Detroit's influence on Yamasaki and Saarinen

[markseth]

For those interested in the work of Seattle native Minoru Yamasaki, you should see one of his masterworks in downtown Seattle- the 40 story inverted pyramid Rainier Tower. It is a very unusual and still controversial building. Detroit is fortunate to have many more examples of his work.

[Lorax]

Yamasaki brought to architecture what Noguchi brought to sculpture, and what Issey Miyake brought to fashion.

Clean, spare, and tight. Superb lines, form, and use of light and openess- the lobby of the MICHCON bldg. as a superb example.

Albert Kahn was indeed the father when it comes to the industrial use of light, space, and efficiency.

Another motif in Yamasaki's architecture made famous by both the MICHCON bldg. and later at the WTC, are the slender diamond shaped windows lined up between vertical piers of molded concrete, casting light and shadow on the interiors to great effect. His was the first memorable use of this technique, and is as fresh and innovative a design motif today as it was decades ago.

Can you tell I love his work?

[Lorax]

What is particularly disturbing about much of today's architecture is the amount of crass politics that have worked it's way into the process of creating great buildings.

In the past, architects, or as they are now called "Starchitects" were trained in such a way as to be bold, innovative, and had the backing of individuals, or heads of organizations who thought similarly.

Design by committe killed automotive design, as it has architecture, with few exceptions.

My favorites of late would include Santiago Calatrava, Architectonica, Ghery.

Caesar Pelli flopped with his Miami Performing Arts Center- attending the opera there, the sight lines are blocked by walls where railings should be in the box seats, and the acoustics fail miserably as well.

I would hope going forward that the more exposure greats of the past like Yamasaki get the full recognition they deserve.

It would be great to see a Yamasaki book amongst the dozens of Lloyd Wright retreads out there.