In one of those interesting cosmic convergences, Catalan vaults have also been consuming my attention recently while reading Revolution of Forms - Cuba's Forgotten Art Schools by John Loomis, Princeton Press 2011. Had never heard of Castro's project for the National Art Schools in Cuba until someone dropped off the book. Fabulous building forms and planning diversity for the various schools. Brilliant cooperative architectural effort at the beginning. Some nice photos accessible by Google in case it is new to you too.Has anyone here been to visit the place? Comments?Here is the first chapter of the book, describing how the work came into being.A sad aspect is that I was sitting in the drafting rooms at Cornell being compelled to draw straight line Mies-clones at the very same time this was going on across the veiled waters. Then, my little nature-inspired bridge design unfortunately caused a serious ruffle in the Design Department, and the only professor to appreciate it was Mario Romanach who had recently fled from Cuba and was being hosted at Cornell. Unfortunately he did not speak English enough at the time, so we could not talk, but every day for two weeks, while passing on his way to lunch, he would stop and just stare and stare at the bridge model without saying a word. Now, decades later, the book about the National Art Schools helps to know why.cp in bc
--
**Please remember to trim posts, as requested in the Terms of Service**
To terminate puerile preservation prattling among pals and the uncoffee-ed, or to change your settings, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/bullamanka-pinheads.html