The Civic Architecture of Paul Cret

Rating:
Summary: solid scholarship
Review: To quote the author from the preface:

"I undertook this study of the civic architecture of the French emigre Paul Cret (1876-1945) as an effort to understand better the complex relation between design of public buildings and the interests of the institutions that commissioned them. Cret's work has proved well suited to such an investigation for a number of reasons. Not only is it extremely well documented, but as a foreigner Cret had an outsider's perspective on America, which highlights the distinctions between the client's interests and the architect's assumptions. Furthermore, in the competitions that mark his career, his work differs sufficiently from that of his American colleagues to allow consideration of the diverse conceptions that shaped civic architecture in the United States in the first third of the twentieth century"

Rigorously holding herself to this self-imposed limitation she has produced a truly first rate work. Cret's early life an education are presented, followed by chapters devoted to 8 projects that are discribed, both in substance and in creation, and carefully analyzed. Three of the projects: the Pan American Union, the Folger Shakespeare Library, and the Federal Reserve Board are justifiably famous, several others including the Indianapolis Public Library and his loosing entry to the Nebraska State Capitol Competition are little known works of true architectural genius. The author's writing style is sometimes dense but it is always clear and well crafted, her research is obviously exhaustive, her arguements carefully reasoned. The selection of illustrations is very good.

Except for Wright, Cret is arguably the greatest American architect. Like wright he was a master of composition who could creat remarkably elegant and original architectural solutions to unique problems. Unlike wright he had a wide and deep knowledge and understanding of the western architectual tradition. Unlike Wright he was a man of truly good charactor.

I have two criticisms of the book. First, I beleave it is much too expensive (but worth every penny). Second I wish the author had chosen to include additional chaptors devoted to his work for American Battle Monuments Commission and the Pennsylvania Battle Monuments Commission, as well as to his work providing architectural design for bridges etc., both of which I believe could have been included under the umbrella of Civic Architecture. Still, I do not wish to criticize the author, it is rare to find such a good book on any architect, there is very little written on Cret, we are unusually fortunate to have this work that will be valued for decades to come.