I figured that title might get your attention.
If you read any tabloids at all, you know that Brad Pitt is an architecture aficionado…he reportedly loves and studies different building designs. I totally get that.
I am back at my Alma Mater taking an architecture class. Right on campus again. Loving it. For one of my assignments I had to visit a significant type of architecture for a region, photograph it, and write about how the social, political, and cultural elements of the time influenced the design.
Eames House, Pacific Palisades CA
I chose Mid-Century Modern as my style to research, and luckily for me, a friend of mine is a real estate agent for architecturally significant properties in Los Angeles. He let me come and photograph his Mid-Century Modern house for sale. (Call Jonathan Ruiz at Rose and Chang for the coolest houses on the market! (www.roseandchang.com)
In studying the modern movement between the 30s and 60s, I learned so much about Los Angeles. It made me realize, an architectural tour of a destination is not only aesthetically pleasing, but a way to really understand the development and signature style of a place. Architecture as zeitgeist.
There are many fabulous architectural tours available around the world. Here are some ways to get started if you are considering visiting any of the following cities:
The Chicago Architecture Foundation is a great place to start for boat tours on the Chicago River, or walking and bus tours through the city. http://caf.architecture.org/page.aspx?pid=698. Two significant architects that have works in Chicago are Frank Lloyd Wright, and Mies van der Rohe – the foundation has individual tours just for their creations.
Architectural Tours of Savannah, Georgia: http://www.architecturalsavannah.com/index.html.. Savannah’s downtown area is one of the largest National Historic Landmark Districts in the United States.
Los Angeles Walking Tours – The LA Conservancy is a good place to start – this city is a cornucopia of styles – form Art Deco, to Renaissance… there is a modern committee that supposedly gives tours of Mid-Century Modern as well. http://www.laconservancy.org/tours/tours_main.php4
London- In Front of Big Ben
London Architectural Walks: Choose among a number of tours – including one that focuses on Royal London. http://londonarchitecturewalks.com/default.aspx
New Orleans Garden District
New Orleans architecture – from the French Quarter to the lovely Garden District… by boat or bike, this website lists other websites that give all kinds of tours: http://neworleanswebsites.com/cat/tr/to/wt/wt.html
As Frank Lloyd Wright once said: Every great architect is – necessarily – a great poet. He must be a great original interpreter of his time, his day, his age.
Time to go see those interpretations.
