Allan Greenberg
Encyclopedia
Allan Greenberg is an American architect and one of the leading classical architects
of the late twentieth century. He was the originator and leading practitioner of "canonical classicism," one of many design responses to postmodernism
emerging in the mid-1970s. According to Paul Goldberger
, architecture critic for The New York Times, Greenberg's “life’s work has been a mission to establish the validity of classicism as an architectural language in our time.” In addition to his architecture, Greenberg’s articles, teaching, and lectures have exerted a strong influence on the study and practice of contemporary classicism. In 2006, he was the first American to be awarded the Richard H. Driehaus Prize for Classical Architecture
in recognition of his major contributions to architectural design and scholarship. The prize is awarded annually "to a living architect whose work embodies the principles of traditional and classical architecture and urbanism in contemporary society and creates a positive, long-lasting cultural, environmental, and artistic impact." George Hersey, author and professor of Art History at Yale University, wrote:
, with whom he worked on the Sydney Opera House, and Viljo Revell
. After receiving his Master of Architecture degree from Yale University in 1965, he spent two years in the City of New Haven’s Redevelopment Agency and later served as Architectural Consultant to Connecticut’s Chief Justice from 1967 to 1979. He has taught at Yale University’s School of Architecture and School of Law, the University of Pennsylvania, the Division of Historic Preservation at Columbia University, and the University of Notre Dame. Greenberg received his U.S. citizenship in 1973. He is married to painter Judith Seligson.
Allan Greenberg, Architect, LLC was established in 1972 and has offices in Washington, D.C., New York City, and Greenwich, Connecticut. Its work covers a broad range of buildings in the United States and overseas. Projects include master plans, feasibility studies, new construction, renovations, restorations, and interior and furniture design for academic, institutional, religious, commercial, residential, and retail clients.
Greenberg has written both scholarly and popular books and articles on the dynamic and enduring qualities of traditional architecture and design. His extensive body of published work includes the books George Washington, Architect (1999), http://www.amazon.com/s?search-alias=stripbooks&unfiltered=1&field-keywords=&field-author=greenberg&field-title=architecture+of+democracy&field-isbn=&field-publisher=&node=&url=&field-feature_browse-bin=&field-binding_browse-bin=&field-subject=&field-language=&field-dateop=&field-datemod=&field-dateyear=&sort=relevancerank&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=5&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=19The Architecture of Democracy: American Architecture and the Legacy of the Revolution (2006)], and Lutyens and the Modern Movement (2007). A monograph of his work appeared in 1995; Monacelli Press will publish a second monograph in 2011.
Classical architecture
Classical architecture is a mode of architecture employing vocabulary derived in part from the Greek and Roman architecture of classical antiquity, enriched by classicizing architectural practice in Europe since the Renaissance...
of the late twentieth century. He was the originator and leading practitioner of "canonical classicism," one of many design responses to postmodernism
Postmodern architecture
Postmodern architecture began as an international style the first examples of which are generally cited as being from the 1950s, but did not become a movement until the late 1970s and continues to influence present-day architecture...
emerging in the mid-1970s. According to Paul Goldberger
Paul Goldberger
Paul Goldberger is the Architecture Critic for The New Yorker, where since 1997 he has written the magazine's celebrated "Sky Line" column. He also holds the Joseph Urban Chair in Design and Architecture at The New School in New York City...
, architecture critic for The New York Times, Greenberg's “life’s work has been a mission to establish the validity of classicism as an architectural language in our time.” In addition to his architecture, Greenberg’s articles, teaching, and lectures have exerted a strong influence on the study and practice of contemporary classicism. In 2006, he was the first American to be awarded the Richard H. Driehaus Prize for Classical Architecture
Richard H. Driehaus Prize for Classical Architecture
The Richard H. Driehaus Prize for Classical Architecture was established in 2003 by The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation and is presented annually through the University of Notre Dame School of Architecture to honor a major contributor in the field of traditional and classical architecture.-Driehaus...
in recognition of his major contributions to architectural design and scholarship. The prize is awarded annually "to a living architect whose work embodies the principles of traditional and classical architecture and urbanism in contemporary society and creates a positive, long-lasting cultural, environmental, and artistic impact." George Hersey, author and professor of Art History at Yale University, wrote:
Greenberg is the most knowing, most serious practitioner of Classicism currently on the scene in this country. . . . Greenberg belongs in the succession of Charles Follen McKimCharles Follen McKimCharles Follen McKim FAIA was an American Beaux-Arts architect of the late 19th century. Along with Stanford White, he provided the architectural expertise as a member of the partnership McKim, Mead, and White....
