Biannual Reunion of the Richard Morris Hunt Prize Fellows and Scholars

October 16-21, 2018

The Richard Morris Hunt Prize (RMHP) Fellows and Scholars chose New Orleans for their bi-annual reunion, in celebration of the three-hundredth anniversary of the founding of the city. Wendy Hillis, Tulane University Architect and 2007 RMHP Fellow, along with Beth Jacobs, 2017 RMHP Fellow, organized the program in this most French of American cities. 

We were to experience this city of sunshine, flowers, scents, so well epitomized by Louis Armstrong’s tune, “C’est si bon”.  NOLA (for New Orleans, Louisiana) is encircled by the Mississippi River, “le Père des Eaux”, often invisible, always immense, the Lord of the whole province, the Minotaur seducer and destroyer.  Yet, after the devastation of Katrina in 2005, this town seems to have turned the page.

Sabrina Fabris, 2002 RMHP Fellow, opened the magnificent five-day event. Jumping from century to century, she fascinated an audience gathered at the AIA Architects Centre describing the rebirth of the gardens of the Chateau de Chambord.  Thanks to archived drawings of the never-completed garden, a team from the Philippe Villeneuve Agency, of which Sabrina was project manager, have brought them to life. They are now offer enchanting views. Fabris tells us, “What an honor to have been chosen as project manager by Philippe Villeneuve ACMH to supervise the re-naissance of this prestigious garden, especially when all eyes are focused on this year’s celebrations of Chambord 500^th anniversary. This spectacular project was made possible by a donation given by the American philanthropist Stephen Schwarzman. Much like my research in America during my Richard Morris Hunt Prize Fellowship for a, this is another example of the close cultural relationship between our two countries.” → Follow this link to view the presentation

We needed to learn more about the Mississippi and its impressive estuary.  Richard Campanella, Senior Professor of Practice in  Architecture and Geography at Tulane University, enlightened us with a masterful description of the regulation of water, flow, run-off, retention lakes, and canals associated with the river… So many discoveries, so many anxiety-provoking questions.   Continue reading →

Available on the website of the Groupement des entreprises de restauration des Monuments historiques (GMH), an exchange with Didier Repellin, ACMH (ret.), IGMH, and founding member of the Richard Morris Hunt Prize Jury, during “Rocalia“, France’s premier tradeshow dedicated exclusively to natural ston.

→ To see the video subtitled in English, please follow this link. 

View from the nearby Lantern Tower, L. Monsaingeon, Nov. 2018

Pas-de-Calais (Northern France) – Built in less than a year’s time, the Mémorial International de Notre-Dame-de-Lorette was dedicated by French President François Hollande on November 11, 2014. Four years later, it was visited by President Emmanuel Macron on November 8, 2018, in the scope of World War I commemorations and in advance of the highly symbolic date of November 11th, which will mark the centennial of the end of the conflict which cost the lives of millions in Europe and beyond.

Photo Ludovic MARIN. AFP

Unparalleled both in terms of its size and its intent (commemorating no victory, the monument simply lists in strict alphabetical order the names of 600,000 combattants, friends or ennemies of yesterday, united in brotherhood by death), the Memorial of Notre-Dame-de-Lorette is described by the Élysée Palace’s press file as “the most emblematic monument constructed during the commemorative cycle of the Centennial.” Continue reading →

Alan Schwartzman, RMHP Jury’s Guest of Honor, Dec. 3, 2017, in Paris

Yesterday evening, March 8th, with his two sons at his side, Alan Schwartzman, FAIA, joined his beloved wife, Ruth, who departed us last winter.

A faithful and constructive friend of the Richard Morris Hunt Prize from its very inception, it was Alan, founding member of AIA-EUROPE, who first introduced us to the American Institute of Architects. The French government awarded him the rank of Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres.

All of our thanks to this fine man and great professional. À Dieu.

Jean-Christophe Simon, RMHP Fellow 1993, Architecte et Urbaniste en Chef de l’État, Inspecteur Général des Patrimoines with the French Ministry of Culture, has just been selected as a new board member at ICOMOS International. A specialist in Cambodian restoration problems, Simon has been invited by that country’s government to conduct training for its preservation supervisors.