Tremont Art Walk - February 2009

Tremont Art Walk
Friday, February 13, 2009
Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland Ohio, 44113
6-10pm

- four roses :: print by Beth Mastroianni

resources:
Tremont Art Walk website
Google Map it
ArtWalk Map

the seasons of Cleveland

The sun is out and Cleveland starts to awaken from its cold slumber. I just wanted to share some photos from Lakewood Park I took today of Lake Erie slowly melting. There is something nice about the change of the seasons (especially as I have already grown sick of shoveling and attempting to commute to work in winter traffic) and the elongating day.

We still have plenty of winter left so don't get out the shorts just yet.

However take whatever time you can to enjoy the recent warm up. It is a perfect opportunity to wander around and reintroduce yourself to your neighborhood and our fair city.

Medical Mart Site Selection Public Meeting - will anyone show up to the party?

What: Public Hearing Regarding the Cleveland Medical Mart and Convention Center Site Selection
When: Thursday, February 12th, 2009
2pm
Where: Cleveland Public Library 325 Superior Ave., Cleveland, Ohio

Weeks after the decision to select the Mall Site as the primary location (dependent upon foundation and further cost analysis) the County Commissioners (selection board) will hold a public meeting with MMPI (Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc.). Present at the meeting will be the documentation that was presented to the various selection committee members which positioned the Mall Site as the premier location.

The official stand on the meeting is interesting. Jim McCafferty stated on an interview with WCPN that the public meeting is not in response to public outcry but instead was planned all along. It doesn't really matter to me if it is in response or not, in fact, I almost would rather that the meeting was a direct reaction in attempting to involve the heightened tone of the public in what could be the largest civic project this decade.

Regardless, the public meeting is a go and now the burden is on those vocal public groups to show up, take the time to disseminate the distributed information and offer thoughtful and direct comments.

I suppose I can admit that I am interested in the event and hope that certain specific milestones occur:

• The information disseminated is legible, laid out in an intelligent and understandable order and made available via handouts or web access both previous to the meeting and after.
• That public commentary is limited to the task at hand and not to grind personal axes about which political party is doing what or who is in who's pocket. Comments that question cost estimations, building technique, proposed growth and expansion plans, tax income, maintenance, public use, etc should all be welcome and directly answered.
• That representatives of involved professional communities such as Cleveland AIA or NSPE are on hand to take part in the meeting, gather information on the public's reaction and offer insight from a professional standpoint.
• That intelligent questions are respected and if direct answers cannot be given because the information is not at hand then requested information will be released at a later date (not too late).
  

From a personal standpoint I would also be greatly interested in being privy to the information regarding cost, construction technique, aesthetics, use and planning as it becomes available and would hope that the either the City or the County would create or update webspace to track progress and to use as a reference. There is a difficulty that breeds within this city, most likely not completely isolated to our fair region, of massive distrust of our political officials and by extension any civic project. Transparency will go a long way to quieting some of the voices and may actually result in intelligent suggestions and more efficient solutions.

See you on Thursday.

cite yer source: WCPN

more fun:
Medical Mart Project blog hasn't been updated since Dec. 2007.
Cleveland Merchandise Mart "official website" - soon with content?
MMPI Chicago Merchandise Mart

2009 Open Architecture Challenge: Classroom

"Design the classroom of the future"

TODAY'S LESSON: BETTER CLASSROOM DESIGN

The 2009 Open Architecture Challenge invites students, teachers and designers to work together to design the classroom of the future. Design teams are can partner with a school of their choosing or with one of our school building partners below.

Partner with a school of your choice

Urban Classroom Upgrade (India)

Relocatable Classroom Design (Modular)

Rural Classroom Addition (Uganda)

Teachers and students know what makes a classroom work. We're inviting you to design the classroom of the future together.

According to the World Bank, educating all children worldwide will require the construction of 10 million new classrooms in more than 100 countries by 2015. At the same time, millions of existing classrooms are in serious need of repair and refurbishment.
Let's get started.

We are inviting you, the designer, to work with students and teachers to design the classroom of the future for a school of your choosing. Your design should address the unique challenges your school faces in trying to provide smart, safe and sustainable learning spaces. Students and teachers, here's your chance to tell the world what you need to make your classroom more effective. Architects and designers, you'll work one-on-one with students to translate those needs into better classroom design.

