Peter C. Papademetriou
LECTURES + JURIES
Exploring Themes that derive from my Research, Writing, or Professional Practice manifested in invitations to numerous venues.
Related events are grouped together, and Juries were interesting, as we 'danced within' local Social & Professional Values.
These are some of the occasions. I was fortunate to often find myself in Series of "Good Company", academic as well as practitioner peers.
My research on the Life and Career of Eero Saarinen provided opportunities to lecture at various venues, and in the context of
others from both Professional and Academic communities; I was in "Good Company" during all those invited places and people.
A Symposium at the College of William & Mary, discussing the College Competitions which brought a Modernist sensibility to the USA. Included were several survivors from the period.
Events of the Symposium "Modernism in America"
"Eero Saarinen Search for Form"
The Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts, based in Chicago, was the first to sponsor my Research. I began the long trek to get behind the Man and his Life. I was asked to speak at the headquarters.
"Eero Saarinen and the Search for an American Architecture"
Dialogue with Martin Filler at the Architectural League of New York; discussing the Saarinen Terminal 5 having been Landmarked.
Based in St. Louis, where Eero Saarinen won the Jefferson National Memorial Competition in 1948, with his design of the "Gateway (AKA 'The St. Louis') Arch". Saarinen is seen on a full-size partial maquette of the stairs descending down to the Mississippi River.
"Eero Saarinen and the Search for an American Architecture"
Among Colleagues such as Gwen Wright [a Houston native] and Sandy Wilson [whose crit my Junior year at Princeton opened my eyes to "Concept". [see Project 3 in My Work Portfolio 13] "CLICK" to Link
"Coming of Age: Eero Saarinen and American Modern Architecture"
Special Guest sponsored lecture [The Myron Goldsmith Memorial Lecture] at Illinois Institute of Technology.
Invited lecture at Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA. October 2002
"Coming of Age: Eero Saarinen and American Modern Architecture"
An invited lecture ["Eero Saarinen and the Search for an American Modern Architecture"] sponsored by the Alvar Aalto Academy. I was priviledged to stay in Aalto's own house (in his bedroom) which was an interesting experience as it was another "work-live" design, which had his personal Studio. As you can see by the date, it was Winter, and there were about 3 hours of 'daylight'. See PUBLISHED WRITINGS 8 (ptah) for an essay published by the Academy.
Exhibit and Symposium in which I was Keynote Speaker 2008
"Saarinen vs Saarinen and The Search for a Modern American Architecture"
[long Lecture - if so inclined]
My interest in the evolving American City as represented by Houston, Texas as well as the broader notion of 'Regionalism' resulted in invited lectures.in a range of venues.
Miscellaneous Lectures under the auspices of Columbia University and IAUS [Institute for Architecture and Urban Studies
1975: organizing the first public lecture at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and giving the final in the Series."Houston and Our New City Form"
"On the Track of an Elusive Past" - raising awareness for Conservation/Preservation/Adaptive Re-Use
Leading an architectural tour of Fort Worth, Texas
"Houston: A Tale of Two Cities" put a historical context contrasting pre-1950 to post-1970s urban form. Re: poster image in Published Writings 7/HOUSTON an architectural guide
Review by Arts Editor of the Houston Chronicle
"The American City is Alive and Well and Living in Texas" poster featured a pearl-handle pistol and wooden dowel extended as a "bang" banner [design by Marc Treib]
"The American City is Alive and Well and Living in Texas"
Review in the campus newspaper extends the debate.
"Houston: A Tale of Two Cities"
"O'Neil Ford and His Search for an Indigenous Architecture", the Regionalist Movement searching for 'authenticity'
Analysis by Stephen Fox, in the journal of New York's Institute for Architecture and Urban Studies
Banf, Calgary Canada "Houston: A Tale of Two Cities"
"Regionalism: The Search for Elusive/Illusive/Allusive Sensibilities, Texas 1900-1940" compared the Davis House to The Alamo ['click' for Link]
"Texas Regionalism"
An early opportunity to "bring Texas to The East": invited exhibition of student work.
Symposium "Architectural Publishing in America" with the New York Architectural League and Temple Hoyne Buell Center. My topic: "Revision and Reformation: Post-War Magazines and Journals"
An early invitation by Dean James Stewart Polshek, my topic was a bit of a shocker to those New York students, "Houston: Love It or Leave It"
IAUS [The Institute for Architecture and Urban Studies] 1976. "Aspects of te American 'Fifties: Architecture, Consumerism and the Emergence of Populism", moderated by Diana Agrest
another IAUS poster: my lecture "Shake, Rattle and van der Rohe"
The first challenge to 'tip-toe' through submissions, without direct quotes from Jury members
1984 Symposium involving an array of distinguished "experts" with a range of 'opinions/critiques'I served as Moderator to lead the discussion
published Reviews: Texas Architect; Progressive Architecture [review by Texas Architect editor];Inner View
California Council/AIA with Theme of "American Urbanism"
Newsletter announcing Design Awards
several days of intense Discussion/Review of submissions at The Center for Architecture, with Jury members selected for area expertise.
Miscellaneous Lectures
Architects Week: an interesting exchange
Symposium: "Architects on Architecture", with me between Ken Frampton and Charles Moore
Within and about a string of former mentors or colleagues: Bill MacDonald (see "Origins"/Yale Student Work); Ken Frampton; Jacq Robertson (see Lectures on Regionalism/"Modern Architecture: An Introduction"); other professionals
