2024-05-02T00:05:24-04:00 https://archinect.com/news/article/91152369/on-the-legacy-of-the-institute-for-architecture-and-urban-studies Places Journal 2014-01-13T16:59:00-05:00 >2018-01-30T06:16:04-05:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/e5/e5s1fkha5s1adz2e.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><em><p>I wish that it still existed. &mdash; Frank Gehry It would be the world's biggest nightmare if the Institute were still alive. &mdash; Mark Wigley It was the moment for something to happen. &mdash; Diana Agrest //</p></em><br /><br /><p> In 1967 Peter Eisenman founded the Institute for Architecture and Urban Studies, and until it closed in 1985 the Institute &mdash; a heady mix of think tank, exhibit space, journal publisher and cocktail party &mdash; was one of the centers of American architecture culture. Belmont Freeman describes the new documentary by Diana Agrest, <em>The Making of an Avant-Garde</em>, as a remarkable contribution to the record, and a fascinating glimpse at the early years of many of today's stars: "There is something almost (almost) touching about listening to today&rsquo;s titans of corporate and haute institutional architecture remind us that once upon a time they were young, idealistic, radical thinkers."</p>