* Share your design expertise and inspire school students to re-imagine their classroom
* Help students learn about the built environment using a companion design curriculum
* Become an advocate for better classroom design in your community

Jurors currently includes Dave Eggers, Michelle Kaufmann, Hilary Cottam, Kigge Hvid and others. More will be added over the course of the registration period.

If your design wins, your school will receive up to $50,000 in funding for classroom construction and upgrading. You will receive a grant of $5,000 to help them do it.

How to Get Involved

All are welcome to participate. You do not need to be a registered architect. You may submit multiple entries. There is an entry fee of $25 per entry. (These fees go towards supporting the competition. Fees are waived for entrants from developing nations).

Enter Now

Design Teams
Choose a school partner You can enter with a school of your choice or enter a design for one of our school building partners. Enter the Open Architecture Challenge Enter Now Once you enter, you will gain access to the competition brief and criteria. Once you have registered, you will have access to your project page and specific competition brief and criteria.
Teachers and Students
Enter the Open Architecture Challenge Once you enter, you will gain access to the competition brief and criteria. If you'd like to partner with a professional, many designers and architects would be eager to help your students understand the design criteria. How to find a professional near you. Download the companion curriculum and participate in other learning opportunities. See more Student and Teacher Resources.

If you are not already a member, you must first join the Open Architecture Network to enter the competition. Joining is free and only takes a moment. Register to join the Open Architecture Network.

2009 Open Architecture Challenge

OAN register

Pecha Kucha Night Cleveland #2

Friday, February 6th, 2009
Start 8:20pm (doors open at 7)
House of Blues
308 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio

Please join us at PechaKucha Night Cleveland - Volume 2, as local creatives present their work, ideas, and obsessions in a series of short presentations on art, fashion, food, architecture, film, furniture, music, and photography. Space will be tight so be sure to come early and enjoy a few beverages prior to being inspired, influenced, confused, provoked, and probably slightly intoxicated by the wonderfully variegated topic mix. Doors and bar open at 7:00pm. Keep an eye on the list of presenters - we will be updating it over the next few weeks. If you are interesting in presenting at a future PechaKucha Night, have an idea for a venue, or have questions about PechaKucha Night, please contact us - we'd love to hear your ideas. Can't wait to see ya on the 6th.

Be sure to bring a friend or two! Cheers, Mike Christoff & Raseem Parker pkncleveland@gmail.com

resources:
Pecha Kucha Night Cleveland

Med Mart/Convention Center as case study for growing Cleveland

Perhaps it requires the diligence of an unconnected outsider to muddle through the necessary logic and intent to chose a proper siting for a large project for this (and perhaps any) city. No one can fault Forest City for wanting to capitalize on underused properties. In fact the arguments which centered on the connectivity of the site were understandably strong however the proximity of the Mall site (.4 miles, 6 minutes walk by indirect path from Tower City) makes locating the new convention center and adjacent mart based upon "connectivity" alone one difficult to argue. I would like to see the Cuyahoga River developed (not in the fashion of creating large, imposing cliffs of "architecture" along it as shown by the Tower City Proposal), in fact I would rather see Riverfront Development take precedence over any lakefront development as the Cuyahoga is distinctly Cleveland and sets us apart historically and allegorically from any other competiting city.

While the plan of using the new convention center/medical mart as an impetus to invigorate seemingly unrelated industries is honestly overreaching the intent of developing the necessary entertainment/hotel industry to support conventions will set aside the chicken/egg argument (between residential program and its necessary supportive infrastructure) by first strengthening Cleveland as a destination and hopefully providing the necessary infrastructure (transit/entertainment/lodging) that will then allow an increase in desirability for residents and increase Cleveland's population strengthening tax base and enlivening the city

The site has finally been chosen, one I personally endorse and think was the better decision. Situated in a more public location with access to public transit, Burke Lakefront Airport and our burgeoning passenger rail (yes, the Amtrak station that most Clevelander's understandably couldn't find on a map is to the north of the Mall Site - hint follow the tracks) the proposed site is part of Cleveland's Group Plan developed by Arnold Brunner, John M. Carrère and Daniel Burnham with the intent to create a grand civic space for the "progressive city of Cleveland".

