Wright Chat

American architects select 10 of the country's most influential buildings


David

I haven't been paying much attention to the current bunch of architects, so I don't recognize any of these (other than Robert A. M. Stern) who have opined. The article should have included an example of each of the critics' own contributions to allow the reader to render an opinion on the opinions.

Without question, of the selections, I would agree with Lever and Dulles. The three excellent residences by Johnson, Frey and Wright are questionable as to their influence, as are Brooklyn Public Library and Guardian. Spectacular libraries, banks and train stations, recalling the ancient Roman bath of Caracalla, are remnants of the past that will not influence much of anything in the future.

Yes, there are ten photographs, but there are eleven selections ... two FLLWright houses. Here's the one not pictured:

The Ray Brandes House, 1952, Sammamish, Washington #FrankLlyodWright #UsonianHouse pic.twitter.com/NYA3vf0kpX

— NeoUsonian (@NeoUsonian) May 2, 2017

Ray Brandes House, Washington, by Frank Lloyd Wright (1952)
Chosen by James von Klemperer, president and design principal of Kohn Pedersen Fox

"The Brandes House in Sammamish, Washington provides us with an example of climate-responsive and resource-saving architecture.

"One of Wright's later Usonian houses, it exemplifies the economies of diminutive scale and the judicious use of materials. This admirable example of sustainable design serves as a useful paradigm for today's practice."

My only quibble with that would be, "one of Wright's later Usonians." Later than the early Jacobs, Pew, Sturges, Rosenbaum examples---but in 1952 hardly the last of the line, with many more adventurous models yet to come ?

S

If some of those were that influential, would more future buildings look like them?