In memory of Peter van der Meulen Smith 1902-1928
Last fall in Berlin Peter Smith died suddenly at an early age. He was one of the first American champions of what has been called ‘International Architecture’, that ‘pure’ architecture which has so little to do with the earlier phase of modern architecture in America represented by Wright and his school.
After his studies at the Architectural School of Harvard University and in various architectural offices in Boston, Smith came to Paris where he worked in the office of André Lurçat and frequented as well that of Le Corbusier.
We reproduce one of his last projects for the benefit of the colleagues with whom he fought so enthusiastically for a new architecture. In the work of such a young man it is to be expected that the influence of Le Corbusier - especially in the elevations, - and of Lurçat - especially in the plans - should be easily traceable. But there is as well something that is his alone and marks clearly the progress he was making in the last months of his life.
The solid sense of reality of Lurçat is combined here with the unreal and fascinating plasticity of Le Corbusier: thus to unite these features was to embark upon a line of projects in which the new architecture might be expected to pass beyond experimentation and to advance generally without loss of the values already gained.
The vivid enthusiasm of Smith for the ‘International Architecture’ makes his death a sad loss, especially to America, where the revival of architecture has such need of men of his sort. His personality was so kind and lovely that his friends will nevev forget ‘Peter’.
J.J.P. Oud
Auteursrechtelijk beschermd