Postmodern Preservation

PoMo Power!

[Theodore Grunewald @TedGrunewald]

From the ruination of Charles Moore's @HoodMuseum, demolition of Venturi Scott Brown's @mcasd, erasure of HHPA's @LACMA, & the hostile alteration to Bunshaft's sculpture court at @AlbrightKnox,—it's clear that something is deeply wrong with American museums today.

#LeaveItAlone

[Postmodern Preservation @PreservePoMo]

@VishaanNYC @TedGrunewald You picked a lousy time to harp on preservationists. I recall your ignorance of the subject on full display a few years ago at the @MuseumofCityNY symposium. Please just go away.

[Postmodern Preservation @PreservePoMo]

@snohetta schadenfreude

https://t.co/wnOFkjONO7

[Postmodern Preservation @PreservePoMo]

@snohetta schadenfreude

https://t.co/wnOFkjONO7

[Theodore Grunewald @TedGrunewald]

More properly—as *other* media outlets have reported.
@EK_Hudson's report is—I understand—quite accurate.

Though I wasn't there—I hear that there was no formal vote; once the Chair obtained her quorum—the minority of dissenting Commissioners did not participate in with an 'aye'.

[Lloyd Bergenson 🇵🇸 @dieterknickbock]

@TedGrunewald @nypl Re: Foster and Snohetta, I am reminded of the words of FLW:

"The fashionable thing is ever the outworn carcass of the early tomorrow. If you would ever have your house "fashionable" be sure it is on its way out of luck even as it is being built."

[Theodore Grunewald @TedGrunewald]

Commissioning Snohetta to design the AT&T Building makeover makes about as much sense as recommending Norman Foster to do the @NYPL's Central Library Plan in 2012. 🤔

#mismatch #StrangeBedfellows #PoMo #Postmodernism #PostModernPreservation #SaveATT
https://t.co/Ucw8mq0f0P

[Docomomo US @docomomo_us]

A modest win for preservationists and the public to know “they didn’t approve the proposal as presented." The saga unfortunately will now be behind closed doors.

[Docomomo US @docomomo_us]

Overall, a mixed bag of reactions from the Commission, and the proposal was approved, with modifications

[Docomomo US @docomomo_us]

Mention of the new pavers and floor design: “no good reason presented to change them”

[Theodore Grunewald @TedGrunewald]

@SaveAT_T @jaimelasticity @paulgoldberger @nyclandmarks @minsrinivasan @sherida_paulsen @AliciaGlen It's maddening that in #NeoliberalNYC, every single square foot of 'underutilized' public space has got to be made to turn a profit.

There's nothing at all wrong with passive, contemplative spaces; not every square inch of our city's public space need be "activated" & monetized.

[Docomomo US @docomomo_us]

Another commissioner troubled by lack of interior designation

[Docomomo US @docomomo_us]

Love that one of the commissioners did a case study on the building as a student 👍 her concern is with the design of the public space

[Docomomo US @docomomo_us]

Chair and Vice Chair voice their support of the plan, another commissioner expressing concern about the preservation of the hypostyle hall, as it is one of the defining features

[Docomomo US @docomomo_us]

A question about the visibility and preservation of interior masonry columns- they will be preserved but retailers could cover them if they wanted to

[Docomomo US @docomomo_us]

A number of questions from commissioners about the color and shape of the canopy

[Theodore Grunewald @TedGrunewald]

The problem with AT&T's #550Madison Ave makeover—now being heard at @NYCLandmarks—is the huge amount of original building fabric it removes.

It sets a terrible precedent for #HistoricPreservation—if approved, it opens all landmarks to owner whims, tastes, & passing design fads.

[Docomomo US @docomomo_us]

We’re at the follow up hearing at @nyclandmarks for Philip Johnson’s AT&T building, stay tuned for updates. The last hearing ended without quorum. Here are some photos of proposed changes from Snohetta’s presentation

[Matt Haines @MattHainesWrite]

Mocked as a gaudy mess fit for #disneyworld, and celebrated as a #postmodern masterpiece: It's confusing, abrasive, +even kind of #beautiful. And it's undoubtedly unique. Here's a piece I wrote for @verylocalnola about 1 of #NewOrleans hidden gems.

https://t.co/nx8rQMebrB

#NOLA

[Theodore Grunewald @TedGrunewald]

I'm old enough to remember the late artist Allan Bridge's "Apology Line".

🧐https://t.co/I9R7aVpdS5

#HistoricPreservation @MUGGER1955 #postmodernism @docomomo_us #PoMo #PostmodernPreservation #550madison @mcmansionhell @EK_Hudson #HistoricPreservationAlert @jhilburg @saveATT