curbside trees that everyone work which may only occasionally sounds off in the letter column of enjoys for the shade they cast seem to produce tangible results. his local newspaper. He never on city pavements don't just Many of us can remember the days writes his Congressman. He is sprout where a lucky seed happens when there was so little Architec­ quiet as a clam. And in his wish to fall. They must be planned for, ture to do that sitting around to­ to offend nobody, he offends De­ planted and maintained. But this gether trying to find ways and mocracy. How could Democracy process is not as formidable or ex­ means of improving ourselves and succeed ... if all of us, like this · pensive as many people think. The our profession was an absolute one, withheld our opinions, our pamphlet, "It Grows on You," ex­ life-saver. Now that such large ideas, our criticisms? Voting on plains clearly the necessary steps. numbers of Architects are as busy election day is only part of a citi­ It is being distributed by the Mu­ as they can be, one might wonder zen's duty. Active, day-by-day par­ nicipal Art Society as an educa­ whether it would not be just as ticipation in government, in soci­ tional service to the Architects of well for each of us to tend to his ety, in business associations, is a New York in the hope they will own knitting and not bother about responsibility for each and every encourage clients to plant street possible common problems. one of us. The silent trouble-maker trees. Additional copies and fur­ It is not, I hope, necessary to fails to· understand this. In his ther advice are freely available labor the absurdity of such an atti­ worship of "law .and order,'' he from the Chairman of the Munici­ tude when we all know that the never dares to question an oppres­ pal Art Society's Tree Planting world today · presents problems sive law, never distinguishes. "or­ Committee. Mrs. ·Sidney Mattison, which we must face together if we der" from sfagriation. He is the 1035 Fifth A venue, New York 28, are not eventually to be snowed apostle of sodal" decay, nof deinoc~ New York, RE. -- 7-0403, is chair­ under. And yet it is a striking sta- racy. woman. Continued on page 3 tistic that only a fifth to a quarter of the impressive membership of HERE & THERE this Chapter is actively engaged in by HERBERT L . S MITH its work. Rarely does much more than a tenth of the membership The Municipal Art Society The editor of the "American Ar­ attend a Chapter meeting. stacked its Board of Directors chitects Directory" (published by In spite of this one hears from with Chapter members at their R.R. Bowker Co.) offers a limited time to time that the same old last election : Harmon H. · number of copies of the Directory gang runs the Chapter and that a stone was elected President; Ed­ at the discount price of $12.50 by new or younger member does not ward Larrabee Barnes, Treasurer; writing him personally: George S. have a chance. Can anything be and Charles L. Magruder, Secreta­ Koy!, 440 Spruce St., Philadelphia more absurd? Once upon a time a ry.... Speaking of art, the National 4, Pa. :.:. lot of us who are working now Guild of Mural Artists, Inc., noti­ One of our members urges the were young, too. · fies us that they maintain a "cross­ founding of an "Alert Society of As is customary at this time of file of artists, nation wide, in all Photographers of Historic Build­ year a meeting was held of the 29 price and style areas, fine and ap­ ings" to catch photos of some of appointive and 3 elective commit­ plied art." The Guild offers a re­ the city's landmarks while the air tees of the Chapter. You can see ferral and estimate service free of around them is cleared by all the what these committees are else­ charge to architects and design­ current destruction and construc­ where in this issue and can judge ers, and offers "services of some tion. Any volunteers? for yourselves of the many and of our members for exhibition pur­ Kahn & Jacobs are blazing the varied activities. Each chairman poses for public showings, shows, trail for the 1964 New York was asked to give a brief account etc., on loan for proper credits." World's Fair with their design for of his committee work and pro­ The Regional Plan Association the "Rheingold Oasis" which has a gram and discussion was invited. announced the election of Perry restaurant on a cantilevered plat­ It was an interesting and stimu­ Coke Smith, of Voorhees Walker form atop 60-foot columns. lating occasion, and I am sure that Smith Smith & Haines, to the As­ The Columbia University School any of you who could have been sociation's Board of Directors ... of Architecture, getting steam up there would have been impressed Joseph J. Roberto has been named under its new Dean, Charles R. and convinced that all this energy University Architect at New York Colhel"t, announces a two-month and interest is not sound and fury University.... Robert W. Cutler, program of celebrations next signifying nothing. It is of great of S.O.M., has been re-elected for spring, "in honor of the four great importance to the welfare not only his second term as Vice President founders of modern architecture" of our profession but to the society of the Building Research Institute. - Gropius, Corbu, Mies and we serve and consequently to our­ ... Hugh Ferriss was elected to