OU Architecture Professors Khosrow Bozorgi and Keith Gåddie recently announced the release of their new book, The Philadelphia House: Organic Architecture and Placemaking in Chestnut Hill, published by Rowman & Littlefield. The official release date is July 15, 2023, from Philadelphia House, but Amazon and Barnes & Noble have already announced the pre-ordering of the book.
The book explores the very beginning of the interwar period, where a small collection of formally trained architects created a distinctive residential type that is now recognized as a Philadelphia landmark. These architects surpassed the conventional pseudo-classic and eclectic neo-Gothic solutions through a unique adaptation of design principles to suit the exclusive cultural tradition of the clients and respond to the natural environment.
Bozorgi and Gåddie analyzed the works of three Philadelphia architectural firms to explore this proposition: Mellor, Meigs & Howe, McGoodwin, and Willing & Sims. As a basis, they used six houses constructed between 1917 and 1928 in the historic Chestnut Hill neighborhood. While these homes are aesthetically pleasing, they also represent the emergence of a new ‘type’ of architectural design, generally conceived as ‘organic’ architecture.
This work, which contains over 200 photographs and drawings, considers the houses, the training and development of the architects, the creation and development of Chestnut Hill itself, and the larger, distinct culture of Philadelphia in contributing to the emergence of this distinctive and lasting style.
Pre-order the book from Amazon or Barnes & Noble here.
Robert L. Wesley, a pioneering architect and beloved mentor, has died at age 88. A graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Wesley joined Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) in 1964 and became the firm's first Black partner in 1984. Throughout his career, he contributed to significant architectural projects while maintaining a strong commitment to civic engagement and professional mentorship.
The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture is proud to celebrate a series of recent accomplishments by Dr. Jim Collard, Professor of Practice in the Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture, and Design, whose work continues to shape conversations around Indigenous economic development nationally and internationally.
University of Oklahoma Gibbs College of Architecture Dean Hans E. [PA1.1]Butzer returned to one of his most significant works on December 15, joining survivors and past and present board members for the groundbreaking of a $15.8 million expansion of the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum.
