Oregon architect Pietro Belluschi was fundamental to the development of a very particular mid-century modernism, said Brian Carter at the public lecture “Material Culture” on Friday in Lawrence Hall. Carter and Annette LeCuyer discussed Belluschi’s theories and the connection between design research and current architectural practices.
Carter and LeCuyer, architecture professors from the University of Michigan, share the 2002 Pietro Belluschi Distinguished Visiting Professors appointment on campus at the School of Architecture and Allied Arts.
“The continuation of these public lectures enables us to appreciate the quality of architecture as it is practiced,” architecture department head Michael Fifield said.
As part of the program, the pair teach two University classes. Carter said he has enjoyed his time at the University.
“It has been very jolly teaching here,” Carter said.
Carter and LeCuyer lead a design studio and a seminar. Both courses focus on the integration of design and its structure, environmental systems and the materials used to build such structures.
Fifield said the architecture program has benefited from Carter and LeCuyer being at the University. “The emphasis of both the studio and the seminar on the integration of the building systems within the overall design strategy has been of great value to not only the students but also to the overall goals and objectives of our program.”
The Friday talk was an extension of the classes, and Carter said he had specific goals for the lecture.
“What we wanted to do with the lecture was to try to connect the work of Belluschi to the development of mid-century modernism in America, and also to talk about that in relation to very recent work in America.”
One of the goals of the lecture and the classes was to connect Belluschi to students’ current projects.
“One of the really inspiring aspects of his work was the connection between teaching and practice. Belluschi was very involved in both of those things,” Carter said.
Carter and LeCuyer wanted the information presented at the lecture to be used in real projects. “If architects now embrace the operational thoroughness, pushing the limits to discover what’s possible, and to be integrating thinking and making, then architecture can move beyond functional and technical impenitence,” LeCuyer said. “It is a very exciting time to be an architect.”
Nandita, a graduate student in interior architecture who attended the lecture, said, “They are able to talk about the big ideas and bring in things about students finishing their final projects.”