• By Nick Bonard
• May 16, 2017

Recap: Reconsidering Modernist Landscapes

Nearly 200 people attended the May 15 event at the National Building Museum. After moderator Brad McKee (Landscape Architecture Magazine) introduced the idea of a fresh look at landscapes that may be “too familiar,” Gary Hilderbrand, (Reed Hilderbrand and Harvard University), used Boston case studies—the Christian Science Plaza and Boston City Hall—to lay out the approach of using the original design intent to frame modifications to address current conditions and needs. University of Virginia Professor Beth Meyer outlined the characteristics of a modernist landscape, noting that they are often in urban areas and reflect the technology and materials of their time. The speakers also discussed the role of continuing maintenance, and the preservation issues of working with living landscapes. The event’s discussion offered a fresh perspective when considering Washington’s modernist public spaces, including sites along the Pennsylvania Avenue corridor.

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