Smith, Thomas Gordon

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Smith, Thomas Gordon (1948– ). American architect. His belief in the continued relevance of the Classical language of architecture (in all its guises and riches) has led him to create buildings that not only work, but engage the intellect and the emotions: this has been achieved not without predictable opposition. His realized designs for dwellings include Richmond Hill House, Richmond, near San Francisco, CA (1982–4); the Vitruvian House, South Bend, IN (1989–90—with interior frescoes executed by Smith himself); the Wilson House, Livermore, CA (early 1990s—which drew on Ancient Greek precedents); and the Kulb House, near South Bend, but in Illinois (mid–1990s). One of Smith's most important buildings was Bond Hall, for the School of Architecture at Notre Dame, IN (1994–7—with Greek motifs much in evidence). One of the main problems facing many American urban centres is the loss of the genius loci: accordingly, with MWM Architects, Inc., of Oakland, CA, Smith designed the new Civic Center for Cathedral City, CA (completed 1998), which exploited the arch and the arcade. Smith has also designed several religious buildings. Two of his realized projects are the Seminary of Our Lady of Guadaloupe, Lincoln, NE (1998–2000—a complex of buildings with precedents in Early Christian and Italian Romanesque architecture), and St Joseph's RC Church, Dalton, GA (1998–2001). In 2004 he published Vitruvius on Architecture.

Bibliography

John (2001);
T. Smith (2004)

A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture

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Smith, Thomas Gordon

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