Claude Fayette Bragdon

Architecture and Democracy (eBook, ePUB)

Unveiling the Architectural Influence on Democratic Principles in the Progressive Era

• Format: ePub

Produktbeschreibung

In "Architecture and Democracy," Claude Fayette Bragdon presents a profound exploration of the inherent relationship between architectural form and democratic ideals. Through eloquent prose and vivid imagery, Bragdon articulates his vision of an architecture that transcends mere function, advocating for an aesthetic rooted in the principles of democracy. Drawing on both historical examples and contemporary practices, Bragdon delineates how spaces can foster community, inclusiveness, and social interaction, positioning architecture not only as a means of shelter but as a vehicle for democratic expression. His analysis weaves together philosophical, historical, and practical perspectives, situating architectural discourse within broader social and ethical contexts. Bragdon was an architect, writer, and a proponent of the Arts and Crafts movement, deeply influenced by the tumultuous societal changes of the early 20th century. He witnessed the effects of rapid industrialization and urbanization on the built environment and was driven by a desire to create harmonious spaces reflecting the collective spirit of democracy. This background informed his belief that architecture must serve as a physical embodiment of the democratic ideal, cultivating spaces that promote personal and communal engagement. "Architecture and Democracy" is essential reading for architects, urban planners, and anyone interested in the intersection of space, society, and political values. Bragdon'Äôs insights challenge us to reconsider how our environments shape social relationships and emphasize the potential of architecture to enrich democratic living. Embrace this compelling examination that invites reflection on the transformative role of built environments in fostering vibrant and inclusive communities.

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Produktdetails

• Verlag: Good Press
• Seitenzahl: 177
• Erscheinungstermin: 20. November 2019
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 4057664142412
• Artikelnr.: 58436166

Autorenporträt

Claude Fayette Bragdon (August 1, 1866 - 1946) was an American architect, writer, and stage designer based in Rochester, New York, up to World War I, then in New York City. The designer of Rochester's New York Central Railroad terminal (1909-13) and Chamber of Commerce (1915-17), as well as many other public buildings and private residences, Bragdon enjoyed a national reputation as an architect working in the progressive tradition associated with Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright. Along with members of the Prairie School and other regional movements, these architects developed new approaches to the planning, design, and ornamentation of buildings that embraced industrial techniques and building types while reaffirming democratic traditions threatened by the rise of urban mass society. In numerous essays and books, Bragdon argued that only an "organic architecture" based on nature could foster democratic community in industrial capitalist society. Bragdon was born in Oberlin, Ohio. He was raised in Watertown, Oswego, Dansville and Rochester, New York, where his father worked as a newspaper editor. After working for architects in Rochester, New York City, and Buffalo, Bragdon went into practice in Rochester. His major buildings include the city's New York Central Railroad Station, the Rochester First Universalist Church, Bevier Memorial Building, Shingleside, and the Rochester Italian Presbyterian Church, among many others. At Oswego he designed the Oswego Yacht Club. He designed an addition to the Romanta T. Miller House in 1914.[1]:8 While Bragdon's early work reflected the revival of Renaissance architecture associated with the City Beautiful, he soon became a leading participant in the arts and crafts movement, working with Harvey Ellis, Gustav Stickley, and other arts and crafts artists. Around 1900, Bragdon embraced the ideas of Louis Sullivan and began to reorient his work toward the midwestern ideal of a progressive architecture based on nature. His version of organic architecture, however, reflected different social and cultural values than did those of either Sullivan or Bragdon's contemporary Frank Lloyd Wright. Whereas for Sullivan and Wright a building was most organic when it expressed the individual character of its creator, Bragdon saw individualism as a hindrance to the formation of a consensual democratic culture. Accordingly, he promoted regular geometry and musical proportion as ways for architects to harmonize buildings with one another and with their urban context. From 1900 until he closed his architectural practice during World War I, Bragdon applied these principles to his buildings, and he continued to use them through the 1920s in both graphic designs and the theatrical sets he created during a second career as a New York stage designer.