Author: Jessica Sheridan Assoc. AIA LEED AP

Event: Women in Modernism: Making Places in Architecture
Location: Museum of Modern Art, 10.25.07
Speakers: Gwendolyn Wright — Author & Professor, Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation; Sarah Herda — Executive Director, Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts; Toshiko Mori, FAIA — Principal, Toshiko Mori Architect, Department Chair & Robert P. Hubbard Professor in the Practice of Architecture, Harvard University Graduate School of Design; Karen Stein — Writer, Editor, Architectural Consultant; Beverly Willis — President, Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation (Introduction)
Moderator: Barry Bergdoll — Philip Johnson Chief Curator of Architecture and Design, Museum of Modern Art & Professor of Architectural History, Columbia University
Organizer: Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation with Museum of Modern Art

Courtesy www.bwaf.org

“If ‘Modernism’ is a term that, in its definition, questions the status quo, then why aren’t more women architects known in Modern Architecture?” asked Gwendolyn Wright, author and professor at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. The argument is not whether women architects existed from 1950-1980, but that women practitioners of the era were “erased” from history. “Evidence does not triumph over cultural bias.”

Four institutions — schools, museums, publications, and organizations — are responsible for excluding Modern women architects, stated Wright. Those who have hindered gender equality — and those with the power to make a change — are professors, curators, editors and writers, and executives. One example of gender erasure occurred in 1944. Elizabeth Mock, head of the Museum of Modern Art Department of Architecture and Design, organized Built in USA: 1932-1944, a follow-up to Philip Johnson’s 1932 Modern Architecture: International Exhibition. The exhibition featured colloquial architecture by architects of both genders and suggested a different definition of Modernism from that established by Johnson. He subsequently fired Mock and developed the similarly-entitled Built in America: Post-War Architecture exhibition in 1952, featuring work by male architects more suited to his personal definition of Modern Architecture. Wright alleges that he thus erased both Mock and the diverse history she aimed to create.

Despite the past, times are changing and women are beginning to re-establish themselves. Toshiko Mori, FAIA, chair of the architecture department at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design and principal of Toshiko Mori Architect, disputes that a glass ceiling prevents women from succeeding; instead, there is just a “thick layer of men.” Running through a list of women principals, she is not alone holding a position of power. And if the number of women architecture students is any indication of the future, soon women will surpass men in the field.

History is both predictable and uncertain. One conversation has the potential to impact history significantly. Writer, editor, and architectural consultant Karen Stein suggested that perhaps this symposium was all that was needed to begin a chain of events that will permanently institute women practitioners, both past and present, in Modernism.

Wes Anderson has directed a series of AT&T commercials that feature the busy lives of various professionals. As a fan of his work, I was excited that one of the commercials features an architect. The commercial moves frame by frame through the busy life of a partner of the fictional firm, “Lea Nakamura Architects.” Dressed in black with thick-framed glasses, she oversees everything from design development through construction. At first watch, I thought the commercial celebrates architects; it even makes a statement about gender equality by featuring a woman in power. The more I watch the ad, however, the worse she — and the profession — looks.

With each frame, disasters appear. Her design team is not living up to her standards; the architect-of-record confuses an elevator for a chimney; a cement order was cancelled on the job site; there are electrical problems. The architect deals with each situation in a blasé, not-my-problem kind of way. It seems as if everyone is scampering to get the job done, and meanwhile the architect is sitting on a stool with her cell phone brushing them all off. In the end, the project gets done (it’s a white, rectangular room), and the viewer is left questioning what the architect actually accomplished. Yes, she is aware of all the issues because she is able to communicate with everyone on her phone, but she hasn’t solved any of the problems.

This ad is uncalled for to say the least. When the ad should commend architects for handling the various sticky situations on job sites, and AT&T should sell the phone as a way to help architects handle disasters, it makes them look foolish instead. So much for progress.

Architects, urban designers, and planners are needed on NYC’s 59 Community Boards to provide knowledgeable and experience-based input on development and planning, land use, zoning, and service delivery issues. Every board has 50 members, a budget, district manager, and staff to represent the voice of its community. The Borough President makes all appointments — half are unilateral, and half are upon recommendation by city council members. The next round of applications are due in January 2008 for Fall 2008 membership. For more information about the position, go to Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer’s website. If interested, contact your Borough President’s Office and the office of your local city councilmember, also.

10.30.07

Now that the weather has finally cooled down, I hope you will want to leave your air-conditioned offices and check out all of the architecture events citywide. With the leaves changing, this is also a great time to explore the city on foot.

– Jessica Sheridan, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP

Note: In the last issue, the article “Green Roses for a Gray Lady” stated that the underfloor air system incorporated into the New York Times Building will not appear on the upper stories that the Times is leasing out. This is incorrect. The underfloor air distribution system appears on all New York Times Company-owned floors, including those that are leased.

I keep hearing that the word of this year is “green.” As much as I would like to believe it, I question whether or not the message is getting through to consumers and clients. With the number of government initiatives at the local, state, federal, and international levels growing, I have hope that the effects of living more sustainably will begin to pay off for consumers who are readjusting their lifestyles. Bill Maher pointed out on a recent Real Time With Bill Maher, however, that even Al Gore needs to hold a rock concert to get the point across.

A trend in Hollywood is for celebrities to display their green commitment. Leonardo DiCaprio’s “The Eleventh Hour” received good box office ratings; Ed Bagley Jr.’s television show on HGTV, “Living With Ed,” where he makes green improvements to celebrity homes is successful; and even the Emmys went green by using recycled plastic carpet and reusing set materials. As much as the intentions may be good (or just for publicity), in my opinion it is celebrities making choices unconscientiously who do more harm to the green movement.

Last month, Donald Trump announced his plans for a new golf course in Aberdeen, Scotland, which he calls Golfopolis. The £1 billion project includes two golf courses, a 450-bed hotel, 1,000 vacation homes, and 500 private houses on the site of conserved coastline property. As reported by Melanie Reid in The Times (See “Wildlife Groups Dismayed as Donald Trump Gets Go-ahead to Build ‘Golfopolis’ Dream,” 09.13.07), Raymod Reid, Aberdeenshire Council’s head of development, said the social and economic benefits outweigh the negative environmental impacts. Needless to say, I am disappointed that Trump would make such a choice, despite his claim that Golfopolis will be “the best golf course in the world.”

It is encouraging that, according to a new AIA poll, people are willing to invest more in energy-efficient homes (See Survey Shows Americans Lost in a Sea of Green, in Around the AIA + The Center for Architecture). I have faith that Hollywood is not the only place the public looks to for guidance. Architects and planners are contributing positively to sustainability initiatives on many levels. The more green development, the more everyone benefits. There must be a reason that going green is trendy after all. I just hope that the Trumps of the world don’t devalue this year’s word.

UPworld is a new social networking website to connect architects, designers, planners, contractors, fabricators, developers, financiers, engineers, and suppliers. To participate, you must obtain an account and put up a profile, including your photo, portfolio, and images of your work. Then you can link to other members in the network. Developed by architectural designers Jennifer Magee of ANTE Architecture + Design, and Oisin Clancy of Field Lines Design, UPworld also hosts various networking events around the NYC area.