Talk:Louis Skidmore

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Infobox?[edit]

I see that an infobox was recently added to this article, which includes a section for major buildings--usually those buildings on which the subject served as lead architect. In Skidmore's case, his role in the firm was primarily administrative and he didn't actually design very many of these buildings. I have already removed Lever House, which as design has always been associated primarily with Bunshaft. But I am not sure of the others. Are there sources for them?

Incidentally this issue is precisely why I am generally not a fan of {{Infobox architect}}--it attempts to encapsulate issues that do not lend themselves to such a summary form, but are better presented in prose, where the precise role of an architect in a project can be made clear. I do not own this article, so I will not remove the box unilaterally. But I would ask other editors to consider whether the article is truly improved by it. Chick Bowen 23:09, 7 September 2009 (UTC)[reply]

The infobox helps regulate where to get similar information. It helps in comparing an architect, in this case, with his peers. But i do agree that the prose better suits. I have been adding information to get the discussion going. Skidmore's contributions to architecture have change the building design world, if for nothing else for the foundation of SOM. I hope that there are more additions and discussions as to his place in history. As for the Lever House, the senior most designer usually gets the credit. But there have always been disputes between the heads of design at SOM. I cannot judge it for myself, each source differs on how to decide who gets the credit. Bunshaft primary? I don't know. I would have gotten around to sourcing the choice later today. but since it is removed I do not feel it important. But remember, Skidmore received the AIA Gold. That is an individual award for design. Skidmore was not an administrator.Brad Wilkins (talk) 23:55, 7 September 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I'm certainly not trying to diminish Skidmore's contributions! I started this article, after all. I guess, as a grumpy old anti-infoboxer, I don't really get what the "major buildings" section is generally considered to be for. For example, the infobox for Joshua Prince-Ramus includes a number of OMA buildings for which the only name one ever hears is Koolhaas. Obviously, summarizing the work of a junior architect in a firm is never easy, just as (in the case of SOM), summarizing the work of a large firm with a number of active architects, all with different roles, isn't easy. I may simply be not with the broader consensus here. Anyway, thanks for your contributions to the article, particularly the added info and sourcing. Chick Bowen 00:17, 8 September 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I am glad you started it. I worked at SOM. And I was happy to see an article on Louis. I am hoping that my contributions will add to it. feel free to delete the significant buildings.Brad Wilkins (talk) 01:10, 8 September 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Chick, I'm agreeing with you, the infobox seems to reduce and oversimplify which designs are "the best" and who actually produced them. This attribution thing gets awfully tricky. The thing about the "architect" title vs. who had design talent gets tricky too. Case in point is Owings who reportedly couldn't design at all. In Bunshaft's words Owings "couldn't draw water" but you'd never guess that from reading his wikipedia biography. Maybe there's a better way to do this, or at least some article on wikipedia that would explain how architectural attribution officially "works" versus what really happens. --Lockley (talk) 01:17, 8 September 2009 (UTC)[reply]

External links modified[edit]

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