The next steps will seem both stubbornly slow and uncomfortably rapid as spatial and formal programs are developed and studied, connections to existing districts/regions are studied and strengthened and as funding is arranged and dispersed. My excitement at the project is not limited to simple site selection. I will not agree that this project alone can save the city but I do feel that it will reinforce what we already have and create job opportunity that we can harness and evolve into a more educated workforce backed by specialized manufacturing.

I beg that vigilant attention be paid to the project, to keep transparency high, to keep decisions informed and to make accountability for success or failure possible. This is a great case study for our city, one with tendrils further reaching and more permanent than the entertainment complexes of stadiums and arenas, one that can capitalize upon public spaces and movement to create an integrated and succinct solution that can become a strong positive image for our city; because in the end to succeed that is what the new Medical Mart and Convention Center has to become, a strong positive image that can impress upon the large volume of visitors that will be attending these functions. So that we (Cleveland) can make the flourish and statement of a city rising back up to reclaim its older glory of a vibrant metropolis, an exciting place to live, a fruitful place to work and a grand address to locate a business or industry.

resources:
Cleveland's Group Plan - Proceedings of the Eighth National Conference on City Planning, Cleveland, June 5-7, 1916 - a surprisingly still relevant read.

Waterloo Walls call for Artists

Deadline: February 27, 2009
Submission:
one page bio
project description
concept sketches

Waterloo Walls

Resources:
application

This strange new feeling...

...stirs within. Something that I haven't felt for quite some time. What is this strange new companion? Hope? Is this what hope actually feels like? Respect? Is that what this is? Some odd mixture? Hopspect?

We watched the festivities in the office today starting from when we finally figured out how to get the projector to function with the new video cards (around 11.15am) until our MSNBC feed finally gave up (right after Obama's speech).

There was something there though, in that speech, that made me feel slightly more comfortable than I have in quite some time. I apologize for this aside, I typically tend to stay clear of political conversation unless to comment upon a specific action so I mean this in no way as a blanket endorsement.

The strength of the language, the clarity of the rhetoric (even unspecified at times) made me very proud of my country right then. Not to say that I am usually un-proud although at time my pride may fluctuate depending on particular actions. There was conviction there. A call to arms that rang loud and clear and without quiver. That to truly achieve greatness we must unite, we most lead by example and make our success the envy and model of others to not only emulate, but to aspire to. Coupled with the previous day's community service the new Presidential Family undertook, I can appreciate the strength in that very ideal.

We have heard quite a bit of verbose statements in these past four or five years, at times questionable, typically to be taken on face value and repeated ad nausea until taken as truth. However we have also lately heard comments from both parties that they will strive to reach across the aisle, work together, work for the common good of the American people, be transparent and accountable. We have heard all these promises from almost everyone who had the fortune of having a microphone shoved into their face and I find that we are now particularly lucky to have the opportunity to test the merit of that bravado.

We, as a society, may truly be on the brink of a new and exciting age, faced with some of the greatest crisis in not only our own short history, the possibility lifts its lumbering head. Will we truly take the opportunity to work together and forge an image of strength and power once again for our country or will we squander what could possibly be one of our last chances before we finally drift away whimpering and beaten?

Should any forget, this new opportunity is not solely for those in positions of leadership in Washington but also for every man, woman and child that calls this nation home. We must take the model of leading by example, we must emulate our role models, taking on the characteristics we most cherish and invigorate our communities into action. We must learn to take responsibility, to hold ourselves accountable , we must act when it is called for and tirelessly prepare for our uncertain future in anticipation and care.

There were many great ideas strung together today, there was an amazing message, there was defiance and strength and a plea for Americans to be the sort of Americans they themselves respect. We must lead by example, we must rebuild our nation.

We have been given the opportunity and our foundation is strong.

Cleveland won't cuddle the coldest of us

As the cold snap that had strangled the Midwest and Eastern portion of the United States slowly releases its relentless grip it takes only a quick glance from frosty windows to realize how dependent we are upon our shelters. Furnaces working overtime, panes of frosted glass separating us from the elements as we toil under the glow of electric light.

