August 2023 Archive — Architecture, Design & Theory

August 2023 at Macklowe Art & Architecture collected short guides, deep reads and practical tips across architecture, design and social theory. You’ll find clear explainers on historic styles, hands-on preservation advice, trend notes for interiors and web design, plus accessible pieces on functionalism and human behavior.

What you’ll find this month

This month’s posts cover classic and modern movements: Greek Revival, Georgian, Renaissance, Ancient Roman, Byzantine, Gothic, Beaux‑Arts, Mediterranean Revival, Colonial, Federal, International Style, Constructivist, Deconstructivism, Postmodern and High‑Tech. Each article points out the key features to spot — columns, symmetry, domes, flying buttresses or bold asymmetry — and gives examples you can visit or study.

Practical preservation shows up in “Preserving the Legacy of Colonial Architecture.” It gives concrete steps: document original features with photos and drawings, prioritize routine maintenance (roof, drainage, paint), use matching materials for repairs, and consider adaptive reuse to keep buildings useful. Those tactics help heritage buildings last without becoming museum pieces.

Minimalism appears twice — a guide to decluttering the home and a piece on minimal design for the web. Useful tips: remove one category at a time (clothes, books), set a simple storage rule (one in, one out), and for web design keep navigation clear, reduce page weight, and use deliberate white space to focus attention.

Two accessible posts unpack functionalism: one as a sociological theory and one connecting it to human behavior. Read them to see how systems thinking applies to cities and buildings — think of neighborhoods, schools and transit as interdependent parts. That perspective helps you evaluate whether a design supports social needs like safety, gathering and movement.

Interior design pieces are hands‑on. The Revivalism post suggests reusing vintage pieces with modern finishes; the ranch‑to‑modern guide shows quick wins: open sightlines, swap small windows for larger ones, and pick low‑profile furniture to make spaces feel current without gut renovations.

Read this first

If you’re new here, start with three short reads: “Preserving the Legacy of Colonial Architecture” for practical conservation tips, “Greek Revival Architecture” for classic form and influence, and “The Minimalist’s Guide to Decluttering Your Home” if you want immediate, daily improvements. From there, pick a style you love and follow links to related posts — travel guides, technical histories and trend pieces are easy to find from each article.

Use the tags or search by topic to jump from theory to practice. Want a quick route: tags for preservation, minimalism, revivalism and functionalism group the month’s most actionable content. If you want monthly roundups like this, subscribe — we’ll send new archives and short reading lists straight to your inbox.