Moore, Charles Willard (1925–93). American architect, a leading figure of
Post-Modernism. He founded his own firm in 1970, subsequently forming associations with other professionals. His work was varied, full of allusions, and
scenographic. His early buildings included his own house, Orinda, CA (1962), where the living-areas were identified by means of historical references, and this set the agenda for later work in which knowledge of architectural history played no small part, for his architecture was often tempered with fancy, myth, and mnemonic associations. Other schemes included the Athletic Club, Sea Ranch, near San Francisco (1964–6—where the buildings recall summer-cottage and sea-shore architecture); Kresge College, University of California, Santa Cruz (1973–4); and the Piazza d'Italia, New Orleans, LA (1975–80—a stagey composition (almost a collage) of reminiscences from
Classicism that
International Modernists found profoundly shocking). More recent buildings included St Matthew's Church, Pacific Palisades, CA (1979–83), the Humboldt Library and housing, Tegel Harbour, Berlin (1987–8); the Church of the Nativity, Rancho Santa Fé, CA (1989), and the University of Oregon Science Complex, Eugene, OR (1990), all of which had historical references. Moore's influence was considerable, and his use of evocative motifs powerfully polemical. He also designed several parks (e.g. Hermann Park, Houston, TX (1982) ).
Bibliography
K. Bloomer & and Moore (1977);
Kalman (1994);
Jodidio (1993);
E. Johnson (ed.) (1986);
Keim (ed.) (1996);
Klotz (1988);
Littlejohn (1984);
Malave (1985);
Ojeda et al. (eds.) (1994, 1997);
Placzek (ed.) (1982);
Stern (1977);
Jane Turner (1996);
Tompkins & and Boucher (1993)