This mentality typically transfers over to our daily lives more than we realize. Waking up and glancing at what we can discern from our windows typically indicates that our location and the season has gifted us with the cardiovascular workout of removing ice and snow from walkways, vehicles, driveways or any other encumbrances that will hinder our daily journeys. Attempting our morning shower (if the pipes haven't frozen), dressing in a manner that allows us to brave the elements for the necessary time to get to our destinations be it either by automobile or bus commute (braving the roadways and suspect driving skills of our neighbors), the treacherous walkways of the sidewalks, the exposed platforms of our light rail system and the extremes of the temperature inherent in each.

As any denizen can speak commuting in the throes of winter is diabolically different then the leisurely drives of warmer months. Clear summer roadways lead to sporadic techniques seen in aggressive driving that seem almost mild when compared to the same technique applied on the slick and newly salted arteries. Cars with windows still covered in snow attempting to change lanes around those whom do not quite trust the roadways and are exhibiting a cautious relationship with particular rules of physics cause many to wonder at the sanity of man. Cleveland may have an exquisite public bus system however those lumbering giants are held to the same roadway rules as everyone else. When traffic flow is corrupted by the constant seasonal spin-outs so is the bus passenger's commute.

The Rapid system seems more logical for cold weather and the journey to downtown. Dedicated rail transit corridors that act independently of roadway conditions typically service somewhat protected waiting areas that are gifted with heat, lighting and full enclosure. Granted even these systems are not completely secure from winter's icy fingers and delays, etc. may occur I must admit that the rail system has been typically quicker, warmer and more comfortable then our bus line in winter months.

Why then is it a constant argument that rail systems do not make more sense in colder climates? The Euclid Corridor/SilverLine/HealthLine system, born of various marketing names to fit whichever guise it was being sold under has proven in execution to be nothing more than a glorified bus system, beholden to the same foul weather barrage as the system it replaced. Exposed and cramped waiting areas are open to the east/west wind that rips through Cleveland while open corners, a suspect cost cutting device, make sure that no sheltered area is attainable. For a city that makes jokes about the length and breadth of our winters one would expect that designers and planners would respect the dialogue of our seasons.

So what would I like to eventually see? Enclosed stations, perhaps ones that actually protect inhabitants. More passenger rail connecting the inner ring suburbs to downtown, perhaps even with the planning of more transit oriented development as the first step in redeveloping an area (see along the Lakeshore Line) instead of random suburban development that requires new service. Staggering of systems already in place such as having the HealthLine stop at every 6 to 10 blocks instead of every other block, capitalizing on timed traffic patterns to expedite movement into and out of the city instead of stopping at every regular bus stop (the redundancy of the #6 and HealthLine - which don't share lanes - make Euclid a very interesting avenue to actually attempt to commute along). Does public square need 3 HealthLine stops? Concentrated transit nodes would be nice at certain points so that "mini" stations could develop along extremely busy routes offering passengers a chance to use many of the secondary transit lines to get closer to their destination. These mini nodes could also offer more shelter, be located by businesses and institutions and offering partnering/marketing strategies.

We need to take advantage of our weather patterns and design for an urban experience that won't leave people out in the cold but instead creates places to rest, warm up, and safely wait for their next transportation option to arrive. Getting into downtown and getting around downtown should not be thought of as two separate problems, it is imperative that the solution be conceived to function in concert. We need to act as if the city of Cleveland is fundamental to the health of the region and plan and act accordingly.

The ethics of the aesthetic - container housing

The movement for the "container" house, one I remember first truly being intimately exposed to (which I consider more then a blankly thumbing through a journal article) is based upon a lecture given by LOT-EK at Kent State University in 2003. The premise of re-using an existing pre-manufactured material (shipping containers) and extending their viable life was interesting. The modular construction meant that solutions were simply limited to creatively finding a manner to fit out the interior as usable space, structurally join and frame units, insulate and puncture the skin and carve out the necessary allowances for infrastructure (mechanical, communication and electrical services). The argument that these containers were more likely to be discarded than reused (which means typically shipping empty to where they were packed and sent from in the first place) was compelling enough to accept that creating a new truly machined modular aesthetic was secondary to the primary goal of salvaging resources.

