Esoteric Survey

Fire Station No. 4 (1966) by Robert Venturi The design fees for the building were paid for by the Cummins Foundation Architectural Program . The program became a formal part of the Cummins Foundation in 1960. It began with schools, but later grew to encompass all public projects. All the buildings in this post, with the exception of the I.M. Pei library, were funded by the program. The Cummins Foundation did give the library $800,000 grant, but it wasn't part of the Architecture Program. A list of the program's projects can be found here . Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cummins, Irwin  Miller, summarized the program with this statement: American architecture has never had more creative, imaginative practitioners than it has today. Each of the best of today’s architects can contribute something of lasting value to Columbus. L. Frances Smith Elementary School (1969) by John M. Johansen The "gerbil  tube" school caused some controversy when...

First Christian Church (1942) by Eliel Saarinen This was the first "modern" building in Columbus. It was Irwin Miller who suggested to his aunt (the wife of the church's Pastor) that the church be designed by a modern architect. The Henry Moore sculpture came much later and is actually more related to the I.M. Pei library across the street. It sure makes for a nice photo. Charles Eames rendering of  Eliel Saarinen-designed church. Source: Courtesy Cranbrook Archives 1939 construction Source: Courtesy Cranbrook Archives Many of the interior details were designed by Eero Saarinen and Charles Eames. I didn't go inside, but my friend Darren did. He takes better photos than I do anyway.  Photo: Darren Bradley, via Modernist Architecture   This is the tapestry on the side of the alter, “Sermon on the Mount”. It was designed by Eleil Saarinen and woven by his wife Loja and two Finnish weavers at the Cran...

San Diego Museum of Art sculpture garden  in Blaboa Park Just another winter day in SD. The George Rickey is back and in a different spot now. Related,  here Accelerated Point by Claire Falkenstein is now missing.  I'm sure it's just being maintained. Henry Moore Barbara Hepworth Related posts, here and here