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DC MODERN: a Context for Modernism in the District of Columbia, 1945-1976

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DC MODERN: a Context for Modernism in the District of Columbia, 1945-1976 DC MODERN: A Context for Modernism in the District of Columbia, 1945-1976 Historic Context Study FINAL Prepared for the District of Columbia Historic Preservation Office (HPO) by Robinson & Associates, Inc. January 23, 2009 DC Modern: A Context for Modernism in the District of Columbia, 1945-1976 Robinson & Associates, Inc. January 23, 2009 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Preface A. Purpose.....................................................................................................................3 B. Background ..............................................................................................................3 C. Methodology ............................................................................................................3 D. Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................5 E. List of Figures ..........................................................................................................6 F. Modernism Defined..................................................................................................11 II. Introduction A. Washington Conservatism and the Legacy of the McMillan Commission Plan......12 B. The Dissemination of Modern Ideals .......................................................................13 C. The Transition toward Modernism...........................................................................14 D. World War II Mobilization.......................................................................................18 E. Early Key Players.....................................................................................................19 III. The Postwar Period, 1945 to 1950 A. Trends in Planning and Transportation ....................................................................26 1. Suburbanization and Decentralization.........................................................26 2. Urban Renewal............................................................................................27 3. Early Preservation Efforts ...........................................................................28 4. Mass Transit ................................................................................................28 B. Influence of the Washington Board of Trade ...........................................................29 C. Landscape Architecture............................................................................................30 D. Representative Examples of Modern Design ...........................................................31 1. Residential...................................................................................................31 2. Commercial .................................................................................................34 3. Federal.........................................................................................................35 IV. The 1950s A. City Growth and Change..........................................................................................37 B. Commercial Development........................................................................................37 C. Planning....................................................................................................................39 1. Urban Renewal............................................................................................39 2. Residential Issues and Influences................................................................41 3. Transportation .............................................................................................42 D. Federal Initiatives.....................................................................................................43 E. Practitioners..............................................................................................................44 F. Representative Examples of Modern Design ...........................................................46 1. Residential...................................................................................................47 2. Commercial .................................................................................................51 3. Institutional..................................................................................................51 4. Public Schools.............................................................................................56 5. Federal.........................................................................................................57 6. Embassies....................................................................................................58 V. Early to Mid-1960s A. Social and Civic Change ..........................................................................................60 B. Commercial Development........................................................................................60 1 DC Modern: A Context for Modernism in the District of Columbia, 1945-1976 Robinson & Associates, Inc. January 23, 2009 C. Planning....................................................................................................................62 1. Urban Renewal............................................................................................63 2. Preservation.................................................................................................65 D. Federal Initiatives.....................................................................................................66 E. Transportation ..........................................................................................................69 F. Local Developments in the Architectural Field........................................................70 G. Materials and Technology........................................................................................71 H. Representative Examples of Modern Design ...........................................................72 1. Residential...................................................................................................72 2. Residential Projects in Southwest ...............................................................77 3. Commercial .................................................................................................79 4. Institutional..................................................................................................81 5. Federal.........................................................................................................85 6. Embassies....................................................................................................88 VI. Late 1960s to Mid-1970s A. City Growth and Change..........................................................................................91 B. Planning....................................................................................................................92 1. Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation .......................................93 2. Preservation.................................................................................................93 C. Federal Initiatives.....................................................................................................94 1. New Towns .................................................................................................95 2. Planning for the Bicentennial......................................................................95 D. Transportation ..........................................................................................................96 E. Architectural Trends.................................................................................................97 F. Practitioners..............................................................................................................98 G. Representative Examples of Modern Design ...........................................................99 1. Residential...................................................................................................99 2. Commercial .................................................................................................105 3. Institutional..................................................................................................110 4. Parks, Recreation, and Landscape...............................................................120 5. Federal.........................................................................................................123 6. Embassies....................................................................................................130 VII. Appendices Appendix A: Evaluation Guidelines for the District’s Modern Buildings......................133 Appendix B: Bibliography..............................................................................................136 2 DC Modern: A Context for Modernism in the District of Columbia, 1945-1976 Robinson & Associates, Inc. January 23, 2009 I. PREFACE A. Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the Modern Movement of architecture in Washington, D.C., concentrating on the buildings and landscapes designed and built between 1945 and 1976. DC Modern identifies the architects, landscape architects, planners, developers, and clients who supported Modernism in the city and documents the social, political, economic, and artistic forces that shaped the movement. The study locates notable examples of the Modern Movement in Washington and illustrates their influence on the
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