Last night I listened to an ICAA Zoom lecture by the architect Tom Kligerman, whose firm—Ike, Kligerman, Barkley—specializes in beautifully crafted houses, which were the subject of his talk: “New Thoughts on the American Home.” While many of the designs could be described as traditional, others were distinctly modern, and some were an eclectic combination of the two. Evidently catholic in its taste, IKB was clearly not committed to a canonic approach to the classical past. Kligerman observed that in his opinion architects should aim to make history, not simply be inspired by it. This has surely been the motivation of all creative architects over the years, whether they were Palladio, Edwin Lutyens, or Bertram Goodhue. All combined their historical interest with other influences; Veneto traditions in villas, Moghul motifs in New Delhi, and Middle Eastern architecture in the Nebraska capitol. Not wedded to the past but using it as a springboard to move forward.
Photo: Modern Farmhouse, Princeton (IKB Architects)
The work of IKB and Tom Kligerman particular;y, is both deeply personal and innovative. His interests are both in making history but also in making sculpture as he so eloquently put it last night. In the end the work is stunning and exquisitely detailed.
Thank you for this commentary! Those are great examples of architects bringing disparate influences together to create something new and personal.