In fact this was typically more comfortable to my own sense of performative architecture (performative meaning where a secondary goal of accomplishing more then simple shelter or space making is attempted through rigorous study and may therefore actively affect the primary goal) than the argument for modern prefabricated housing being cheaper and less wasteful and resonates with the associated aesthetic much more responsibly. A container is expected to be shaped as an extruded box, with the various elements being broken along the module of the container (typically as the primary element) with adjoining or adjacent accoutrement being given a secondary value. However the logic of modern prefab housing emulating this modular construction based solely on imitation severely limited the aesthetic and even the imagination of the form. In fact the argument that the less wasteful more cost efficient design was successful in use somehow took a back seat to alluding to successful contextual vernacular which had evolved over what ever time human habitation had occurred within the region.

The container modulus as aesthetic had somehow taken over. The building was supposed to be prefab and in order to sell the idea it also had to look prefab. The Sear's homes of the early 1900's, themselves a glowing example of successful prefabricated housing technology and construction, look nothing like how one would expect a factory built house to look. If anything the close allusion to standard housing construction was a more successful argument of the "machine aesthetic" because it was an attempt to prove that through machination that industrialized home building could indeed replace the craftsman builder and offer a more efficient alternative.

The natural evolution of the Sears home was that the model could not weather the boom and bust economic cycles where local tradesmen were able to offer home building at more cost efficient options whilst allowing for customization and personal design to take hold (again the cycle repeats and whole developments of hundreds if not thousands of homes are based from 3 or 4 master house plans and customized through use of applique to give each it's own distinct identity. Wanting to be different, just like everyone else wants to be). So follows the modern prefabricated house. Offering so much in the way of options that the cost effective argument is moot. There is no metric from which to base an empirical study and no manner of record keeping to prove that the designs are more efficient in use nor construction.

Thus the shipping container model strengthens its argument if only in need to re-use existing materials the designs are offering what no other prefabricated system can, a logical reasoning behind the obvious module. While I may or may not agree with the aesthetic per se, I can understand and even appreciate the argument behind it.

Imagine my surprise however when confronted with the polka dot structure whose image is shown above. A foray into the prefabricated modular home building arena which stresses to argue against the very logic for its existence. Aggregated in ConHouse, a how to guide for container housing with the agenda that everyone can (and possibly should) afford themselves a shipping container home, this particular design by jure kotnik architect for a "weekend house" is based from a specially designed and constructed container, built solely to be used for housing. The idea of reusing materials is thrown away for the argument of cost. While the actual pricing area is a little unknown the argument that this particular module is the most cost effective and spatially adaptable seems highly suspect, especially when proffered that this particular design can be altered "as needed so that the ConHouse can grow or contract...". The resultant is a home that has an arguable cost and use but confines itself to an aesthetic that it doesn't not actually belong. So why follow the aesthetic? Is there something terribly romantic or historic that the container offers? Is there more opportunity offered by the structure or design that would become unavailable if there were a pitched roof or more articulated footprint? When the reasoning behind the base system is deviated from what makes the new system have any inherent value (other than allegorical)?

When giant pink polka dots are the least offending portion of an offered scheme one must consider that something is truly amiss.

2008 TOIstudio Year in Review

Trying to quantify the meanderings of Cleveland architecture and design for an entire year into a couple paragraphs shouldn't really be that difficult. There were plenty of art openings within the various art districts that form a commercialized "culture" necklace around the closing throat of our fair city.

The economy stifled Stark's and Wolstein's plans to interject mixed use living downtown as well as put the brakes on the plans of many local design firms (that itself is topic for another separate discussion).

We did see the beginning/completion of some projects, promising and otherwise. The Euclid Corridor HealthLine/SilverLine finally opened for business and is undergoing the throws of the public judgment of change (or not enough change depending on where you stand).

Robert Maschke finally built something on the hill overlooking the Lakeshore that at least attempts to challenge the standard operating procedure of custom built homes and conveniently acts as a billboard for more modern design than the average Cleveland citizen is used to.

Cameron Sinclair gave a tremendous talk at Ideastream about the work of Architecture for Humanity which I think gave quite a few people pause to question the ethics of their actions.

Winny Maas of MVRDV learned a little something about working in Cleveland as he watched his design get, well, sank. I was actually excited for the original design and now, well, I am a little sad at the tentative, boring uninspiring design that will take its place. Whether or not you attempt to cover it up with banners and supergraphics the building underneath will still be there.

Foreign Office Architects also are working on an anchor building to University Circle, designing the new building to house Cleveland's Museum of Contemporary Art. Not a lot about this project is generally known but if FOA's previous work is any indication the Cleveland.com blog will be on FIRE (in the hilarious and somewhat embarrassing for humanity way it typically is).

