Discussion // Big Green Machine

A friend of mine sent me a posting today from a politics/culture blog predicting that new "heroic architecture" - the kind that makes careers, awes the public, defines a city, becomes the topic of documentaries, etc. - will eventually spawn from the fledgling (but intensifying) Green movement.

^^^One Bryant Park, NYC (Rendering) by Cook+Fox Architects. First LEED Platinum Skyscraper in the US...first truly heroic Green building?

Discussion // Is there room for religion in Modernism?

I came across some interesting quotes in the local county newspaper this week from a young playwright, Olgethorpe University student Will Carter, who recently won first prize in the Agnes Scott College Writer's Festival. He describes his winning play "Line Please" as "an absurdist comedic critique of modernity," sourcing Dostoyevsky's Notes from Underground as his literary inspiration. Carter goes on, "I hate that in the modern world, we have to know everything; we must have a manual for life. I think mystery is a beautiful thing. As a Christian, I believe in a mysterious God, which I think is absolutely fantastic."

School // USC Graduate School of Architecture

I recently shared a course synopsis from my future graduate school with some people from the office...it reads something like this (definitions below):

Lecture: Swarm Intelligence - Scripting Workshop

The Scripting Workshop examined the role of agency within generative design processes. Algorithmic techniques were utilized in the development of a computational methodology grounded in swarm intelligence. Scripting formed the basis for algorithmic models that enabled localized interaction of agents to generate emergent topologies in the design of proto-architectural forms and urban structures. 

Discussion // Pixar: The New Heralds of Modernism?

Film - animation in particular- has long been, forgive the pun, a staging ground for architectural expression since the days of the first silent films. The advantage of practicing architecture through mainstream animation is, especially with the sophistication of current rendering techniques, limitless creativity and imagination without the constraint of a construction budget. Disney is world-famous for taking images from their films and transforming them into reality (theme parks), providing their customers with an architectural experience that today one achieves virtually through 3d visualization technology.

So I was watching Toy Story 3 the other day, and naturally, the geniuses of Pixar (which Disney purchased in 2006) have taken it upon themselves to create a whole new world of design - one that incorporates a ton of iconic imagery from American Modernism. Furthermore, the company hired excellent Pennsylvania-based firm Bohlin Cywinski Jackson to design their facilities in California, and the result is a light, airy, and wholly modern studio space that reflects the technical brilliance of Pixar's work (I will definitely try to make it out there once I'm in California). I am not sure if Pixar hires architectural or interior design consultants to ensure the buildings are accurate, but given the quality and level of detail involved, they must.

(Above) Eichler home, ca. 1960
(Below) The Parr Home from Pixar's The Incredibles, 2004

Icons of Modernism // Glass House

[All photos courtesy of Laura Diiorio (UMD '08, Tulane '12). Nice pics Laura, and good thing you took them, because I doubt I'll be in the New Canaan area any time soon!]

Glass House
Location: New Canaan, CT
Architect & Owner: Philip Johnson / National Trust of Historic Preservation
Year Built: 1949
Related Works: Farnsworth House by Mies van der Rohe

An allusion to the ideals of European Modernism, and a rather obvious nod to an architect Johnson greatly admired (Bauhaus master Mies van der Rohe), the Glass House is an archetypal example of glass-and-steel minimalism that, at the time, was revolutionary for American residential architecture. Unlike Mies, however, Johnson was far more eccentric in his use of form and allegory, as indicated in the numerous follys that populate the remainder of his 40+ acre estate.

For more information, check the visitor's center website and this recent feature in Time Magazine.

Discussion // The American Fear of Football (Soccer)

With the US team in the throes of its World Cup campaign, the question often is posed to soccer players and people involved in the game: "Why aren't Americans better at soccer?" To address this question is to not only evaluate the skill and talent of American players but to understand the nature of the game in a country where the sport is incredibly popular and which is blessed with a population of 300 million (the largest of the participating nations in the World Cup), and to recognize misperceptions by the public and, especially, members of the media.

^^^US Men's National Team.

