.
It was very nice of him. I preface that and that I enjoyed it, before registering my complaints. :-)
 |
| One of the subjects of the documentary. |
.
The problem (for me) was the overly expansive use of the Architectural Term "Moderism"; which - to a boy from Southern California - has a design aesthetic meaning. But, to Long Islanders, apparently means anything that wasn't Colonial or Victorian built between 1929 and 1960. It was a rather broad brush in which to tie a movement together.
.
Seriously. At one point they used the term "Modern Architecture" in reference to Levittown. That's a stretch no matter who's grandson is doing the documentary.
.
The term here was meant, I think, to reference smaller, more modest summer type bungalows that were built in a utilitarian fashion - mainly without pitched roofs (albeit, how they stretched that to Levittown - again - I'll never know).
.
It is a vernacular in Southern California of open floor plans, with expansive use of glass and prefabricated material of post WW2 types, steel, concrete and glass. Back here, they had use of materials that were more traditional that couldn't be widely used in So Cal. Like bricks (they tend to fall in earthquakes) and wood (which tends to burn in fires). I tried looking past the simplistic materials into a deeper meaning, but it appeared to mean everything from Fire Island beach houses to Corbusier inspired palatial homes.
.
Anyway, it was a fun night out.
.
Below; "Modern Architecture" in the Los Angeles / Palm Springs idiom.
