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I Wish This Architecture Prize Were Real
As someone who spent several years working across the street from the Frank Gehry designed Stata Center and had more than a few meeting there, I appreciate Joe Queenan’s wicked satire: An Iowa-based...
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Things About Hurricane Irene That Make No Sense
First, on Saturday, around noon, I observed this on Commonwealth Avenue: Because it’s not like it’s going to rain for the next 24 hours or anything. Second, we are once again reminded how poorly the...
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No. 8 Gloucester
One of my favorite buildings in Back Bay, Boston is No. 8 Gloucester Street. Here’s the building in profile: What makes No. 8 really amazing is the stonework: Here’s a side shot of the building: And a...
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The Vanishing of Boston’s West End
Well, it’s still there, it’s just ass ugly. In 1959, the West End of Boston, which had been declared a slum, was revitalized. Here’s what it looked like in 1958: (from the West End Museum, Boston)...
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Embajada de Mexico!
I was recently in D.C., and I was reminded just how weird the Mexican Embassy is in terms of architecture: Yes, the townhouses are part of the embassy. Discuss.
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A Very Skinny Building
Observed in South Boston, at the corner of Dorchester Street and East Broadway: It’s like it’s butt fell off. It must be really weird to live in an apartment in that building.
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D.C.’s Housing Crisis Isn’t Due to the Absence of Skyscrapers
Recently, a Washington Post op-ed argued that D.C. should alter the building height limitation: And while certainly many factors affect the cost of housing in the city (such as demand, crime rates,...
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A Decorative Door
Observed on Shamut Ave., South End, Boston: They don’t make them like this anymore.
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Sahara, Deserted
The now-defunct Sahara restaurant at Shamut and Waltham Street, South End, Boston: From the other side: The Sahara used to be the center of a Syrian neighborhood in the South End, although it has been...
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A Very Statuesque House in the South End
I mean that literally. Observed on Dwight Street, the South End, Boston: Hells Bells: An ornate door: The archway: The garden: Kinda odd, but never a dull moment…
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The Inspiration of Gothic Architecture
There are several reasons why Gothic architecture isn’t appreciated. First, most of it is physically very old, and in less than good repair–most of us have never seen it when it’s new and shiny....
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The Stupidest Building Name in Boston Is…
…The Newbry. It’s just craptacular. It used to be called the New England Life building, as it was the home of New England Life Insurance (originally it was an MIT building; MIT was located in Back Bay...
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New England Power
One of the fortunate things about Boston–and I think this largely accidental–is that it was spared from many of the architectural monstrosities of the 1950s and 1960s (the utter destruction of the West...
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So What Is More Depressing?
Building one: Which is now home to this: Or building two: Yes, the Gallery at the Historic Museum of Natural History is now a Restoration Hardware (previously, it was occupied by Louis Boston). Discuss.
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Tulips, Cloistered
Observed at 29A Chestnut Street, Beacon Hill: The building on the right (27 Chestnut Street) was formerly the Robinson Chapel of Boston University School of Theology until 1965 when it was converted...
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What Is the City…
…but the people? We bring you the Municipal Office Building, Denver, CO:
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Hancock Tower Still Lifes
In putting together collections of my favorite Boston photos for the end of the year roundup, I realized that the Hancock Tower featured prominently (pun intended). Here’s a year of Hancock Tower...
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