Architectural Models of Theodore Conrad: The "miniature boom" of mid-century modernism

The book explores the life and work of Theodore Conrad, the most prominent and prolific architectural model-maker of the 20th century, through the discovery of his fully-preserved private archive. It examines his innovative models and their impact on the design and realization of many icons of American Modernism, highlighting the often-overlooked influence of architectural models and their makers on 20th-century architectural history.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 15 July 2021
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Theodore Conrad (1910-1994), the most prominent and prolific architectural model-maker of the 20th century, is the subject of this book, which was written after the recent discovery of his fully preserved private archive. Models, photographs, letters, business files, and drawings are all included in the archive.

Conrad's creative models played a crucial role in the design and realization of numerous landmarks of American Modernism, including the Rockefeller Center, Lever House, and the Seagram Building. He revolutionized the manufacturing of architectural models and went on to become a successful model-making entrepreneur in his own right. Despite his success and the well-known buildings he helped to create, until now little has been known about Conrad's work and his impact on 20th-century architectural history.

This book, which has exclusive access to Conrad's archive and that of model photographer Louis Checkman, both of which have lain undiscovered in private storage for decades, examines Conrad's work and legacy. Case studies of his major commissions and full-color photographs of his works accompany the examination. Set against the backdrop of the surge in model-making in the 1950s and 1960s, which Jane Jacobs called "The Miniature Boom," the book explores how Conrad's models prompt broader scholarly questions about the nature of authorship in architecture, the importance of craftsmanship, and the translation of architectural ideas between different media.

The book ultimately presents an alternative history of American modern architecture, highlighting the often-overlooked influence of architectural models and their makers.

Weight: 704g
Dimension: 191 x 247 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350152830