Stern, Robert Arthur Morton

views updated May 17 2018

Stern, Robert Arthur Morton (1939– ). American architect. After graduating, he worked with Meier before setting up his own office in 1977. He has been seen as one of the greatest influences in Post-Modernism and a formidable critic of International Modernism. Advocating an architecture of associations, prompting mnemonic perceptions, and firmly rooted in culture, he has argued robustly for a study of history, and for an eclectic use of forms to give buildings meaning. His works include the Lang House, Washington, CT (1974), the Ehrman House, Armonk, NY (1975), and Point West Place, Framingham, MA (1983–5—with a powerful portico of primitive square columns with a pediment like a section through a sar-cophagus-lid, the whole reminiscent of the work of Ledoux). Stern has, in fact, been successful in reviving something of the severe French Neo-Classicism of the late C18 and early C19. Other works include the Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge, MA (1987–93), the Observatory Hill Dining Hall, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA (1982–4), the Kol Israel Synagogue, Brooklyn, NYC (1985–9), The Disney Casting Center, Lake Buena Vista, FL (1987–9), the Hotel Cheyenne, Eurodisney, Marne-la-Vallée, France (1988–92), Banana Republic Store, Chicago, IL (1990–1), the Ohrstrom Library, St Paul's School, Concord, NH (1987–91), the Darden School of Business, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA (1992–6), and the Spangler Campus Center, Harvard Business School, Boston, MA (1999–2001), all finely detailed and crafted. Among his many houses may be cited various residences at East Hampton, NY (e.g. at Apaquogue (1989–93) ), Preston Hollow, Dallas, TX (2000), and Montecito, Santa Barbara, CA (1999). He has published widely, his contributions including New Directions in American Architecture (1969.

Bibliography

Anger (1996);
Ar&Bi (1981);
P. Dixon (ed.) (1998);
Kalman (1994);
Funari (1990);
Huls (1987);
Inst. CA (2002);
Kraft (ed.) (1992);
Rueda (ed.) (1986);
Stern (1975, 1977, 1982, 1988, 1996, 1997);
Stern (ed.) (1979);
Stern et al. (1995);
van Vynckt (ed.) (1993)

Stern, Robert A. M.

views updated May 21 2018

STERN, Robert A. M.

STERN, Robert A. M. American, b. 1939. Genres: Architecture. Career: Principal Partner, Robert A.M. Stern Architects, NYC, 1976-; Professor of Architecture, Columbia University, NYC, 1982- (Lecturer, 1970-73; Assistant Professor, 1973-77; Associate Professor, 1977-82, Director, Temple Hoyne Buell Center for American Architecture, 1984-88, Director, Historic Preservation, 1990-); Ed., Perspecta, the Yale Architectural Journal, 1965; Partner, Robert Stern and John Hagmann, Architects, 1969-76. Publications: New Directions in American Architecture, 1969, 1977; George Howe: Towards a Modern American Architecture, 1975; (with Deborah Nevins) The Architect's Eye, 1979; (co-author) East Hampton's Heritage, 1982; Raymond Hood, 1982; (co-author) New York 1900, 1983; Pride of Place, 1986; (co- author) New York 1930, 1987; Modern Classicism, 1988; The House That Bob Built, 1991; (co-author) New York, 1960, 1995; (with others) New York 1880: Architecture and Urbanism in the Guilded Age, 1999. Address: 460 West 34th St., New York, NY 10001, U.S.A.