Gpean

Date: 2007-04-11 Publisher: GPEAN Hit: 847

USA
National Building Museum
401 F Street NW
Washington, D.C.
USA
http://www.nbm.org

CITYSCAPES REVEALED: HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE COLLECTION
3.12.05-long term
This first-ever retrospective exhibition of the National Building Museum¡¯s unique collection explores quintessentially American, 20th-century buildings from center-city mansions to main street storefronts and sleek downtown skyscrapers. Anchored by a series of large architectural elements, this walking tour of the cityscape is complemented by exquisitely detailed drawings; rare, early-20th-century photographs; and smaller-scale fragments from National Historic Landmarks¡ªincluding the former U.S. Pension Building, the Museum¡¯s extraordinary home.
Established in 1977, the Museum¡¯s permanent collection holds a wealth of artifacts that illuminate virtually all aspects of America¡¯s building heritage. This exhibition highlights the collection¡¯s strength, namely the building materials, architectural styles, and construction practices that defined urban America from the end of the 19th through the first half of the 20th centuries.
Cityscapes Revealed affords close-up views of building details not otherwise seen. Some, such as the terra-cotta rosettes originally installed as part of the Museum¡¯s cornice, are far above eye level. Others, such as the watercolors rendered by interior designer Ernest L. Brothers, are part of the design or construction process. And still others are so common or seemingly mundane, such as brick bonding patterns, that hardly anyone takes notice, much less stops to examine them. By focusing on these details and many others, the exhibition draws attention to the imagination of the designer, the skill of the craftsman, the hand of the contractor, and the eye of the photographer¡ªunderscoring the myriad complexities of building and the importance of both individual talent and collaborative relationships. Though always present, these forces are sometimes easier to see and appreciate in buildings from the past.
Even the keenest observers of the city make ¡°new¡± discoveries, in plain sight, all the time. After taking this tour of the National Building Museum¡¯s collection, we encourage you to undertake your own explorations of the city.

[Author]http://www.arplus.com [Source]

Whatever economic globalization or 'global village' is the very portrait of present world, no one can deny that, it is a wise choice, with world developing, to make every citizen enjoy all the peace, wealth and health maintained by human beings.
Any action to hinder the knowledge from spreading is against the original intension of human.
While on the other hand, to accelerate the spreading of the knowledge is proved to benefit those conferrers and dispensers, in particular the education course.
And in this aspect, the discipline of urban planning begins with its first significant step.
Promoted by of APSA, AESOP, ACSP and ANSAPS, the first World Planning Schools Congress was held in Tongji University in July, 2001. And there were nearly 1000 officials, scholars of urban planning, educators, students and practitioners gathered making a deep discuss on the common achievements in urban planning and construction, communicating actively on working experience, as well as referring to practical experience of the other countries, cities and research partners. Therefore it made a full success.
According to the common sense of the above paragraph, to deliver the spirit to the whole world, 10 countries and transnational planning educational organizations, gathered signing the SHANGHAI STATEMENT on July 14th, which declares:on the goal of increasing mutual communication in order to improve the quality and visibility of planning and planning education. To achieve this, it was agreed to establish a global planning education association network and committees to plan holding the second World Planning Schools Congress and to develop an inclusive communication network.
Here you see the web page of Global Planning Education Association Network directed by the spirit of the Shanghai Statement.
Here we also provide various urban planning organizations with opportunities for mutual communication and immediate report on the significant events of worldwide urban planning, discussing on the developing tide of planning theory, even further, improving the function of urban planning in public life, in order to build a city system which is sustainable and impelling.
What we want to put emphasis on is that this network not only exists in the infinite virtual digital world, but also is consisted of close relations between a myriad of scholars, schools and cities, which must be existing in real life and detailed common study. And we will try our best to bring up this cooperation and communication.

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