Committee on Design

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  • 1.  Architectural Stories and Humor

    Posted 10-10-2011 06:06 AM
    Hello Everyone,

    I could use everyones help.  I am interested in assembling a compendium of pithy quotes by and/or about architects, along with funny and/or interesting stories.  Over the years I have seen many books with jokes and cartoons about lawyers or doctors, but never about architects.  In these tough times I believe we could all use a good laugh.

    An example of a pithy quote:  Frank Lloyd Wright referred to SOM as "3 Blind Mies".

    An example of a funny story, possibly true, Henry Kendall Thaw, the murderer of Stanny White and the husband of Evelyn Nesbitt (the girl in the swing, Stanford White's mistress), was reported to have said upon seeing Philadelphia City Hall, "My god, I shot the wrong architect".

    You get the picture.  I look forward to your responses.  With quotes and true stories, if you could provide a reference, it would be greatly appreciated.  You can post the information here or email me at VNahmias@aol.com

    Thank you all.

    Victor Jay Nahmias, AIA






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    Victor Nahmias AIA
    President
    Envision Architecture
    Los Angeles CA
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  • 2.  RE:Architectural Stories and Humor

    Posted 10-11-2011 07:19 AM

    Check out David Macaulay's Great Moments in Architecture

    http://www.amazon.com/Great-Moments-Architecture-David-Macaulay/dp/0395255007

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    Andrew Blysak AIA
    Vice President
    Wiley'Wilson
    Alexandria VA
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  • 3.  RE:Architectural Stories and Humor

    Posted 10-12-2011 05:09 PM
    There was an article in Architectural Record January 2007 in which Robert Cambell, FAIA, wrote a piece on his favorites.  In case you cannot get it, here are a couple I liked:
    "We can say that architecture always contains a human error, and in a deeper view, it is necessary, without it the richness of life and its positive qualities cannot be expressed." Alvar Alto
    "While a poet or a painter can forget about their age and be great in the solitude of their study and studio, an architect cannot exist in opposition to society." Nikolaus Pevsner

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    Gisela Schmidt

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