Wright. Each will be feted at the selves. One thing was obvious­ Academicianship in the National school for a two week period, with that there is much greater oppor­ Academy of Design ; and L. Bancel Mrs. Wright representing the late tunity for cooperation and commu­ LaFarge and Geoffry N. Lawford FLW. nication between committees than to Associate Membership. has been practiced in the past. BOOKS This opportunity I hope will be grasped and exploited to the full MATTHEW W. DEL GAUDIO N ew Housing in Great Britain, by this year. It is with sorrow that we report H. Bruckman and D. L. Lewis The work of the committees is the sudden passing on September (Published by Universe Books, to a great extent the life of the 17 of Matthew W. Del Gaudio. An Inc. $9.50) Chapter. They deserve your support. active member of the Chapter and The blurb on the jacket of the Probably most of you have not of the Architectural League, and book says that the illustrations been asked to serve on a commit­ a past president of the New York make this volume invaluable for tee. That is because in the natural State Associaion of Architects, he everyone concerned with building press G-f-- circumstances your inter­ was always willing to assume any h<:>mes. The- pictures- are interest­ ests, capacities and willingness task that would advance the stand­ ing, but generally speaking (and cannot be known unless you make ing and prestige of architects any­ this is a matter of taste) , English them known. In the past the ex­ where. Our deepest sympathies to Architecture has much in common periment has been tried of sending his wife Alma and family, of 2873 with the proverbial English cook­ post cards asking for an expres­ Bainbridge Avenue, New York 58. ing. sion of interest. As in all such The explanatory text and the in­ queries the returns were only par­ BRUNNER SCHOLARSHIP troductions are an excellent review tially satisfactory. The best way Closing date for all applications and a beautiful critical analysis of of finding opportunities to help is for the 1960 Arnold W. Brunner the important thinking that has to come around-attend meetings Scholarship, awarded annually by made the English leaders in the -get to know the various commit­ the Chapter, is November 15. The planning field. The book is very tee chairmen-find out what they grant is for an amount up to important to all connected with are actually doing and how you· $3,000 covering advanced study in planning. (Incidentally, any archi­ can be useful. There is plenty of some special field which will con­ tect who is not interested in plan­ work to be done. tribute effectively to the practice, ning might as well be dead.) The If you have read this far you teaching, or knowledge of Architec­ book is important because it is a might even read further and find ture. Application blanks and infor­ clear condensation of the efforts, out more about what goes on. And mation may be procured from the the dreams, the failures, the suc­ being informed rally and give your Chapter office at 115 East 40th St., cesses, and the results of many whole-hearted support to make the New York 16 (MUrray Hill English thinking minds who think Chapter's work this year worthy 9-7969), according to Emanuel N. about the same things that many of the importance _we attach with Turano, Brunner Scholarship Com­ American thinking minds think pride to our chosen profession. mittee Chairman. about-R. M. 1...-______c_o __ M_M __ l_T_T_E_E~A_C_T_l~V_l~T_l_E~S~----::~----""ll ~ ____M__ EM __ BE_R_S_H_IP ____ _ Legislative change in format of the Oculus. NEW ·MEMBERS On September 8th, Chairman The New York Chapter extends its Civic Design warmest welcome to the following new Rutkins presented a subcommittee The main objective of the Civic members: report to the Legislative Commit­ Design Committee during the past Corporate tee concerning the Proposed Com­ two years has been the adoption of Samuel S. Arlen (Transferred from the prehensive Amendments of the the new Zoning Resolution. Under Westchester Chapter) Zoning Resolution. The amend­ the direction of Chairman G. Har- William M. Barnum Louis Battoglia ments "in their present statements mon Gurney, the Committee pro- Herbert Beckhard are not workable documents," said duced with Brunner Funds, a de- Paul John Grayson one aspect of the report. The com­ tailed report and analysis of the (Former Associate Member) mittee plans further discussion on roposal which was the basis of Ara Ignatius (Transferred from the P Chicago Chapter) the subject at their October 7th the Chapter's endorsement at the Robert w. Jones meeting. public hearings before the City Everett Rader A subcommitte is to study new Planning Commission. George W. Thompson Section 26 of the Multiple Dwell­ The adoption of the new Zoning Richard E. Zegler ing Law relative to height, bulk, will continue to be an important Aissociate and open spaces and report by De­ George E. Merkel goa l m· th"1s year ' s work . It 1s· ex- William R. Sachs cember 1st. The law becomes effec­ pected that the Chapter will take Augustus R. Schrowang, Jr. tive July 1, 1961. part in the hearings before the Michael Sehutzel In other business, the committee Board of Estimate sometime this Nathan Silver approved the proposed revisions of winter. George W. Wilcox, Jr. the New York State Building Con­ Of particular news this year is CANDIDATES struction Code. ral grant for long Information regarding the qualifica- the recent Fede tions of the following candidates for Public Affairs range urban renewal in New York membership will be considered <;onfiden- A proposed blueprint of opera­ City. The Planning Commission tial by the Admissions Committee: tions and activities for 1960-61 has has set up a Master Plan Depart- Corporate been drafted by a three-man sub­ ment under Jack Smith. The Civic Leonard Battaglia committee. It recommends : 1) the Design Committee expects to fol- Eduardo Baranano da Costa name of the committee be changed ·s plan closely and keep the George Eckerson Fischer low thl Irving Edward Gershon to Public Affairs Committee. 