The traditional architecture renaissance in the USA - Various examples highlighted

[Darryl]

Wow, these projects are great! Thanks for posting the pictures. It's nice to see buildings like these are being built these days.

One thing would be appreciated:

If you could put the city and state where the project is located. Thanks!

[tommolo]

Great stuff this "neo trad" style! I'm a huge fan of Schwartz and the Schermerhorn centre is something really amazing! Looking at these pictures, according to you, what can be considered the main features of this new wave? I mean, I see some common aspect, i.e. compact surfaces and strong geometrically cut shapes, "boxy" and complex development of structures, choose of particular colours or building materials, fully contemporary interiors with a peculiar bright light, decorations and fregia are present, but somewhat "modernized" and "compressed" inside the flat marble and polished walls and so on...what do you think about it? I'm pretty sure we're assisting to an innovation and a change...any guess?

[cameronpaul]

Originally Posted by gdlrar

OH my god! wow... im speechless, the american knows best!

Absolutely! I have a love/hate relationship with the U.S.A. but on this subject they have no equals, their architects are simply the best in the world when it comes to designing buildings in classical or other "period" styles and it's too bad other countries won't learn from them. There are of course good traditional architects outside the U.S.A. , but most are not very competent and are totally put to shame by their American counterparts.

[gdlrar]

in fact a great taste for preservation and neo classical old style! i love the cravings and moldings and the finest details about the styles, wherever you pick, they can do!

[socrates#1fan]

America has really been getting into its roots with these buildings.

[tanklv]

Originally Posted by OakRidge

Some of you were enjoying my older posts so I thought I would highlight various recently completed buildings.

St. Martin's Episcopal Church - Houston, Texas‏ - Completed 2004

Exterior:

Source: http://www.pbase.com/artichoke/image/57010857/original

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/baldheretic/2809007675/

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kt/130078750/

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/baldheretic/2809374357/

Interior:

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28663259@N08/3666127070

Source: http://www.castingdesignsinc.com/Ima.../StMartins.htm

Source: http://www.castingdesignsinc.com/Ima.../StMartins.htm

Source: http://www.castingdesignsinc.com/Ima.../StMartins.htm

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/36950174@N02/3506776627/

Typical for Houston - surround everything with a parking lot.

Bigger isn't necessarily better - and Texas is the prime example of this.

When I last visited in the late 70's - they had a lot of exteriorallly nice looking buildings but shitty interiors - and that was for many of the "famous" buildings.

I was never so disappointed in exploring a city.

Houston is a very ugly city with absolutely no pedestrian way into the city - all the streets were just feeding exit/on ramps to the expressways. Most of their major buildings have NO lobby - just literally a blank painted concrete block walls!

I sure hope things have changed since then.

[OakRidge]

No need to be too harsh on them. People do not generally take the trolly or walk to their place of worship these days. The car is king. A large structure like the above would need a large spacing lot.

[CF221]

That church is magnificent. It would be an honor to go to mass there. I'm a personal fan of traditionalist architecture

[Kriativus]

I don't like it.

I mean, it's all beautiful and well done, nothing bad to say about that, but it's just completely out of time. We're in 2012 not 1915 or 1893. Life goes on, same for architecture. Sorry, but why go backwards? I just don't see the point here.

This is not something modern mixing with old, this is just the same like they were doing back there in the beginning of the last century. There's nothing new here. They just keep doing the same over and over. Tell me, what's the point?

This romanticism does sound out of date to me.

Just to make myself understood: I love ancient and historical architecture.

[tommolo]

The same critics going around over and over. And the answer must be always the same: the concept of classical beauty is -by definition- not a fashon. It has never ran out of fashon, was just put aside because of increasing population and the need of building cheaper and less ornamented houses in the first XX century. Now western world isn't exactly assising a densification of cities and many many houses are empty, build in a modernist style is no longer required, we can return building in classical style. In fashon, despite the everyday casual style, there have always been room for classical clothes when it was required by the occasion, why shouldn't we think the same for architecture? There is room also for classical, when it comes the occasion like for celebrations or religions. Speculating building companies (who needed a cheaper and easier style) created this thing of the classic being out of fashon while in fact it was just put aside for that particular moment. It is just an acquired taste, time to move over

[Geography]

Thanks for posting these pictures and news, I really appreciate. I was afraid nobody built classical architecture anymore, that the future was all glass and steel. This thread has restored my hope. I particularly like the university buildings.

I mean, it's all beautiful and well done, nothing bad to say about that, but it's just completely out of time. We're in 2012 not 1915 or 1893. Life goes on, same for architecture. Sorry, but why go backwards? I just don't see the point here.

Like tommolo said, the definition of classical, that something is classic, is that it transcends the ages. It's popular in many time periods. The fact that tourists around the world love to visit and take pictures of classical architecture (which I am very loosely defining as any famous European or American building pre-1800s) demonstrates that classical architecture has staying power. I think it conveys a sense of order and firmness that is lacking in today's sterile, often asymmetrical buildings. Rock, brick, columns, and symmetry convey an image of security, stability, and Earthiness.

[Tiaren]

OMG, I'm so jealous right now! Those buildings in the US are not only traditional, they are of great artistic quality as well. Not that pseudo historic kitsch you see popping up in Eastern Europe these last years.
If just Germany would take a good look over the pond...

[tommolo]

Originally Posted by OakRidge

Exterior:

Source: http://www.pbase.com/artichoke/image/57010857/original

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/baldheretic/2809007675/

Yeah really, we should let contemporary classical architecture to gain momentum also in Europe...those examples are really interesting...it is obviously gothic inspired...but is it me or do I see some little trace of art deco in the shapes of this church? Look at the side buttresses...those horizontal lines...the compact, geometrical volumes...It seems really classical architecture, but seen from a XX century point of view, acquiring XX century styles too...i don't know, i see this mix very original somehow....

[BE0GRAD]

I'm not a big fan of this particular style but I support new traditionalism in general ... if it fits into surroundings of course. Otherwise, it looks kitschy.

[WalPaulista]

Excellent!

I don´t know what´s best: the new buildings or the new trend...

I have always thought: why have people started to build simpler just when humankind achieved the highest technological means to build most any conceivable forms!

[OakRidge]

This one was a surprise for me. I had no idea it was being built. This is the recently completed Tuscaloosa Federal Building and Courthouse.

[OakRidge]

The recently completed "South Hall" at the University of Michigan Law School.






Photos via full frame @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/87029301@N00/

[bulabog jalaur]

Looks like the architecture is borrowed on mormons style.

[L e o n i d a s]

...

[WalPaulista]

The reason why some europeans might call it Kitsch, in my opinion, is that it´s missing some slime

They have actually never seen their own buildings when they looked brand new.