Peter C. Papademetriou
Published Writings 1
The Journal of Architectural Education; I served as the first Executive Editor for the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture; Member Schools from North America: Canada, United States and Mexico.
Volume 36, Number 1 through Volume 38, Number 4 (11 editions inclusive); 1982-1985. Appointed by the ACSA Publications Committee in March 1982, based on my previous journalistic experience [PERSPECTA 12 ["click" to link], Progressive Architecture ["click" to link], Texas Architect ["click" to link] after a Search yielded no viable candidates.
I immediately formed an Editorial Board to vet all submissions which seemed relevant, and to create "Peer Review" for academics in Schools of Architecture, as a credible metric for potential Tenure Review at their Instituions, where Architectural Education is a somewhat nebulous 'discipline' for other educators to evaluate..
'CLICK' on images for Caption and to review in Sequence.
'CLICK' on images for Caption and to review in Sequence.
The process of producing the 11 issues in volumes 4 times a year, a pile of correspondence, revisions, layouts, proofs is represented by the surrounding materials to the issues on the platforms.
The Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) is headquartered in Washington, DC; as the first Executive Editor, I was based in Houston. In the Dark Ages before computers, e-mail, scanners, etc I managed/coordinated communications the Old School way. After the initial year, the Editorial Board was expanded to a broader list, and staggered terms in new Stationery.
Being the first Executive Editor of a Journal for Architecture Educators in North America created some interest in the Press.
Starting from "scratch" meant organizing a strategy coordinating with ACSA in Washington, DC with myself full-time Faculty at Rice University, Graphic design at ACSA, printing under contract with ACSA, creating and managing/communicating with an Editorial Board and managing review of submitted articles to loosely fit together for quarterly publication.
The two editorial reviews on the left speak to this new initiative.
"what it takes; what you get" [above]
Editorial Graphics [R]
Chermayeff & Geismar had created a "Branding" image for all ACSA graphics, among which was a 'grid' for the JAE. We decided to "play it straight" for first issues. My assistant in Wahington, DC was Gary Haney, a Harvard grad, who was interested in tackling the design constraints.
With the goal of having an actual JAE designed AND printed for Review by the newly-created Editorial Board at our first meeting, I contacted colleagues and "requested" that they submit articles. Selected are pieces by Marc Treib, Paul Hirschorn and Peter Rowe.
As my first JAE, the Prologue outlines the 'history' behind a new opportunity, and the rationale as a medium for Academics to have recognized Peer Review.
Still sticking with the Chermayeff & Geismer grid/cover. . .
Selected are articles by Alberto Perez-Gomez and Marco Frascari.
My rationale, if not justification, of the JAE as an autonomous vehicle free of parochial agendas, for inclusiveness of contributions.
Still sticking with the Chermayeff & Geismer grid/cover. . . to get through the complete Volume series, and measure responses.
Selected ar articles by Radislov Zuk and Howard Davis.
My retrospective "take" on the middle period of Modernism's "search for form", and reappraisal of pre-Modern architecture and urban design. Complexity, diversity, and coexisting combinations evidenced in the contributions.
Working toward the final version of using the Chermayeff & Geismer grid/cover.
Selected are articles by Robert Benson and Sibyl Dostoglu.
"Completion of an intention" with closure of the 'first' Volume; admitting that Volume 36 was a "hand to mouth" scramble to maintain a believable schedule of production and distribution to Member Schools and their faculties.
Breaking Away: advancing the C&G grid!
Selected are articles by Gabi Goldschmidt and Peter Anders.
Whew! Getting the 'system' of essentially open-ended submission and review to function begins to advance. As Executive Editor, the challange was to receive contributios, have the Board vett them (2 readers per), and decide which would be completed in time to combine into some consistency.
Cover Design V2.1!!
Selected are articles by Julia Robinson + Stephen Weeks, and Jerzy Starczewski.
Quoting Philip Johnson, and citing Stanley Tigerman from my interview in JAE V36N1, I advanced a view of 'catholicity', and the notion that educational experience constitutes a normative process in terms of the Design Discourse.
A Double Issue: the ACSA Director needed to publish the content of an ACSA project, and closed out the second Volume of JAE under my Edtorship.
Articles chosen are by Don Watson, and Jacquelin McBride. (See Prolgue for details)
Acknowledges a shift in direction, and maintaining our record of timely production, within the academic schedules of Member Schools.
Cover Design V3.1 . . .
The first in the third year of the "new" JAE, with the ACSA Publications Committee replaced by the JAE Editorial Board in the decision-making process. The Board itself underwent a 'shift' with both continuing and new members. Contributors with a history of service to ACSA are also cited.
Referring to the fact that the previous Double Issue represented closure of content from an ACSA issue on Competitions in 1983. I state that there is no 'Plan' for publication, that JAE remains open to all educators, and that I will simply attempt to provide a thread of connections, as Issues are assembled from articles vetted.
Discussion of the state of Design, in the mid-year of the mid-year of the 1980s: the idea of a "Post-modern" period, which eludes codification and challenges architectural education. "Precise" definitions are not those of, say, 'functionalism', but one which compels Diversity.
My "Farewell" Prologue, final Number in the Volume, but explaining how David Bell, a Board Member and Author, would not only succeed me, but also provide continuity as a number of Authors had articles being vetted, and they would, in fact, be published.
And so, the Baton is passed to David Bell with the first of Volume 39.
Summer 1988: the graphic "bar" tabs were being adapted to 'cue' the Volume Numbers, and the desire for "freshness" and change impacted the graphics.
"From little acorns, mighty oaks do grow": Contents were moved, as an expanded sequence of rotating Editorial Boards was now established, providing the continuity I had hoped as Executive Editor,would in turn, evolve. I am listed on the 1987-1990 Board.