, Daniel BurnhamDaniel BurnhamDaniel Hudson Burnham, FAIA was an American architect and urban planner. He was the Director of Works for the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. He took a leading role in the creation of master plans for the development of a number of cities, including Chicago and downtown Washington DC...
, Henry BaconHenry BaconHenry Bacon was an American Beaux-Arts architect who is best remembered for the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. , which was his final project.- Education and early career :...
, John Russell PopeJohn Russell PopeJohn Russell Pope was an architect most known for his designs of the National Archives and Records Administration building , the Jefferson Memorial and the West Building of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.-Biography:Pope was born in New York in 1874, the son of a successful...
, and Arthur Brown. And above all he belongs to the succession of Greece and Rome, of VignolaGiacomo Barozzi da VignolaGiacomo Barozzi da Vignola was one of the great Italian architects of 16th century Mannerism. His two great masterpieces are the Villa Farnese at Caprarola and the Jesuits' Church of the Gesù in Rome...
and Sanmicheli, of VanvitelliLuigi VanvitelliLuigi Vanvitelli was an Italian engineer and architect. The most prominent 18th-century architect of Italy, he practiced a sober classicizing academic Late Baroque style that made an easy transition to Neoclassicism.-Biography:Vanvitelli was born at Naples, the son of a Dutch painter of land and...
, LedouxClaude Nicolas LedouxClaude-Nicolas Ledoux was one of the earliest exponents of French Neoclassical architecture. He used his knowledge of architectural theory to design not only in domestic architecture but town planning; as a consequence of his visionary plan for the Ideal City of Chaux, he became known as a utopian...
, and LabrousteHenri LabroustePierre François Henri Labrouste was a French architect from the famous École des Beaux Arts school of architecture. After a six year stay in Rome, Labrouste opened an architectural training workshop, which quickly became the center of the Rationalist view...
, to the visionary company of those who play the great game of Classicism.
Biography and career
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Greenberg was educated at the University of Witwatersrand, where he studied classical and Gothic architecture. He worked for leading Scandinavian modernist architects Jørn UtzonJørn Utzon
Jørn Oberg Utzon, , AC was a Danish architect, most notable for designing the Sydney Opera House in Australia. When it was declared a World Heritage Site on 28 June 2007, Utzon became only the second person to have received such recognition for one of his works during his lifetime...
, with whom he worked on the Sydney Opera House, and Viljo Revell
Viljo Revell
Viljo Revell was a Finnish architect of the functionalist school. Internationally Revell is best known for designing the Toronto City Hall....
. After receiving his Master of Architecture degree from Yale University in 1965, he spent two years in the City of New Haven’s Redevelopment Agency and later served as Architectural Consultant to Connecticut’s Chief Justice from 1967 to 1979. He has taught at Yale University’s School of Architecture and School of Law, the University of Pennsylvania, the Division of Historic Preservation at Columbia University, and the University of Notre Dame. Greenberg received his U.S. citizenship in 1973. He is married to painter Judith Seligson.
Allan Greenberg, Architect, LLC was established in 1972 and has offices in Washington, D.C., New York City, and Greenwich, Connecticut. Its work covers a broad range of buildings in the United States and overseas. Projects include master plans, feasibility studies, new construction, renovations, restorations, and interior and furniture design for academic, institutional, religious, commercial, residential, and retail clients.
