Otherstream Message Board: Re: 20's architecture as urban ideal

Re: 20's architecture as urban ideal

Posted by Yer Humble Host on 2/26/2006, 2:44 pm, in reply to "20's architecture as urban ideal"
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Very interesting theory, and I'd say the New York angle is a definite factor.
I'd also consider, though that this was one of the biggest periods of commercial real estate growth and building in US history. Also, the 1920s were followed by two decades of depression and war, so an entire generation (or more) grew up seeing construction from this period as the newest and most important buildings in town.
Structures from the 1920s are disproportionately common in most bigger cities. Construction from the period "defined" cities for much longer than the architecture of other decades. In some cities which didn't prosper as much in the postwar years (Detroit, for example), it still does.
I think we also have a sentimental attachment to those low-rise 1920s streetcar strips. Not only have they become sort of a symbol the "good old days" of urban neighborhoods, but they are invariably the first parts of town to redevelop and gentrify when people "rediscover" the inner city.
--Previous Message--
: I believe it's here that I've read
: that 1920's architecture is what
: makes a place appear like a
: "big city" in many
: people's minds.
:
: I recently came up with a theory
: to explain this. It's the
: intersection of a) the large
: amount of construction that took
: place in New York City during the
: interwar years, and b) the high
: visibility of New York, and c) its
: consequent place in the public
: mind as the ultimate big city.
:
: In short, see an urban place with
: lots of 20's architecture,
: conscious or unconscious images of
: similar buildings in New York come
: to mind, place ends up feeling
: like a big city because it reminds
: you of images of one.
:

Message Thread:

20's architecture as urban ideal - David B. 2/26/2006, 1:46 pm
- Re: 20's architecture as urban ideal - Yer Humble Host 2/26/2006, 2:44 pm
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--Previous Message-- : Very interesting theory, and I'd say : the New York angle is a definite : factor. : : I'd also consider, though that : this was one of the biggest : periods of commercial real estate : growth and building in US history. : Also, the 1920s were followed by : two decades of depression and war, : so an entire generation (or more) : grew up seeing construction from : this period as the newest and most : important buildings in town. : : Structures from the 1920s are : disproportionately common in most : bigger cities. Construction from : the period "defined" : cities for much longer than the : architecture of other decades. In : some cities which didn't prosper : as much in the postwar years : (Detroit, for example), it still : does. : : I think we also have a sentimental : attachment to those low-rise 1920s : streetcar strips. Not only have : they become sort of a symbol the : "good old days" of urban : neighborhoods, but they are : invariably the first parts of town : to redevelop and gentrify when : people "rediscover" the : inner city. : : --Previous Message-- : I believe it's here that I've read : that 1920's architecture is what : makes a place appear like a : "big city" in many : people's minds. : : I recently came up with a theory : to explain this. It's the : intersection of a) the large : amount of construction that took : place in New York City during the : interwar years, and b) the high : visibility of New York, and c) its : consequent place in the public : mind as the ultimate big city. : : In short, see an urban place with : lots of 20's architecture, : conscious or unconscious images of : similar buildings in New York come : to mind, place ends up feeling : like a big city because it reminds : you of images of one. : : :

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