2) Chapter actively involved in the Eli Jack Held the Executive Committee and the future planning of the City and Seth Hiller Public Affairs Committee select a f th M t l·t R · Edward F. Knowles Public Affairs Counsel to coordi­ o e e ropo 1 an egwn. George C. Machlouzarides Paul Reiss nate an eleven-point program. 3) Office P ractice · Stanley Salzman the Public Affairs Committee ac­ Every practicing architect, re- Hugh A. Simpson cept a preamble to the new pro­ gardless of the number of people Herbert A. Tessler gram. The preamble is a brief dis­ he employs, is encouraged to study Howard John Warren sertation on the Architect's place in the excellent report issued by last Irwin Daniel Weisberg year's Office Practice Committee Associaite the fabric of society, his role in Sponsors: the construction industry, and his titled "Tabulation of Answers to John Milton Arms Ernest A. Durham Wayne A. Soverns professional society's responsibili­ Personnel Practices Question­ Louis Barberis Vincent Pellegrino ties to the public. naire." It could and should lead Paul C. Reilly J eanne Marguerite Davern Edwin B. Morris, Jr. Featured in the proposed pro­ to a more uniform treatment of Wm. Dudley Hunt Donald Alexander Fischer Morris Ketchum, Jr. gram for 1960-61 are the forma­ all persons working within the Robert Handren Arnold H erbert Goldberg Morris Ketchum, Jr. tion of a special committee to deal architectural profession in the Robert Handren with the position of the Chapter in Greater New York area. Each Cor­ Robert H. Levine Samuel M. Kurtz James J. Souder regard to the 1964 World's Fair; porate Member of the Chapter was Willard Scolnik Olivier de Messier es an increase in coverage and a sent a copy last Spring. Robert T. Handren Bernard Segal Hyland Dinion Pasquale J. Frisone Michael H. Sp ~ctor Charles S. Spector Isaiah Ehrlich WOMEN'S ARCHITECTURAL AUXILIARY . George Todorovich Daniel Schwartzman \ Abraham Sperling Second Annual WARREN FELLOWSHIP Doric Debutante Cotillion The 1960 Lloyd Warren Fellow­ First Scholarship Awarded Special arrangements have been ship of $5,000 for one year's study The W AA announces that its first made for parents, guests, and ar­ abroad was awarded to Lloyd G. scholarship grant has been award­ chitectural groups to hold private Walter, Jr. of North Carolina ed to Wallace Kaminsky, of Colum­ dinner parties in the Club prior to State College, Raleigh, N. C. Ber­ bia University, School of Archi­ the Cotillion event. This year the nard N. Steinberg of Mt. Kisco, tecture, evening school. The com­ Second Doric Debutante Cotillion N. Y. placed second in the national mittee extends its congratulations will be held on Saturday, Novem­ competition and was awarded to Mr. Kaminsky and wishes him ber 26, 1960 at the Metropolitan $500. William E. Valentine of a successful and happy career. Club. Ten Doric Debutantes will be North Carolina State College was Luncheon Meeting presented. One vacancy now exists. awarded the third prize of $250. The auxiliary had an enthu­ If you wish to submit the name Circulars of information for siastic turnout on , 1960 of one of your young friends 1960-1961 outlining the problems at the Architectural League, 115 please call CI 6-1288, CI 7-4436, or for the coming school year are East 40th Street, for the member­ write to the Women's Architec­ now available and may be ob­ ship planning and policy making tural Auxiliary, 24 West 55th tained from the NIAE, 115 East "Dutch Treat" luncheon. Street, New York City. 40th St., New York 16, N. Y. C 0 M I N G E v E N T S NEW YORK CHAPTER AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS A· I· A

NOVEMBER 2, 1960, Wednesday, 7 p.m. NOVEMBER 10, 1960, Thursday, 5 :30 p.m. Presentation of Medal of Honor for City Planning Special Showing of new design products to Lawrence M. Orton NATIONAL DESIGN CENTER Sheraton-East Hotel 415 East 53rd Street Park Avenue and 51st Street OCTOBER 3, through NOVEMBER 5, 1960, NOVEMBER 15, 1960, Tuesday, 5 :15 p.m.­ America House, 44 West 53rd Street, New York, Gallery A will present "From the Hand to the Home," featur­ Technical Committee Lecture ing a live demonstration of craftsmen at work. Speaker: Robert B. Newman, Acoustical Consultant Topic: "What's New in Acoustics" Monday through Saturday, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., 115 East 40th Street craftsmen will perform their various arts. NOVEMBER 26, 1960, Saturday Silversmithing-OCTOBER 3-15 2nd Annual Doric Debutante Cotillion Screen-printing--22 METROPOLITAN CLUB Pottery-throwing on a wheel--29 Fifth Avenue at 60th ~tre~t ~oom Weaving--NOVEMBER 5