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Archive: March 2012
A Letter to a Critic, Departed
Dear Herbert:Please excuse this impertinence. I know we weren’t friends—who am I kidding: you didn’t know me from Adam, and I was no fan of yours—but I found myself on Duane Street this morning (don’t ask) and it occurred you might be interested in what’s been going on in your absence.
READ MORE | COMMENTS (3)
Johnson and the Void
I am somewhat reluctant to write about Philip Johnson, given that I am still very much in the midst of my biographical research, but in a new essay I float one of my pet theories about how Johnson's architecture and personality tie together.READ MORE | COMMENTS (1)
The Most Beautiful Hostel in the World
When a project that is not of the luxury variety is described as "Minimalist," it is typically code meaning cheap, shoddy, and lacking in creativity. The Antwerp Central Youth Hostel is a rare exception to this rule. The design is by the local architect Vincent van Duysen, and was supervised by his very capable project director, Kristof Geldmeyer.READ MORE | COMMENTS (12)
Mark Lamster is a writer on the arts and culture. He is Associate American Editor of The Architectural Review, and is currently at work on his third book, a biography of the late architect Philip Johnson. Follow: @marklamster.Recent Book
Master of Shadows: The Secret Diplomatic Career of the Painter Peter Paul Rubens
Mark Lamster
Nan A. Talese, 2009
More >>
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Other Essays
Reviews
The AIA Guide to NYCArchitect, June 2, 2010
Leo and His Circle
Los Angeles Times, May 23, 2010
Art of the Steal
Architect's Newspaper, February 26, 2010
Hearts of the City
Los Angeles Times, January 3, 2010
The Goldberger Standard
I.D.
Bottom of the Ninth
Los Angeles Times, June 15, 2009
A Terrible Splendor
Bookforum, May 2009
The New West
Print, December 2008
The Great Delusion
Los Angeles Times, October 21, 2008
Makers of Modern Architecture
I.D., February 07, 2008
The Architecture of Happiness
I.D., February 07, 2008
Architecture of the Absurd
Los Angeles Times, December 23, 2007
Letters of Jackie Robinson
Los Angeles Times, September 30, 2007
Edward Tufte's Beautiful Evidence
I.D., November 2006
Baseball Before We Knew It
New York Times, April 10, 2005
Criticism/Features/Profiles
Small Scale, Big ChangeArchitectural Review, October 25, 2010
Center of Controversy
Architectural Review, September 22, 2010
The Eighty Years War in Ninety Minutes
Mediaite, July 10th, 2010
The Virtues & Perils of Design Thinking
Architect, July 8, 2010
Last Stop on the Way to Ellis Island
Wall Street Journal, June 25, 2010
The Architect 50: #1 SOM
Architect, April 28, 2010
A Clean Slate
Dwell, March 2010
When Artists "Borrow"
Los Angeles Times, February 28, 2010
The Aughts in Architecture & Design
Mediaite, December 11th, 2009
Lessons on the Art of Diplomacy
Huffington Post, October 21, 2009
The Art of Diplomacy
Wall Street Journal, October 10, 2009
What Barack Obama Can Learn from Peter Paul Rubens
Mediaite, October 10th, 2009
Next Door, New York
Print, October 2009
Ron Arad at MoMA
I.D., September 21, 2009
Play Ball
Metropolis, July 22, 2009
Bleacher Bummers
I.D., April 08, 2009
Bombs Away: A New Home for the Jets
I.D., February 2009
Clean & Clear: Chris Hacker Remakes J&J
I.D., April 22, 2008
Reflections on the Baseball Encyclopedia
Los Angeles Times, March 30, 2008
The End of the Yankees Dynasty?
Slate, October 9, 2007
Taser's New Stunner
I.D./Business Week, July 9, 2007
Seven Days in Frankfurt
Metropolis, February 2001
DESIGN OBSERVER JOBS
BLOGROLL
Alan Rapp
Andrew Blum
Ben Greenman
BLDGBLOG
Bronx Banter
Constantin Boym
David Byrne
Ellen Lupton
Jason Kottke
John Gall
Karrie Jacobs
Kazys Varnelis
Kevin Lippert
Khoi Vinh
Lebbeus Woods
Liz Arnold
Pruned
MARK LAMSTER: RECOMMENDED BOOKS
Modern ViewsPaul Goldberger and Phyllis Lambert
Radioactive: Marie & Pierre Curie: A Tale of Love and FalloutLauren Redniss
Gerd Arntz: Graphic designerEd Annink & Max Bruinsma, editors
Ordering Disorder: Grid Principles for Web DesignKhoi Vinh
Cartographies of Time: A History of the TimelineAnthony Grafton & Daniel Rosenberg
James Frazer Stirling: Modernism in CrisisAnthony Vidler
Marina City: Bertrand Goldberg's Urban VisionIgor Marjanovic and Katerina Rüedi Ray
The AIA Guide to New York CityNorval White, Elliot Willensky and Fran Leadon
Lasting Yankee Stadium MemoriesAlex Belth
Design ResearchJane Thompson & Alexandra Lange
