“By 1970, the first stirrings of the revolt against Modernist orthodoxy in architecture had been felt, although it would be several years more until Postmodernism was widely accepted and made classical motifs permissible in high-style building design for the first time in decades.” YearsFirstsMadeWould BeFeltStyleDesignBuildingFirst TimeDecadesArchitectureAcceptedOrthodoxyRevoltStirringPostmodernismMotifs Author:Martin Filler
“Nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century exponents of prefabrication were certain it would supplant age-old traditions of individualized design and handcrafted construction. The building art would be revolutionized by freeing designers and construction workers from repetitive tasks, and democratized by making high-style architecture more affordable.” ArtWould BeAgeCertainCenturyStyleDesignBuildingTraditionTasksWorkersArchitectureDesignerConstructionTwentieth CenturyAffordableRepetitiveExponentsConstruction WorkersOld TraditionsHandcrafted Author:Martin Filler
“The tall building, concentrating man in one place more densely than ever before, similarly concentrates the dilemma of our public architecture at the end of the twentieth century: whether the new forms made possible by technology are doomed by the low calculations of modern patrons and their architects.” MenMadeEndsFormTechnologyModernCenturyBuildingLowsArchitectureTallArchitectDoomedTwentieth CenturyDilemmaCalculationsConcentratingPatronTall Buildings Author:Martin Filler
“High among the unpredictable variables that endanger the survival of worthy buildings are the vagaries of taste.” BuildingTasteSurvivalWorthyUnpredictableVariables Author:Martin Filler
“There can be little question that the tall building presents one of the most difficult challenges to the architect.” LittlesDifficultChallengesBuildingTallArchitectDifficult ChallengesTall Buildings Author:Martin Filler
“A turning point in the public's perception of the building art came with the publication of Frank Lloyd Wright's 'An Autobiography' of 1932, a picaresque narrative that captivated many who hadn't the slightest inkling of what architects actually did.” ArtBuildingPerceptionNarrativeArchitectFrankAutobiographyPublicationTurning PointsCaptivatedPicaresque Author:Martin Filler
“All architecture, classical or not, must have some sense of order, and order is much harder to achieve without the straight lines and right angles that have dominated the building art from time immemorial.” ArtOrderLinesAchieveBuildingHarderArchitectureAngleStraight Lines Author:Martin Filler
“Cost overruns are not uncommon in architecture, particularly for designs that depart from structural or technological norms, or demand a finer quality of execution than commercial schemes - conditions typical of buildings for cultural institutions. Budgets are exceeded for many reasons, not all of them within an architect's control.” ReasonQualityConditionsDesignBuildingCostDemandInstitutionsArchitectureBudgetsArchitectExecutionSchemesTypicalTechnologicalNormUncommon Author:Martin Filler
“Despite the persistent image of the architect as a heroic loner erecting monumental edifices through sheer force of will, the building art has always been a highly cooperative enterprise.” ArtForceBuildingDespiteEnterpriseHeroicArchitectSheerPersistentLonerCooperativesEdificeForce Of Will Author:Martin Filler
“During the nineteenth century, the rapid emergence and proliferation of new manufacturing methods and building technologies led to the establishment of polytechnic schools that concentrated on the practicalities of engineering and construction rather than the niceties of stylistic correctness or adherence to established precedent.” SchoolTechnologyCenturyBuildingMethodConstructionEstablishmentEngineeringRapidsManufacturingNineteenth CenturyCorrectnessEmergencePrecedentProliferationPracticalityAdherenceNiceties Author:Martin Filler
“Experimental architecture by its very nature is more prone to the depredations of time and natural elements than buildings made from conventional materials through traditional methods. Avant-garde architects often simply do not know how the products of their imagination will perform when implemented, especially if untested components are involved.” IfsKnowsMadeImaginationNaturalKnow HowBuildingMaterialsProductsInvolvedElementsMethodArchitectureTraditionalArchitectConventionalComponentsAvant GardeNatural Elements Author:Martin Filler
“One of the most persistent yet elusive dreams of the Modern Movement in architecture has been prefabrication: industrially made structures that can be assembled at a building site.” Has BeensMadeDreamModernMovementBuildingStructureArchitectureSitePersistentElusive Author:Martin Filler
“One of the stated goals of the postmodern movement in architecture was a greater sensitivity to the people who live in or use newly designed buildings.” PeopleUseGoalGreaterMovementBuildingArchitectureSensitivityPostmodern Author:Martin Filler
“The financial benefits of prefabrication have never been as large as its advocates predicted, for although some labor costs can be reduced by machine manufacturing, on-site assembly of any building still depends to some extent on the handwork of skilled craftsmen.” StillsBuildingDependsCostBenefitsLaborMachinesFinancialSiteAssemblyManufacturingCraftsman Author:Martin Filler
“The magnificent lobby of the Chrysler Building - faced with rare marbles, aglitter with decorative metalwork, and surmounted by a ceiling painted with a totemic image of the tower itself - leads to elevator cabs inlaid with exotic woods in fanciful patterns. The entire route from street to office is invested with ceremony, dignity, and delight.” StreetsBuildingOfficeDignityPatternsDelightWoodsMagnificentTowersRoutesCeremonyCeilingsMarbleExoticElevatorsCabChryslerChrysler Building Author:Martin Filler
“The skyscraper style first advocated by Louis Sullivan - a tower of strongly vertical character with clear definitions among base, shaft, and crown - has remained remarkably consistent throughout the history of this building type.” FirstsCharacterClearStyleBuildingTypeDefinitionsConsistentCrownsTowersVerticalSkyscraper Author:Martin Filler
“The work that launched Snohetta into the architectural big leagues was their Oslo Opera House, which will certainly rank among the firm's highlights whatever else they may do. Although this is by any measure a triumph of city planning, the building itself is not quite a masterpiece, though very fine indeed.” MayBigsHouseCitiesBuildingFinePlanningTriumphFirmLeagueOperaMasterpieceHighlightsCity PlanningOpera HouseOslo Author:Martin Filler
