The Philadelphia School and the Future of Architecture

The Philadelphia School was an architectural golden age from 1951 to 1965, bringing together architecture, city and regional planning, and landscape architecture education under Dean G. Holmes Perkins. It saw the transformation of modern architecture by Louis Kahn, Robert Venturi, Romaldo Giurgola, Robert Le Ricolais, Ian McHarg, Herbert Gans, and Denise Scott Brown, as well as the active city planning commission of Edmund Bacon. This book explores the school's history, the city's transformation, and its philosophy in the context of other movements of the time and its relevance to architecture today and in the future.

Format: Hardback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 05 August 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The Philadelphia School, a remarkable era in architectural history, flourished from 1951 to 1965. It witnessed a unique convergence of city, practice, and education, marked by a spirit of renewal. Under the visionary leadership of Dean G. Holmes Perkins, the school brought together architecture, city and regional planning, and landscape architecture education, creating a dynamic and transformative educational environment.

During this period, the Philadelphia School was a hotbed of innovation and creativity. Prominent figures such as Louis Kahn, Robert Venturi, Romaldo Giurgola, Robert Le Ricolais, Ian McHarg, Herbert Gans, and Denise Scott Brown made significant contributions to modern architecture. Kahn, Venturi, and Giurgola pushed the boundaries of architectural design, exploring new forms and theories. Le Ricolais experimented with unconventional structures, McHarg challenged Western civilization, Gans explored urban and regional ecology, and Scott Brown forged a syncretism of European and American planning theories, incorporating popular culture into her work.

In the city of Philadelphia, Edmund Bacon served as the director of the most active city planning commission in the country. His visionary leadership shaped the urban landscape, fostering a sense of growth and development. The Philadelphia School, in conjunction with Bacon's city planning efforts, played a crucial role in shaping the city's identity and future.

This book delves into the history of the Philadelphia School, exploring its transformation of the city of Philadelphia and the philosophical underpinnings of its approach. It contextualizes the school within other movements of the time, such as the New Urbanism and the Metaphoric School, and examines its enduring legacy in architecture today and in the future. Through the lens of a student who was part of this remarkable era, the book offers insights and perspectives on the Philadelphia School's contributions to the field.

Weight: 540g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032015231