Book

Thanks to everyone who has been asking about my book on Harris Armstrong. Unfortunately it isn't quite ready yet; I've run into some difficulties (both technical and personal) that haven't allowed me to complete the work on it.

I've been out of work for quite some time and some great job opportunities have recently appeared on which I've had to focus my energies. These have taken me away from completing the publication. I hope to have the book completed soon.

I'll definitely post a notice on my blog, Architectural Ruminations, when the book is available. I'm hoping that will be before the end of August.

Louise & Harris Armstrong -- About Houses

About Houses (book cover)
Uploaded by Andrew Raimist

Armstrong drew and designed this book cover for a book on modern houses in the 1940s. While they submitted the manuscript to several publishers it was never published. The typed manuscript was mimeographed by Louise Armstrong informally bound for distribution.

During WWII there was limited work available for architects as building supplies were in short supply and capital resources were devoted to the war effort. Many architects set about putting down their ideas about the future of the modern American home though articles and books. Many such books were published at the time. A good example is "The Modern House in America" by James and Katherine Morrow Ford.

Harris Armstrong talk at Masonry Institute !

Andrew Raimist will be presenting a seminar on Wednesday 26 May 2010 on modern architect Harris Armstrong's interest in, use of and influence on the practice of masonry construction. The event will be held at the Masonry Institute of St. Louis (MISL).

Google Map locating MISL (including address, phone number, website address, etc.):


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Harris Armstrong book preview

Here's a preview of my book Harris Armstrong | Masonry.  I'll be speaking on this topic tomorrow, Wednesday 26 May 2010, at the Masonry Institute of Saint Louis (MISL).

While a full accounting of Armstrong's architecture and life is my ultimate goal, this book will fill a void in the public knowledge and understanding of his career, ideas, and impact. The focus on masonry is based on several issues:

• Focusing Armstrong's masonry work reveals critical aspects of his architectural work. These fundamental principles are of particular interest to architects, designers, builders and the "architecturally informed public".

• The book establishes a framework for Armstrong's progressive approach to design in the context of Saint Louis' development between the 1920s and 1960s.

• The emphasis on masonry highlights Armstrong's key ideas to architectural design with respect to form, materials, composition and function.

• A full accounting covering Armstrong's life and career requires a more expansive book with more pages, illustrations, text, notes, etc. Such a book is beyond presently available resources. Interest and sales of this book will go a long way toward realizing the full Armstrong monograph.

• The book includes insightful color photographs by the author as well as historic documentation from the Harris Armstrong Archives, Special Collections, Washington University in Saint Louis. In addition, personal material obtained through Louise Armstrong (Harris Armstrong's widow), relatives, clients, and friends.

• Examples of some of the previously unavailable material published here include:

- Student works from Ohio State University circa 1924 based upon the Beaux-Arts instructional methods current at the time.

- Family history, snapshots, sketches and other personal records revealing Armstrong's unconventional personality.

- High-quality reproductions of Armstrong renderings representing various phases and periods in his career including: graphite, colored pencil, watercolor, freehand sketches and ink with zip-a-tone.

- Photographs by the author including exhibited, published and award-winning images.

- Captivating samples of his unique styles of hand lettering are featured throughout the book.

- Samples of architectural working drawings highlight his compelling approach to design by the thoughtful juxtaposition of photographs and measured drawings.

- Many examples of unbuilt designs are presented that reflect ideas and forms incorporated into projects constructed many years or decades later.

- Images and quotations from unpublished documents such as "The Life and Death of the Rockpile" and "Building Modern Houses" by Harris & Louise Armstrong.

A self-published, print-on-demand book, Harris Armstrong | Masonry is an accessible, high-quality and reasonably priced. The book is 120 pages, 10" x 8" landscape format book on premium-weight paper with four color printing throughout.

The book will be available for purchase online or directly from the author (eliminating shipping + tax). Three binding formats are available: softcover, hardcover with dust jacket and hardcover with image-wrap (see examples):

The book costs:

• Softcover: $ 39.95

• Hardcover with dust jacket: $ 52.95

• Hardcover with image wrap: $ 55.95

Proofs of the book have been received from the printer (see illustration above). Corrections are presently being made. Printed copies will be available for purchase beginning Wednesday 30 June 2010. Pre-orders made before that date (for hardcover books with dust jacket to be purchased in bulk) can be made at a reduced cost of $50.

