John King looks at how Wright's Marin County Civic Center, which the architect described as a "three-dimensional essay on the relationship between government and governed," has stood the test of time.
Designed in 1959, near the end of Wright's life, the Civic Center is described by Victor Sidy, dean of the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture in Arizona, as no less than "a true realization of his ideals about society."
Although some aspects of the building have not weathered well - its roof has leaked almost from the start - King describes it as "that rarest of buildings: a popular favorite that also holds lessons for architectural scholars."
"His creation indeed is organic," says King, "sumptuous curves poured across the
landscape beneath a long low sky-blue roof, yet futuristic enough that
the building was used as a set in the science-fiction movies 'Gattaca'
and 'THX-1138.' Above all else it is confident - embracing at once the
natural setting of the tumbling hills and the imposed potential of a
structure where citizens can check out a book, go on trial, get married
and grab a quick lunch."
FULL STORY: At 50, Marin Civic Center comes of age
8 Frank Lloyd Wright Buildings Named World Heritage Sites
Eight buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright are the first works of U.S. modern architecture to be named UNESCO World heritage sites.
8 Frank Lloyd Wright Buildings Nominated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites
If accepted as UNESCO World Heritage sites, the eight Frank Lloyd Wright buildings would be the first examples of modern architecture in the United States included in that august company.
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Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning
SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.
Can We Please Give Communities the Design They Deserve?
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The EV “Charging Divide” Plaguing Rural America
With “the deck stacked” against rural areas, will the great electric American road trip ever be a reality?
Judge Halts Brooklyn Bike Lane Removal
Lawyers must prove the city was not acting “arbitrarily, capriciously, and illegally” in ordering the hasty removal.
Engineers Gave America's Roads an Almost Failing Grade — Why Aren't We Fixing Them?
With over a trillion dollars spent on roads that are still falling apart, advocates propose a new “fix it first” framework.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Borough of Carlisle
Smith Gee Studio
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)