Oculus - Fall 2016 - 15
first words
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
New Spirit in Great Old Bones
©Sam Hall Kaplan
T
Editor checking out
Johnny Swing's
Murmuration chaise of
welded nickels at The
Four Seasons pre-auction
preview. (Final gavel:
$112,500 - it is not in
editor's living room.)
his is the second time the Oculus Committee has collaborated with the
AIANY president and the exhibition curator to build an issue around an
exhibition that highlights the "President's Theme" for the year. The first was
the Spring 2014 issue, "Civic Spirit: Civic Visions," which expanded upon the
theme of 2014 AIANY President Lance Jay Brown, FAIA, "Open to the Public:
Civic Space Now," also the title of the exhibition curated by Thomas Mellins.
This year we worked closely with 2016 AIANY President Carol Loewenson,
FAIA, LEED AP, and Donald Albrecht, curator of this fall's presidential theme
exhibition "Authenticity + Innovation." Some of the projects featured here are
included in the exhibition. Others expand the conversation about respectfully
reusing historic structures to meet 21st-century needs - and it goes without
saying that it's not always without challenges. Albrecht's eloquent "Opener" on
page 25 puts them all in context of "the dynamic fusion of old and new that is at
the core of what is authentically New York City."
In our regular departments, "One Block Over" climbs the new Hills on
Governors Island. "In Print" delves into tomes about dream cities and the
British Empire. And "97-Year Watch" tells us the fascinating tale of a rather
extreme façadectomy: how "Goodhue's splendid St. Bartholomew's Church was
designed to incorporate the entry front of the congregation's former home."
As we put this issue together, auctioneers sold off the contents of The Four
Seasons Restaurant. I've lived within three blocks of the Philip Johnson-designed jewel box for umpteen years. It was my refuge whenever the city was too
much for me. One shaken-not-stirred cocktail later, as I watched the beaded
curtains form sun-dappled waves across the windows, and I was back in love
with my city again.
I think Johnson's spirit left 99 East 52 Street with the news of The Four Seasons' departure and auction. Johnson's Table 32, estimated at $3,000 to $5,000,
sold for $35,000. (I had hopes for a Huxtable-designed metal, footed bread
basket - ha!) I'm glad that (most of) the interior is landmarked. And while the
space will continue as a restaurant and not remodeled into something else, the
whole adventure had me wondering about the old, but not necessarily landmarked, buildings and spaces presented here given new life with, as Albrecht
writes, "new uses never imagined by their original designers and builders."
What would those designers and builders think? Philip has left the building.
Have they? Perhaps, but they left behind some great bones.
With the passage of Intro. 775-A in June, which many consider a weakening of the Landmarks Preservation Commission, I'm heartened by the number
of developers, owners, architects - and city agencies - who see beyond the
abandoned factory building and storm-ravaged office tower to find inspiration
in those great old bones.
Kristen Richards, Hon. AIA, Hon. ASLA
kristen@ArchNewsNow.com
Authenticity + Innovation: Architecture Repurposed
Fall 2016 Oculus
15
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Oculus - Fall 2016
First Words Letter from the President
Letter from the Editor
Center for Architecture
One Block Over
Opener: Authenticity and Innovation
Civic Purpose Repurposed: Brooklyn
Civic Purpose Repurposed: Bronx
A Study in Contrasts
WeLive on Wall Street
A Preservation Paradox
Industrial Strength
Innovation Rooted in History
In Print
97-Year Watch
Last Words
Index to Advertisers
Oculus - Fall 2016 - cover1
Oculus - Fall 2016 - cover2
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 3
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 4
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 5
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 6
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 7
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 8
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 9
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 10
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 11
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 12
Oculus - Fall 2016 - First Words Letter from the President
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 14
Oculus - Fall 2016 - Letter from the Editor
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 16
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 17
Oculus - Fall 2016 - Center for Architecture
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 19
Oculus - Fall 2016 - One Block Over
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 21
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 22
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 23
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 24
Oculus - Fall 2016 - Opener: Authenticity and Innovation
Oculus - Fall 2016 - Civic Purpose Repurposed: Brooklyn
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 27
Oculus - Fall 2016 - Civic Purpose Repurposed: Bronx
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 29
Oculus - Fall 2016 - A Study in Contrasts
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 31
Oculus - Fall 2016 - WeLive on Wall Street
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 33
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 34
Oculus - Fall 2016 - A Preservation Paradox
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 36
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 37
Oculus - Fall 2016 - Industrial Strength
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 39
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 40
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 41
Oculus - Fall 2016 - Innovation Rooted in History
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 43
Oculus - Fall 2016 - In Print
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 97-Year Watch
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 46
Oculus - Fall 2016 - Last Words
Oculus - Fall 2016 - Index to Advertisers
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 49
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 50
Oculus - Fall 2016 - cover3
Oculus - Fall 2016 - cover4
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