From a purely "soccer" perspective, the US (ranked 14th in the world) does not have a poor team burdened with non-athletes. Jozy Altidore is an incredible physical presence; Tim Howard, Clint Dempsey, and Landon Donovan are world-class and blessed with speed, agility and intelligence. Then again, American as a whole consistently produces great athletes no matter the particular sport. The problem lies in coaching players to understand soccer, a game where, at the highest level, no one individual can dominate and the team is required to function as a whole, without pause, on offense and defense. Basketball and hockey are similar in the latter aspect but with far fewer players on the field of play and other rules differences, those sports can be won, but not always and to a measured extent, by superior individuals.

Discussion // Modern? Explain yourself!

^^^Symphony No. 1, Richard Pousette-Dart, and Nighthawks, Edward Hopper. Painted in the same year (1942), with vastly different themes.

Well, here it goes…in order for this blog to be successful, the parameters of the content must be established for discussion to occur; unfortunately, that requires at least a working definition of the word ‘modern.' This is not easily achieved, as hasty labeling and misplaced attribution have long muddled the precise meaning. Most interpretations tend to fall within six categories, which range from general to specific:

History & Iconography. Intertwined with such terms as “The Modern Era,” “Modernism,” and “The International Style,” the historical interpretation of ‘modern’ describes the period between 1910-1940 in Europe and 1940-1970 in the United States during which design, construction, manufacturing, and lifestyle underwent a dramatic break from tradition as a result of new philosophies and technologies. Leaders of this movement included Walter Gropius and Mies van der Rohe of the Bauhaus, Alvar Aalto, Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright, Marcel Breuer, Richard Neutra, R.M. Schindler, Ray and Charles Eames, Eero Saarinen, George Nelson, Florence Knoll, Harry Bertoia, Giuseppe Terragni and Gio Ponti. “The 1929 Barcelona Pavilion is a splendid example of Modernism.”

^^^Classic Modernist interior. R. Neutra, Lovell Heath House, 1929

Chronology. Anything current or contemporary. “Have you seen that brand new modern school?”

Technology. Anything that utilizes revolutionary technology or revolutionizes an aspect of daily life through its technology. “The personal computer is a modern essential; without it, we’d still be writing with paper and pencil and doing math by hand!”

Style. Mod…Modernista…Probably the most widely-used definition, it describes the aesthetic qualities of art, music, architecture, fashion, manufactured items, or means of living that identify with contemporary trends or values and are relatively experimental or unconventional in nature. “I admire their modern, eco-friendly lifestyle,” or, “That new painting makes no visual sense; I hate modern art!”

Evolution. Advanced; ahead of the times; the most current iteration of development. “Modern accounting methods make business far more efficient.”

Philosophy. An approach to living that eschews traditionalism, encourages experimentation and accepts the evolution of the aspects of lifestyle listed above as natural and, in most cases, beneficial. “It’s amazing how modern she is compared to her husband, who is very conservative and stuck in the past.”

There is no one perfect definition, and there is no combination that is right for everyone. Choose your own and make it you. For me, ‘modern’ is a measure of quality. It must incorporate quality and taste, craft, detail, and diligence, and requires a critical assessment of possible future utilizations and interpretations. What is your ‘modern’?

Intro // What is AMA all about?

AMA is a combination of “American Modern,” a term that encompasses the best of modern architecture, design, and fashion in the United States over the last 70 years, and “Modern American,” someone who embraces the ever-developing progressive American lifestyle.

I could not be more excited in anticipation of my move to Los Angeles to pursue a Masters of Architecture degree at USC. LA is the birthplace of American Modernism, and as I am something of a student of design history, I hope to visit and catalogue examples of some of the most ground-breaking architecture in the country. You may also find the occasional post on current events, sports, or anything that contributes to a modern lifestyle. I will also engage in some relevant self-criticism regarding my own architectural projects, while trying not to be hypocritical or inconsistent (fail! haha). Comments about my work are always encouraged. Some planned features:

-Early American Modernism
-Contemporary American Architecture & Urbanism
-Architect / Firm Profiles
-Theory, Practice, and the Future
-The Modern Lifestyle (Art, Design, Music, Fashion, & Food)
-Personal Projects

I look forward to the opportunity to write about some incredible new experiences, so peruse, enjoy, and comment! (Below is a picture of my future home - USC's Watt Hall.)

-JD