Concrete: A Love-Hate Relationship with Architecture

Charles RosenblumTuesday, July 28, 2015
6:00 p.m. — 7:30 p.m.

Landmarks Preservation Resource Center
744 Rebecca Avenue, Wilkinsburg, Pa 15221

Concrete is often the bane of historic architecture. Highways and retaining walls, and not a few thoughtless, anti-human buildings make extensive use of the stuff. Yet concrete was also the fundamental material of some of the great monuments of Roman architecture–the Pantheon and the Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine.

In the Modern era, the rebirth of concrete allowed masters such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Pier Luigi Nervi, and Robert Maillart to produce brilliant works. Then there are figures such as Paul Rudolph who are both revered and reviled for their concrete buildings. This lecture will examine works in concrete, both far away and close by, in their best and worst qualities. Local works will include the Westinghouse Bridge, designs by Tasso Katselas, and products from TAKTL, a local manufacturer of high performance concrete panels and components.

About the presenter: Charles Rosenblum is a journalist, critic, and scholar writing about architecture, art and other facets of visual culture.  For the past seventeen years, he has taught at a number of universities in Western Pennsylvania. He is also active as a journalist and critic for regional and national publications, including the Pittsburgh City Paper and Pittsburgh Quarterly. He earned a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia writing about the architecture of Henry Hornbostel.

This lecture is free to PHLF Members. Click here for more information about PHLF membership and please join!

Non-members: $5

RSVPs are appreciated. Contact Mary Lu Denny at 412-471-5808 ext. 527