Cranbrook Architecture: A Legacy of Latitude

Cranbrook Academy of Art is known as the epicenter of American Modernism. It combines a stunning Eliel Saarinen-designed campus with a radically open educational philosophy to attract and produce influential artists, designers, and architects. The school's commitment to self-directed design research and interdisciplinary latitude has shaped its approaches to architectural practice. This issue explores Cranbrook's model in light of contemporary architectural education, practice, and profession.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 136 pages
Publication date: 11 May 2023
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc

The esteemed Cranbrook Academy of Art, nestled near Detroit, Michigan, holds a revered status as the epicenter of American Modernism. Its inception in 1932 brought together a breathtaking Eliel Saarinen-designed campus, coupled with a radically open educational philosophy, to attract and nurture some of the most influential artists, designers, and architects in the history of the United States. Among these distinguished individuals are Charles and Ray Eames, Fumihiko Maki, Florence Knoll, and Edmund Bacon. Often likened to other avant-garde institutions such as the Bauhaus, Black Mountain College, and Taliesin, Cranbrook has steadfastly pursued a mission to foster a broad, interdisciplinary latitude and self-directed design research, aimed at expanding and diversifying its approaches to architectural practice. A profound belief pervades that open and experimental acts of making should serve as the guiding principles of pedagogy, and consequently, education should shape practice rather than the other way around. Cranbrook's unwavering defiance of dogma and loose grasp on disciplines allows for an educational model that seamlessly blends the practices of art, design, making, and urbanism.

In this special issue, alumni, faculty, and scholars engage in a thoughtful reflection on Cranbrook's model, considering it in the context of contemporary and pressing questions in architectural education, practice, and the profession. Contributors include Kevin Adkisson, Emily Baker, Peggy Deamer, Pia Ednie-Brown, Ronit Eisenbach, Dan Hoffman, Yu-Chih Hsiao, Peter Lynch, Bill Massie, Hani Rashid, Jesse Reiser, Lois Weinthal, and Tod Williams. Featured architects include Asymptote Architecture, Building Culture PLA, Reiser+Umemoto (RUR), Studio Libeskind, and Tod Williams Billie Tsien.

Cranbrook Academy of Art's enduring legacy continues to shape the landscape of architectural education and practice, inspiring generations of artists, designers, and architects to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation. Its commitment to fostering a multidisciplinary environment and promoting self-directed research remains a testament to the power of education in shaping the future of the built environment.

Weight: 566g
Dimension: 275 x 217 x 10 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781119834427