I can’t say that these two things are completely dissimilar.
it was Teresa Rachin Who saw it first, who pointed it out to me, anyway. Lachin is an architectural historian interested in lesser-known aspects of the Montgomery County built environment.
The Lake Forest Mall closed last month and, if all goes according to plan, will be demolished next year to make way for new development. Before that, Lachin summarizes the mall’s history. And she had an epiphany while visiting Lake Forest and taking pictures of her. The entrance to the building, originally Woodward & Lothrop, is the small east building.
“I think it’s very intriguing,” she said.
Of course, the origin of “appetizing” is Tantalus, a figure in Greek mythology destined to spend an eternity in contentment beyond reach. And so could this story be.
Here’s what we know: the two buildings will open within a few months, the East Building in Pay on June 1, 1978 and the Lake Forest Mall in Coubec on September 12, 1978. bottom.
“Corbeck would have known about IM Pay,” Rachin said. “Certainly everyone knew who Pei was in the 1970s.”
Pei (1917-2019), one of the most famous architects of the 20th century, is credited with giving new life to the Modernist style with his understated yet elegant buildings. 1968, he was chosen to design additional buildings for the National GalleryOne of Pei’s challenges was fitting the building into one of Washington’s quintessentially odd-shaped parcels. This was done by drawing a line across the spot’s trapezoidal footprint to create two triangles.
Corbeck himself was no slouch. A refugee from Czechoslovakia, Kubek (1927-2003) established a thriving practice in Washington. He designed many offices, apartments and hotels in and around the district. He renovated the Willard Hotel. He designed the tallest building in Baltimore. This was known as his USF&G Building upon its 1973 completion and is now the Transamerica Tower.
Is it a coincidence that shopping malls and museums resonate?
“I think it’s more of an homage,” said Lachin. “I think Kubek was inspired and perhaps even took some liberties in recognizing this incredible thing Pei designed.”
It is true that sketches of the Pei’s East Building began appearing many years before construction began. It is possible that Corbeck saw them. Perhaps that mall entrance was a bit of a joke?
“This is a logical conclusion, but there is no conclusive evidence.” Eric Jenkinsdistrict architect He has taught at The Catholic University and the University of Maryland.
Jenkins sounded amused when I pointed out the similarities. However, he said it could be his two completely independent solutions to a similar challenge.
“Mall buildings are basically boxes,” said Jenkins. The same goes for museums.
The two are essentially the same thing. It’s a large, windowless structure, two stories high, with stuff inside.
How do you present the entrance to visitors? One way is to have a recessed entrance with a canopy over it.
“It’s mostly boilerplate,” Jenkins said. “You can see the logic behind both.”
Spoke with Kubek’s daughter Jana KubekHe told me that some of his co-workers who may have known about the mall entrance and Eastville died. She herself doesn’t particularly remember the relationship between her father and Pei.
“I don’t know if they crossed paths,” she said.
Perhaps the answer lies in the vaults that hold her father’s vast archives. Filled with sketches, blueprints, and letters. Can a piece of paper shed light on this architectural mystery?