A couple more big names got tossed in the ring for designing the residential component of The Triangle (University Circle's public schwerpunkt) however since this is all blending together in my mind of when this all started going down perhaps this should all be filed under 2007 anyway. It doesn't matter besides, coordination is going through a local city office that isn't known for K work (the "K" stands for Kwality) and there shouldn't be any surprise if the development gets botched even after surviving the current economy.

blah blah blah, Tri-C sneaks something past the sleeping city and scurries to put up the Center for Creative Arts which doesn't offend all the senses but it tried pretty hard. I don't even know if construction is complete on it yet, I try to close my eyes every time I pass the site which is hard to do when driving on the 77 North bridge into Cleveland but I think it is worth the risk.

And speaking of bridges how about the the Innerbelt Bridge? Guess which huge infrastructure project is so completely screwed up that it the rumors ODOT is hoping the current economy forces more people to move downtown and empty out the suburbs so they don't have to deal with the bridge could be completely true and not just made up on the spot. Can you guess?

Also, ODOT basically gives Tremont the finger, closes down Highway access and keeps it that way. At least the Abbey Road bridge by the W.25th Red Line station is open again. I think.

Cleveland had two local design competitions close out the year. The second annual Cleveland Design Competition and the Fairfax Intergenerational Design Competition both got some local talent involved and even attracted some international attention.

A stay of execution was issued for Marcel Breuer's Ameritrust Tower on E.9th and Euclid as K&D Development purchased it from Cuyahoga County. No word on what the County plans to do as a new headquarters nor how quickly the Tower's redevelopment is moving as most speculative development has been placed on hold.

CSU's Student Center by Don Hisaka was razed to make way for a project by Gwathmey Seigel that I hope is executed better than the renderings for the new student center show. I was sorry to see the old student center go. At least it was interesting.

Medical Mart. Big news in 2007, big news in 2008. What will 2009 hold?

Of course the economy hasn't helped anyone. Massive cuts at design firms, speculative projects going under, major investments being lost by clients decreases the available funds for expansion and growth and cuts into budgets anyway hurting, well everyone.

Obama. What more can I say? I haven't drank all the kool-aid yet but after the debacle of the last administration having someone who can speak their mind in an articulate manner may well be welcome. Preliminary plans to stimulate the economy through infrastructure stimulus packages and oversee city and urban development can only be exciting and I am extremely excited about the prospect of our nation moving forward again.

So here is to 2009. 'F@#!' 2008. At least it can't be worse.

2007 in review

Tremont ArtWalk - January 2009

Tremont Art Walk
Friday, January 9th, 2008
Tremont Neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio
6-10pm

First one of the year!

Year of the OX - Call to Artists

Year of the OX Public Art Project
Deadline: January 16th, 2009
Sponsored by: St Clair Superior Development Corporation

The (36" x 41" long) fiberglass oxen will be supplied (pedestals will depend upon sponsor's chosen location).

The artist may paint, sculpt, transform and adorn the ox form as he or she wishes, but the structural integrity of the ox must not be compromised. Asian themes are appropriate, but are not required. The design should not include any direct advertising of a product or company.

Call to Artists
application form .pdf
design template .pdf

Mercel Breuer - another building in danger - Atlanta-Fulton Central Library

Timely coinciding with my completion of Fred Scott's On Altering Architecture I received notice that another of Marcel Breuer's signature buildings was in danger of demolition. After the arduous battle for the saving of the Cleveland Trust Tower/ Ameritrust Tower/ Breuer Tower which I will still defend over margarita's at lunch.

I haven't collected all the data on the situation just yet, however word on the street is that the Atlanta-Fulton Central Library is looking at razing Breuer's library in order to make way for a new structure.

The Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City — one of architect Marcel Breuer’s most esteemed works — has taken its place among the premier cultural monuments of the modern world. When it first made its appearance in 1966, among those who held it in high esteem and recognized its importance for modern architecture was the then Director of the Atlanta Public Library, Carlton C. Rochell, a man with a keen interest in and a wide knowledge of architecture. Eager to have what he called “a world class building” for the projected new library in Atlanta, and believing it possible to do so by going to a “world class architect”, he reinforced his view by making an analogy to Atlanta’s famed baseball superstar, stating that “ If you want a home run you pick Hank Aaron”. He therefore urged the selection committee of the Library Board to interview Breuer (among others) for the project. The Breuer office in New York received from Atlanta a 275 page program for the new building. The program was intensively adjusted and revised, interpreted and reinvented, by the architectural team in the Breuer office, headed by Breuer’s partner Hamilton Smith with the important contribution of architect Carl Stein. A model was built from the Breuer design, and it was considered by the Board in Atlanta to be a highly successful interpretation of their program.

The resulting Atlanta Central Public Library – construction began in 1977 and was completed in 1980 – is one of the finest buildings of Marcel Breuer’s long career. Probably because the Board members had made very clear to Breuer their admiration for his Whitney Museum, the Atlanta Library reflects an obvious great kinship with the museum. For Atlanta, Breuer reinvented the stepped profile, the grand massing, the few windows, and the severe, hard-edged geometric volumes of the Whitney. It is indeed a world class building by a world class architect. That library is now in danger of disappearing.

The significance of Marcel Breuer and his architecture in the history of modernism was already established by 1956 when he was named – along with Mies von der Rohe, Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, Walter Gropius, Eero Saarinen, Alvar Aalto, and six others — as one of the “form-givers” of the twentieth-century. Breuer had been educated at the Bauhaus in Germany in the 1920s, practiced architecture in London in the mid-1930s, and emigrated to the United States in 1937 at the behest of Walter Gropius to teach at the Graduate School of Design at Harvard and, in partnership with Gropius, to enter into private practice. After the end of the World War II Breuer left Harvard and established an independent and highly successful architectural practice in New York City. With an international team of partners he designed the Unesco Building in Paris; he was the architect of the HUD and HEW federal buildings in Washington, D.C., and of the Grand Coulee Dam Forebay in the state of Washington. The famed complex of Benedictine buildings in Collegeville, Minnesota is his work, as is the education wing of the Cleveland Museum of Art, the United States Embassy in The Hague, and several administrative and laboratory buildings for IBM. Breuer built schools, office buildings, libraries, sacred buildings, and a remarkable number of widely admired private residences. In 1968 he was the recipient of the Gold Medal given by the American Institute of Architects. In 1972-73 – the heyday of Late Modernism – Breuer’s stature was recognized, impressively, by the Metropolitan Museum of New York, New York’s premiere museum. The museum gave him the first one-man show of an architect in its 102 year history. They titled it “Marcel Breuer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art,” and mounted it in three galleries with a display of photo murals, architectural models, furniture, and tapestries. In its press release the Met referred to Breuer as “One of the 20th century’s most important and prolific architects, a major influence in American architecture and Design.” As recently as 2007 – more than a quarter century after his death — the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. installed a major exhibition entitled “Marcel Breuer: Design and Architecture”, paying particular tribute to his brilliant career as a designer of furniture as well as buildings.

At the time of the initial campaign for the current Atlanta Library, Atlanta was described as “a city with a lot of buildings but not a lot of architecture.” Breuer’s Atlanta Library is unquestionably a work of “architecture.” Its heavy massing and concrete construction represent a mode of design and a material no longer in vogue in parts of this country. But Breuer had a particular interest in the sculptural potential of concrete in modern architecture, as he conceived architecture as sculpture. And concrete was a material that, at the time the Library project was underway, was very cost-effective for a public building.

Tastes change with regard to the appearance of buildings as they do for every cycle of creative activity. Concrete architecture of the 1970s is not at this moment universally appreciated. But to remove a significant modernist monument — important in and for its time and still satisfactorily fulfilling its original function to serve the community — designed by a major architect of historical importance and world renown, would be a serious civic blunder in the cultural history of Atlanta.

Isabelle Hyman (borrowed from the preservation main page, not to dilute the intent but to stir the heart to action)

If one can stand for one's beliefs in one's own region, why cannot one speak out to protect another? That is the justification for sticking my nose where it probably is not needed.

Resources:

• Letter from Isabelle Hyman, Professor Emerita, Department of Art History,New York University
• Atlanta-Fulton Library salvation project
• online petition for preservation

All I wanted was an authentic Model-B3 chair (or a Knoll reproduction would be fine. Black leather please but I won't be picky) for xmas.