ePub What the Students Taught the Teacher (About Suzuki Series) by Frona Colquhoun in Arts-Photography

Review

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Halprin and Hirsch on Public Spaces and Community EngagementBy Max ImbermanLawrence Halprin combined art and architecture; horticulture and dance; civic planning and narrative; creating public spaces that were meant to be lived in and used for personal and societal development and happiness. Alison Bick Hirsch; studying Halprin’s life and work; aims to demonstrate how Halprin’s unique design philosophies influenced his projects. Hirsch asserts that “Halprin’s designs act as the stage (and choreography) for the theater of everyday life.” She shows how Halprin’s biography and interests led to the emergence of his particular brand of city design. Halprin’s work would have been unfathomable to me before reading this book. I never would have considered an architect using ritual and choreography as design tools. Halprin was heavily involved in urban renewal; but sought to augment community character; culture; and history rather than replace it. The book presents Halprin’s work and philosophies in great detail; making it clear what he did; why he did it; and how it was received. The book is organized into three sections. It opens with a biographical sketch of Lawrence Halprin; which presents the many influences the man incorporated into his work. His transformation from a landscape architect to an urban planner who heavily incorporated artistic philosophies into his work seems unbelievable; but the narrative presented explains the dramatic transformation. The following section details the design and development of Halprin’s built work; from Heritage Park Plaza in Fort Worth; Texas to Manhattan Square Park in Rochester; New York. The book details Halprin’s intentions and challenges as he implemented an urban renewal agenda to communities across America. The book’s final section details his practice of community workshops in cities such as Cleveland and Charlottesville. Much of the urban renewal in the United States was implemented by insiders; by politicians and civic leaders who imposed a top-down approach. Halprin sought to understand the way people used civic and public spaces in order to best design a more aesthetically pleasing and useful location that would not hinder the old ways. This book is about a man and his work; and provides equal attention and detail for both. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in American urban renewal practice and policy; as well as those who want to read about a unique architect whose design practices and philosophies were eminently democratic. Hirsch’s research is clear; and she has an array of primary sources from the Lawrence Halprin collection; including letters; sketches; designs; and plans for community workshops.3 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Lessons Learned from Halprins and HirschBy Robert S HarrisThis thorough and insightful study exhibits the spirit of the Halprins collaborations - between themselves and with a wide array of other professionals and communities. Any readers who did not already know about this work will now be very well informed; and for those who know and care about participatory designing there are lessons to be learned both pro and con. Real scholarship that is fascinating to read.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A thoughtful book by an intelligent author who had access to Halprin himself and to ...By D NobleA thoughtful book by an intelligent author who had access to Halprin himself and to many original primary source documents.