Hi Friends and Colleagues,
I thought you might like to know about the newly published book about Carl Feiss, FAIA/AICP, a former member of this committee who passed away several years ago. The book was researched and written by his older daughter, Caroline Feiss, and a press release is attached below.
As some of you might recall, I was the AIA staff director for the RUDC in the 1980s when Carl was still an active member. As an additional connection, my wife, Alison Feiss Kriviskey, AICP, is Carl's younger daughter and assisted in the research for this book. It is a fascinating account of the life and career of one of America's architects who was a pioneer in both urban planning and historic preservation.
The press release follows:
Carl Feiss' achievements in historic preservation, architecture, urban and
regional planning highlighted in new biography
In "Remaking American Places" Caroline Feiss seeks to show how her father remade
20th century historic preservation, community and regional planning
SEATTLE - An early member of the National Trust Board of Trustees and technical director for With Heritage So Rich, Carl Feiss promoted policies and practices that he believed could change the way American communities, states and the federal government deal with the loss of historic landmarks as well as the range of planning issues confronting the nation. As Feiss faced many of the same problems confronting today's community leaders, planners and preservation interests, his perspective and approaches can be as applicable today as they were then. In his long career, Feiss addressed a wide diversity of issues. Initially he worked to preserve historic sites within the slum clearance program. His approach broadened over time to design new ways to redevelop the urban fabric of cities like San Francisco, Washington, Charleston, SC, and Savannah, GA, without destroying their historic hearts. He sought to convince a Soviet-wary Congress that planning, as well as historic preservation, had to become ingrained concepts and activities at all levels of government. Because of his training as an architect, he challenged the profession to re-examine how architects are educated to make their work more relevant to America's cities.
This biography reads like an adventure story while providing a history of America's experiences with planning, historic preservation and architecture. It recounts Feiss' extraordinary relationships with some of the luminaries of 20th century politics, architecture and planning, including Roosevelt's Brain Trust, Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Mumford and the Saarinens. It documents remarkable episodes of his life-being named to lead Columbia University's planning program while having only an undergraduate degree; narrowly escaping induction into the German army during a tour of Nazi prewar housing developments; and his imaginative solution to a run-in with Cuban revolutionaries.
Carl Feiss was a champion of human-scaled, sustainable communities. Named by the American Planning Association as a "Pioneer in Planning," his contributions have been recognized by the American Institute of Architects and universities and communities around the country. "Remaking American Places" (ISBN 1453746773) recounts Feiss' significant career and intersection with history. This new biography, written by his daughter Caroline Feiss, is based on family letters, archival materials, Feiss' personal notes and stories and interviews with colleagues.
"Remaking American Places" is available for sale online at www.Amazon.com and other channels.
About the Author:
Caroline Feiss also enjoyed a long career in planning. After receiving her master's in regional planning, she worked for state, regional and local governments managing large projects and writing legislation and major reports. Numerous jurisdictions have published her work, including the Tennessee Valley Authority, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the state of Washington. Her career has added to her understanding of her father's contributions to communities across the country.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Caroline Feiss
Email: remakingamericanplaces@gmail.com
Phone: (206) 322-3758
REVIEW COPIES AND INTERVIEWS AVAILABLE
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Bruce Kriviskey AIA/FAICP
Retired Architect and Historic Preservation Planner
Northampton, MA
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