i thought dallas had the corner on what one distinguished local architect called “urine-colored towers” but here’s new haven making its case. this one from 1972-78 by a rather anonymous ny firm.
it’s not too often that you get to write a rave, and this one is a special pleasure: the new ismaili center in houston, with architecture by @farshidmoussavi and landscape by @nelsonbyrdwoltz is beautifully conceived and beautifully made, and all the more meaningful in the current political situation.
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the big debate in the berkshires is whether the lenox high school needs to change its team name from “millionaires,” complete with monopoly money-bags guy mascot. say what? in the gilded age, the berkshires became a playground for plutocrats, who build mansions, euphemistically known as “cottages,” in the bucolic settings. among the weirder examples: ventford hall built in 1893 for jp morgan’s sister. the architecture, by rotch and tilden, is a pleasantly jumbled victorian agglomeration of dutch and castellated elements, by the firm rotch and tilden.
pietro belluschi’s 1959 first lutheran church in boston’s back bay, a modest, mid-century beaut. donlyn lyndon, who passed away last week (rip), credited its “gentle radiance” and “quiet authority” in his wonderful guide to boston. ’tis a gift to be simple….
talking about the new lacma with some students at the gsd a few days ago, discussion moved to what makes a good museum. i should have mentioned steven holl’s building for the houston mfah. i know critical mileage varies on holl, but i have always admired (and sometimes been frustrated by) him, both for his architecture and his commitment to the profession, as exemplified by the storefront for art and architecture and pamphlet architecture. i reviewed the mfah positively when it opened in 2020, and based on a recent visit it is absolutely holding up. its luminous glass-tube facades appear to be in fine condition, and inside the galleries are airy and beautifully lit (with help from structural design by guy nordenson). views from one gallery to the next draw you through the museum, but there is a sense of freedom and play, and a wide variety of sizes and shapes that works for looking at the astounding collection. the detailing is excellent, if sometimes fussy. i have mixed feelings about his adjacent and very graphic glassell school, with its tilt-wall planes and central concrete bleacher stair (my bete noir).
worth noting that holl is easily the most prominent architect to vocally support the effort to preserve dallas city hall.
the adam clayton powell state office building, aptly nicknamed the sob when it was built in 1973. pj was the initial architect, but replaced for political reasons, understandably, by minority-led ifill johnson blanchard.
shotgun review of the new studio museum in harlem: from the outside but also within, the blocky, monochrome structure feels a bit like a giant ikea console — the museumstå. like the new new museum, much of its space is given over to a chunky dramatic stair, and the galleries are largely without natural light. a central core also takes up a great deal of space, and leaves some awkward hallway galleries. that said, some very nice detailiing, and with an expansive roof terrace with sensational views. there’s very nice educational space and space for artists in residence, which more (every?) museums should have. the cafe is very nice. don’t get me started on the bleacher stair. as for the actual art, bravo to chief curator thelma golden (also a new lincoln grad!) for putting together some truly phenomenal work. a favorite: malaika temba’s woven tapestry of a street scene in tanzania. showstopper. and david hammons’ 1969 “pray for america” still seems right on the nose. unfortunate that the museum is associated with david adjaye and his michegas.
the rothko chapel has never looked better, thabks to restoration and new visitor center by @architecture.research.office . and look what’s featured in the book section. ❤️🙏
i’m all for pomo, but john outram’s duncan hall at rice is a polychrome bridge too far. pomo’s joys become an airless, dank crypt — piranesi funneled through wily wonka. the exterior has some weirdo exuberant moments but nothing to compenante for the grim interior. rice’s far better pomo: michael graves’ what-a-brick-wants-to-be martel hall/.
