If you could bring one building back from the wrecking balls of the past, what would it be?
Kevin D. Murphy, Carol Willis, Daniel Bluestone, Kerry Traynor, and Sally Levine—five architecture professors from around the country—share their feelings about the most regrettable losses of architectural history.
The introduction of the article explains the premise:
Unfortunately, all cannot be salvaged. Preservation efforts must be galvanized; they require mobilization, time and resources. We reached out to five architecture professors and posed the following question: What’s one American structure you wish had been saved?
Each professor provides more background on how their choice came to be destroyed, and what the loss means to architectural history. The choices are as follows:
- The Mecca Flats on the South Side of Chicago (Selected by Daniel Bluestone)
- The Original Waldorf Astoria, located on Fifth Avenue in New York City (Selected by Carol A. Willis)
- The Rachel Raymond House, located in the Boston suburb of Belmont (Selected by Kevin D. Murphy)
- The Humboldt Parkway, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted as part of the Park and Parkway System in Buffalo (Selected by Kerry Traynor)
- The Chicago Stock Exchange (Selected by Sally Levine)
FULL STORY: Remembering America’s lost buildings
The Mystique of the 13th Floor: Superstitions, Sustainability, and the Future of Electrical Building Design
How engineers adapt a common superstition to maximize the utility of a stigmatized space.
New Book Examines Public Housing as a Locus of Political Power
A new book, "Diverging Space for Deviants," connects public housing with political power.
Surprising New Research on Gentrification in Houston
Affluent areas face more demolitions than gentrifying areas in Houston and Harris County, according to the findings of a new report from the Kinder Institute of Urban research.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).
The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.
Demise of Entertainment Industry Mirrors Demise of Housing in LA
Making movies has a lot in common with developing real estate: producers = developers; screenwriters = architects; directors = general contractors. The similarities are more than trivial. Both industries are now hurting in L.A.
How Public Spaces Exclude Teen Girls
Adolescent girls face unique challenges and concerns when navigating public spaces. We can design cities with their needs in mind.
Proposed Ohio Budget Preserves Housing Trust Fund
The Senate-approved budget also creates two new programs aimed at encouraging housing construction.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)