The Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, a modernist gem of architect Edward Dart, was demolished last week, exemplifying a hole in the city's safety net for preserving historic structures. Chicago Tribune | on flickr
i've never heard of edward dart and that's probably what i find most appealing about this article...that there are modern buildings under threat by relatively "unknown" architects.
it's much easier to rally for a breuer or rudolph, but a dart? and my suspicion is that nearly every community has examples of modern architecture that is now under seige by financially motivated developers and cultural ignorant politicians who are willing to pander to the general lack of interest amongst the citizenry for the importance of architecture.
some of these modern buildings probably could justifiably be demolished but certainly not all of them. i think this case is a perfect illustration of the risks facing "mainstreet modernism" in america.
That's true especially in Chicago, as Mies and his spawn disgourged from IIT during his tenure did a mighty fine job on more than a few buildings around town. When people tell me modernism is ugly, I question whether or not they've seen any good modern buildings, but rather just cheap knock-offs.
Aug 14, 07 12:51 pm ·
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look at the "space shuttle", I wonder how those turbojets work in space without air.
whats funny is that the bricks from demolished buildings up here get boxed and sent down south for McMansions - see all the pallets in the pix
i've never heard of edward dart and that's probably what i find most appealing about this article...that there are modern buildings under threat by relatively "unknown" architects.
it's much easier to rally for a breuer or rudolph, but a dart? and my suspicion is that nearly every community has examples of modern architecture that is now under seige by financially motivated developers and cultural ignorant politicians who are willing to pander to the general lack of interest amongst the citizenry for the importance of architecture.
some of these modern buildings probably could justifiably be demolished but certainly not all of them. i think this case is a perfect illustration of the risks facing "mainstreet modernism" in america.
That's true especially in Chicago, as Mies and his spawn disgourged from IIT during his tenure did a mighty fine job on more than a few buildings around town. When people tell me modernism is ugly, I question whether or not they've seen any good modern buildings, but rather just cheap knock-offs.
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