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It's
debatable!
Imagine
if Phillip Johnson and John Burgee, architects of PPG
Place, debated the question "What makes a building attractive?"
with the firm Harrison & Abramovitz, designers of USXTower
and Alcoa Building.
Research
their design philosophies and some of their other designs, then role-play
a debate. End with a critique each others' work.
- What
do they each believe makes a successful building? An attractive building?
- In what ways would they agree? How would they disagree?
- What
would they think of each other's designs?
|
John
Burgee and Philip Johnston |

PPG
Place, 1984
(Pittsburgh
History & Landmarks)
|

(Susan
Donley)
|
Harrison
& Abramovitz |

Alcoa
Building, 1951
(Pittsburgh
History & Landmarks) |

USX
Tower, 1970
(Pittsburgh
History & Landmarks) |
Now
try some time-traveling and debate some of the great architects
of earlier generations: H. H. Richardson (Allegheny County Courthouse), Frederick Osterling (Arrott and Union Trust Buildings), or Henry
Hornbostel (Grant Building)!
What
would they say about each other's work and the work of their colleagues
from later in the 20th century?
Henry
Hobson Richardson |
|
Allegheny
County Courthouse, 1888
(Pittsburgh
History & Landmarks) |
Frederick
Osterling |

Arrott
Building, 1901
(Pittsburgh
History & Landmarks) |

Union
Trust Building, 1915-17
(Pittsburgh
History & Landmarks) |
Henry
Hornbostel |
|
Grant
Building, 1927-30
(Pittsburgh
History & Landmarks Foundation) |
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to: Activities |
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