Category Archives: Architecture

Architecture Du Jour

Posted on September 6, 2015 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: One of the gates at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, CA. Click on the image to enlarge.

Posted in Architecture, Movies | Tagged Paramount Pictures | Leave a comment

Restore, Don’t Redesign, Pershing Square

Posted on September 2, 2015 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: Today the L.A. City Council announced an international competition to redesign Pershing Square located in the heart of downtown. The existing design by AIA Gold Medal winner Ricardo Legorreta, which dates from 1994, has been widely hated for … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture | Tagged John B. Parkinson, Los Angeles, parks, Pershing Square, Ricardo Legorreta, traditionalism, urbanism | 6 Comments

Streetcar Suburb Summer

Posted on August 31, 2015 by Fenster

Fenster writes: Is it possible for planners to create a community with as much charm and character as one that evolved organically over time? Heck, I suppose it might be possible. Given enough bandwidth, time and creativity, and with possibly great … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture | Tagged architecture | 12 Comments

Edges, Pointiness, Minimalism and Public Seating

Posted on August 31, 2015 by Paleo Retiree

Paleo Retiree writes: On a beautiful recent day, my wife and I treated ourselves to a long, leisurely walk — first through the West Village, then down along Hudson River Park, and finally through and beyond Battery Park Marina. The red line shows our … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture | Tagged architecture, modernism, New York City, parks, traditionalism, urbanism | 5 Comments

The Gezornenplat House

Posted on August 28, 2015 by Fenster

Fenster writes: German architect Reinhold Weichlbauer practices freestyle planning, which is based on the idea that, in the words of an HGTV segment profiling one of his houses, “windows and doors are only placed at certain places in the house … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture | 2 Comments

Architecture Du Jour

Posted on August 19, 2015 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: A courtyard I stumbled across at Barnard College, on Broadway across the street from Columbia University. Click on the images to enlarge.

Posted in Architecture | Tagged Barnard College, Beaux Arts, New York City, traditionalism | 2 Comments

Architects That Don’t Suck: David M. Schwarz

Posted on August 17, 2015 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: In this first installment of Architects That Don’t Suck, I’d like to highlight the work of Washington D.C.-based architect David M. Schwarz. Hey, whaddya know — not all contempo architects specialize in gleaming modernist geegaws. Some builders out … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture | Tagged David M. Schwarz, Fort Worth, traditionalism, TX, urbanism | 1 Comment

9/11 Memorial Visit: Calatrava’s Transportation Hub & the Memorial Pools

Posted on August 15, 2015 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: In part one of our 9/11 Memorial Visit, Paleo Retiree did an excellent job analyzing the disaster that is the park. In my tour I’d like to focus on the two main set pieces of the area: Santiago … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Travel | Tagged 9/11 Memorial, opportunity cost, Santiago Calatrava | 6 Comments

9/11 Memorial Visit: The Crap Space Angle

Posted on August 14, 2015 by Paleo Retiree

Paleo Retiree writes: Blowhard, Esq. and I recently spent a few sunny hours exploring the 9/11 Memorial in lower Manhattan. We weren’t interested in touring the museum, so (aside from rolling our eyes at its fashionably toppled-over exterior form) we skipped it. What we intended to … Continue reading →