Greenberg has written both scholarly and popular books and articles on the dynamic and enduring qualities of traditional architecture and design. His extensive body of published work includes the books George Washington, Architect (1999), http://www.amazon.com/s?search-alias=stripbooks&unfiltered=1&field-keywords=&field-author=greenberg&field-title=architecture+of+democracy&field-isbn=&field-publisher=&node=&url=&field-feature_browse-bin=&field-binding_browse-bin=&field-subject=&field-language=&field-dateop=&field-datemod=&field-dateyear=&sort=relevancerank&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=5&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=19The Architecture of Democracy: American Architecture and the Legacy of the Revolution (2006)], and Lutyens and the Modern Movement (2007). A monograph of his work appeared in 1995; Monacelli Press will publish a second monograph in 2011.
Major projects
- State Library and Supreme Court Building, addition (in association with Russell Gibson von Dohlen, Hartford, Connecticut, 1970)
- Superior Court Building (Manchester, Connecticut, 1979–1980)
- Bergdorf GoodmanBergdorf GoodmanBergdorf Goodman is a luxury goods department store based on Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. The company was founded in 1899 by Herman Bergdorf and was later owned and managed by Edwin Goodman, and later his son Andrew Goodman....
, new façade (New York, New York, 1983–1984) - Treaty Ceremony Room, Antechambers, and Reception Rooms, United States Department of State (Washington D.C., 1985–1986)
- Offices of the Secretary of State, United States Department of State (Washington D.C., 1987–89)
- The News Building (Athens, Georgia, 1988–1992)
- J. Wilson Newman Pavilion, The Miller Center of Public Affairs, University of Virginia (Charlottesville, Virginia, 1988–1990)
- Tercentenary Hall (now McGlothlin-Street Hall), College of William and Mary (Williamsburg, Virginia, 1989–1995)
- Gore Hall, University of Delaware (Newark, Delaware, 1995–1998)
- Tommy Hilfiger Flagship Store (now Brooks BrothersBrooks BrothersBrooks Brothers is the oldest men's clothier chain in the United States. Founded in 1818 as a family business, the privately owned company is now owned by Retail Brand Alliance, also features clothing for women, and is headquartered on Madison Avenue in Manhattan, New York City.-History:On April 7,...
) (Beverly Hills, California, 1995–1997) - Unicorn Mining Headquarters (London, Kentucky, 1997–1999)
- Humanities Building, Rice University (Houston, Texas, 1997–2000)
- Supreme Court Historical Society, renovation (Washington, D.C., 1998–1999)
- DuPont Hall, University of Delaware (Newark, Delaware, 1998–2002)
- Aaron Burr Hall, Princeton University (Princeton, New Jersey, 2003–2005)
Selected bibliography
- "A Classical Touch for an Unruly Façade.” New York Times (Nov. 6, 2006).
- Clarke, Gerald. “In the Georgian Fashion.” Architectural Digest (October 2009): 132-39.
- Conroy, S. Claire. “At Home with the Past: Allan Greenberg Makes the Familiar Fresh Again.” Residential Architect (September/October 2002): 56-67.
- Gagné, Nicole V. “Allan Greenberg.” Traditional Building 17:5 (September/October 2004): 16.
- Goldberger, Paul. “In Perpetuum.” Architectural Record 174 (April 1986): 110-21.
- Langdon, Philip. “Modern Classics: Allan Greenberg’s Houses Reflect the Revival of the Classical Tradition.” The Atlantic 265.1 (January 1990): 86+.
- Lubow, Arthur. “The Ionic Man.” Departures No. 57 (May/June 1999): 156-63, 220.
- Reiss, Gwen North. “A Class Act.” Connecticut Cottages & Gardens (January 2007).
- Rybczynski, Witold. “Something Old, Something New: A Prize-Winning Architect at Princeton.” Slate Magazine (Feb. 1, 2006).
- Schmertz, M. F. “Design for Diplomacy.” Architectural Record 173 No. 12 (1985): 152-59.
- Ward, Logan. “Old Town Revival.” Southern Accents (Sept.-Oct. 2005): 94-100.
- Westfall, C. W. “Allan Greenberg and the Difficult Whole of Architecture.” In Allan Greenberg, Selected Works, 6-10. London: Academy Editions, 1995.
External links
- http://www.allangreenberg.com Allan Greenberg, Architect, LLC
- http://www.driehausprize.org Official site of the Richard H. Driehaus Prize