The Hardest Thing In Preservation

Philip Johnson’s AT&T Building has been significantly altered despite the fact that it’s calendared to be reviewed for designation as a landmark. The designation being considered is, like most New York designations, for the exterior facade only; the current work has demolished a piece of the interior lobby. There is an interesting debate about preservation philosophy to be had over the issue that the lobby was altered some time ago, so the original design actually had a very short life.

My problem with discussing the issue here is that I can’t stand the building. Personal taste – and you’ll note that I phrased this as my taste rather than a lack of architectural merit – should not have a place in preservation debates, but it inevitably does. This problem gets worse the newer the style in question: my dislike of the AT&T building is inseparable from my general dislike of Post-Modernism; even people who truly despise the neoclassic American Renaissance from 120 years ago recognize it as an old, and therefore seemingly more authentic, style.

This problem first surfaced for me in the long-running debate over the Huntington Hartford Museum at 2 Columbus Circle. That debate was a critical step in the movement to preserve recent-past architectural icons, and the people in favor of preserving the building had an excellent point that the ordinary landmarking process was short-circuited for that building. Again, my problem with the debate was that I hated the building with a passion and was desperate to see it gone. Intellectually, I knew the arguments in favor of the landmarking process were correct, but I couldn’t bring myself to agree.

I believe that buildings proposed for designated landmark status should be fairly reviewed and, if the parties responsible for making the decision agree, then the buildings should be protected. I also believe that arguments in favor should be made by those who truly believe the buildings should be protected. That lets me say that I’ll argue for buildings I want to see protected, not those I think belong on the X-List.