It will be offered through the Blurb Bookstore for purchase online (with added tax and shipping charges). You will be be also be able to purchase the book directly from the author. Ordering the book in greater quantities reduces the per book charges allowing the author to sell the book directly without additional costs.


Please direct inquiries to

Andrew [dot] Raimist [at] me [dot] com.

noguchi.stl • Pecha Kucha Saint Louis • Volume 3

Andrew Raimist will be giving a talk entitled "noguchi.stl" at the third Pecha Kucha held in Saint Louis on Thursday 6 May 2010 @ 7pm at Mad Art Gallery.

The presentations will all be based upon the 20 X 20 format: 20 images x 20 seconds per image.

Visit the PK•StL website for more details.

There is no cost for attending the event. All are welcome.

~ ~ ~

The slide presentation will touch upon:

• Noguchi's concepts for sculpting the earth and its connections to Native American Indian mounds.

• The critical influence of the Midwestern history, culture and landscape on Noguchi's formative years growing up in Indiana.

• Noguchi's collaboration with the New York modern architect Edward Durell Stone in developing an entry to the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Competition.

• The visceral connection between Noguchi's desire to mold the landscape and evocations of the human body represented in the earth.

• Noguchi's collaboration with Saint Louis modern architect Harris Armstrong on the iconic Magic Chef lunar landscape.

• The significant, original Noguchi plaster model for the Magic Chef ceiling in the collection of the Saint Louis Art Museum.

• The impact of Noguchi's confinement at the Poston Relocation Center (for US residents and citizens of Japanese origin in 1942) upon his conception of the purpose and meaning of art, sculpture, and landscape.

Map for Harris Armstrong Sappington Spur House Tour

This map indicates the homes of the Harris Armstrong house tour to be held on Sunday 2 May from 2pm to 5pm. You may wish to print out this image and bring it with you to the tour.

The house tour is a benefit for the Sheldon Art Galleries. Tickets for the tour will be available on Sunday on site. Park at the Hough School (at the corner of Sappington and Lockwood) and take the shuttle bus to Sappington Spur. Homes will be open to tour between 2 and 5pm.

You may also be interested in attending the "After Party" for "Golden Key Ticket" donors which will include limited edition photograph, slide talk by Andrew Raimist, and party at #3 Sappington Spur.

MISL -- Harris Armstrong | Masonry

Harris Armstrong | Masonry.
Uploaded by Andrew Raimist.

Andrew Raimist will be presenting a seminar on Thursday 26 May 2010 on modern architect Harris Armstrong's interest in, use of and influence on the practice of masonry construction. The event will be held at the Masonry Institute of St. Louis (MISL).

While know as the earliest, most recognized modernist architect in Saint Louis (practicing from the 1920s through the 1960s), he developed an increasingly sophisticated knowledge of the history and use of masonry construction in the Midwest and throughout America. In the earlier years of his practice, he designed and built structures in a variety of styles and under many different influences.

At the same time he created the International Style design for the Shanley Building, he was creating buildings in a traditional Missouri vernacular manner, a Williamsburg style home, Prairie style homes and buildings created under a wide range of influences. This eclecticism was particularly evident during the 1920s and 1930s.

The talk will present the full range of Armstrong's use of masonry from early traditional designs, unbuilt projects conceiving the modern architecture of the future, radical modernist practice pushing the envelope of technology and practice, as well as his personal trademarks and unique applications of masonry in the context of comprehensively designed and implemented modernist architecture.

The talk will include a critique of Armstrong's use of masonry in non-standard applications with a view toward understanding which methods succeeded and which failed (with regard to long-time weathering, functionality, maintenance, aesthetics and permanence).

Raimist's book Harris Armstrong | Masonry will be available for purchase for the first time at this special event.

Anyone may attend and bring guests, but all must RSVP in advance by calling 314 / 645 5888 or visiting www.MasonryStL.org.


