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.