1955/1972: Pruit-Igoe Development and Demolition, First Failure of Modernist Vision
The project was designed by architect Minoru Yamasaki who would later design New York's World Trade Center.[Perhaps a cosmic coincidence.]
***
In 1951, an Architectural Forum titled "Slum Surgery in St. Louis" praised Yamasaki's original proposal as "the best high apartment" of the year. Overall density was set at a moderate level of 50 units per acre (higher than in downtown slums), yet, according to the planning principles of Le Corbusier and the International Congresses of Modern Architects, residents were raised up to 11 floors above ground in an attempt to save the grounds and ground floor space for communal activity. Architectural Forum praised the layout as "vertical neighborhoods for poor people". Each row of buildings was supposed to be flanked by a "river of trees", developing a Harland Bartholomew concept. However, parking and recreation facilities were inadequate; playgrounds were added only after tenants petitioned for their installation.
***
In 1951, an Architectural Forum titled "Slum Surgery in St. Louis" praised Yamasaki's original proposal as "the best high apartment" of the year. Overall density was set at a moderate level of 50 units per acre (higher than in downtown slums), yet, according to the planning principles of Le Corbusier and the International Congresses of Modern Architects, residents were raised up to 11 floors above ground in an attempt to save the grounds and ground floor space for communal activity. Architectural Forum praised the layout as "vertical neighborhoods for poor people". Each row of buildings was supposed to be flanked by a "river of trees", developing a Harland Bartholomew concept. However, parking and recreation facilities were inadequate; playgrounds were added only after tenants petitioned for their installation.
Interesting. I'd also blame the project's failure on one of the hallmarks of First Turnings: Corruption. The poor craftsmanship says that more money was poured into the project than showed up in the housing itself. The excess, no doubt, went into the pockets of those who were able to take advantage of the societal structures built up during the recent Fourth Turning.
ReplyDelete