September 28, 2010

The CIVITAS Chronicles
Clem Labine

A Candidate for the
'Sore Thumb' Award
This proposed addition to the Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago is definitely a candidate for my newly established "Sore Thumb" award. It's a dubious achievement award presented for new construction in historic areas that totally disrupts the character of the existing urban fabric; that is, it "sticks out like a sore thumb." Read more.

A Capital Column
Kim O'Connell

A Fitting Memorial for Flight 93?
Nine years ago, after the 9/11 attacks had left behind physical craters and even deeper emotional wounds, the nation was united in its vow to retaliate against the perpetrators and to memorialize those who were lost.

But that unity was not to last. With the ten-year anniversary of the attacks looming next year, we now find ourselves more divided than ever about what we should be doing in the aftermath of 9/11. Should we allow a mosque (or cultural center, depending on your point of view) to be built near Ground Zero? Should we keep our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan? Should we be doing something more — or different — regarding airline security? Read more.

Sticks and Stones
Gordon Bock

Trendy Pendants
It had to happen. Last week I discovered ironclad evidence of the ever-growing popularity of historical design while riding coach on an El Cheapo airline. These days, the middle seat on a two-hour flight can be just like study hall; there are certainly no distractions from a gratis soda or tiny packet of stale party mix. When you're forced to read out of sheer boredom, it's amazing what treasures you can encounter, and I found my nugget of gold in the In-flight Shoppers magazine. Read more.

The View From Rome
Steven W. Semes

My Favorite Churches in Rome
When people hear that I live in Rome and teach architecture here, they often ask what is my favorite church in the Eternal City. With nearly 400 to choose from, this is not an easy question to answer. In truth it is not possible to name only one. Usually I say that it depends on whether the question is about the churches that I admire as works of art, or those where I feel most connected to my religious tradition. They are not necessarily the same. Read more.

A Place for Trades
Rudy Christian

Some Reassembly Required
If you read back through my blogs, or sit in on one of many conversations at a PTN International Preservation Trades Workshop (IPTW) or International Trades Education Symposium (ITES), you will notice a recurring theme of many people feeling we need to bring trades education back into our school system. It seems like a simple enough idea; it was there before, after all, so let’s arrange to have it there again. However, it isn't really as simple as that. Things change. Read more.