Images on the announcement poster (from top to bottom):

• Magic Chef Building (1947-48) colorized black and white photograph featured on the cover of Architectural Forum

• Cori Residence (1935) historic, archival photograph as published in the American Magazine of Art

• Magic Chef Building (1947-48) corner detail at ground level adjacent to the loading dock at southwest corner (photograph by author)

• Arcularius Residence (1928-29) built in Washington, Missouri in historic, archival photograph

• Meatcutter's Medical Clinic (1954) detail of brick facade with granite base adjacent to the children's playground (photograph by author)

• Industrial Aid for the Blind (1938) detailing for moulded brick on main facade for unrealized project to be built on Forest Park Boulevard

• string line box illustration (at top of page) from public domain figures for online published patents

Historic images and drawing courtesy of the Harris Armstrong Archives, Special Collections, Washington University in St. Louis.
Photographs taken by author copyright © 1990-2002 Andrew Raimist.

Harris Armstrong house & garden tour

Harris Armstrong house & garden tour
Uploaded by Andrew Raimist

You are invited to attend this rare opportunity to tour several of Harris Armstrong's most significant residences.

The house tour is a benefit for the Sheldon Art Galleries. Tickets for the tour will be available Sunday on site. Park at the Hough School (at the corner of Sappington and Lockwood) and take the shuttle bus to Sappington Spur. Homes will be open to tour between 2 and 5pm.

There will also be an "after party" for "Golden Key" ticket holders with several added benefits including specially commissioned photographs, a slide talk by Andrew Raimist, great food at Durb & Ellen Curlee's home (Armstrong's second residence circa 1938) and the company of other interested donors.

Harris Armstrong House Tour -- Sun 2 May 2010

3 Sappington Spur, detail
Uploaded by Andrew Raimist

project: Armstrong Residence II, 1938.
location: Oakland, Missouri.
condition: somewhat modified.
architect: Harris Armstrong, FAIA.

This detail of the stone and brick masonry facade created by Armstrong illustrates his intentional, considered reuse of remaining masonry from an earlier 19th century stone foundation on the site. The brick and stone wall creates a kind of one-story mask for the combination house and architectural office.

See information below for details on the house tour. Tickets are limited, so make your reservation soon. I will be presenting a special slideshow during the "after party" so consider attending if at all possible.

Funds raised through this event will benefit the Sheldon Art Galleries exhibitions program.

Photographs copyright © 2010 Andrew Raimist.

Eames' Portrait of Isamu Noguchi & Shirley Yamaguchi

A photograph taken by Charles and Ray Eames will be available for auction through Wright20. I've examined an extensive range of photographs and portraits of Isamu Noguchi and have never seen this image published or available online previously.

Isamu and Shirley are shown standing outside the Eames House in Pacific Palisades, California. The house is an amazing work of art, a modernist box of glass and steel informed by a wide range of influences including neoplasticism, Japanese design, and indigenous cultures the world over.

Noguchi and the Eameses seem to have had a fruitful relationship personally and professionally. This photograph (from the Library of Congress) taken by Charles features Isamu Noguchi, Shirley Yamaguchi, Charlie Chaplin, Charles Eames and others at a Japanese tea ceremony held at the Eames house.

The wire base side table depicted in the photograph was designed by Ray and Charles Eames for Herman Miller in 1950. According to the product sheet that came in the box:

Practical in so many milieus, the tables gave the Eameses the perfect place to serve chanoyu, the traditional Japanese tea ceremony, to special guests, such as sculptor Isamu Noguchi and film star Charlie Chaplin.

The portait of Isamu and Shirley standing outside appears to have been taken on another occasion since Noguchi and his wife are dressed more formally in the tea ceremony image.

There have been other images including them together at the Eames home, including some taken by Noguchi himself. For example, a series of negatives in the Charles and Ray Eames Collection of Library of Congress includes series images attributed to Noguchi as photographer. These images are dated 24 July 1951.

This series appears to have been exposed at the same event as the larger one above (including Charles and Isamu) that is attributed to Charles Eames. The first three of this series seems to show the entire group attending the tea ceremony (less Isamu). The fourth and fifth images include Charlie Chaplin and Shirley Yamaguchi. The final image is a close-up of Chaplin clowning around with a fan.