Feature Story:

Moving Beyond the"Smackdown"Towards an Architecture of Place

My encounter with Frank Gehry this summer has sparked a long-running debate about the limits of iconic architecture and the need to transform isolated, stand-alone "sculptural" buildings and landscape design into genuine public spaces that are humanly-scaled and and environmentally sensitive. We believe the era of iconic design must transition to be defined by a sense of place. With the idea of place at their core, cities will become more livable, sustainable and authentic. Big changes are now possible, and you can help make them happen. So please share your thoughts about the Architecture of Place with us, and together we can shape great cities for the future.

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Topics in this issue:

Moving Beyond the "Smackdown" Towards an Architecture of Place

The recent trend toward “iconic” architecture—which has gained a big following in the media and among high-profile clients, winning numerous architectural prizes—minimizes the importance of citizen input and dismisses the goals of creating great public places.

The Emperor Has No Clothes: Responses to the Frank Gehry Debate

A few weeks ago we sent out the “Smackdown with Frank Gehry” blog post to our mailing list. We were stunned by the response. People came down on both sides of the issue about whether iconic architecture largely fails at making good public spaces. But whatever their views, everyone offered insightful and interesting thoughts.

Return of the Courthouse Square: How Courts Can Become Great Public Spaces

The courthouse used to be a cornerstone of the community, a source of local pride and the nexus of social life and ritual. But today, courthouses and the public spaces that surround them are often physically and programmatically disconnected from public life, even though they usually occupy central property in a community. The good news is that court properties have much potential for resurgence when there is positive leadership, open-minded management, and the desire for change.

It Takes Great Places to Create Great Architecture

If the primary goal of architects and landscape architects was to create places that people want to be in, would we be designing our communities the way we do today? If contemporary architecture was asked to be responsive to community outcomes, public uses and human comfort would it be done differently? Would it create more demand for the skills of designers?