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Ethics on Architecture: Building Without Thinking vs. Thinking Without Building

On Friday, December 9 and Saturday, December 10, 1988, a two-day symposium sponsored by the SOM Foundation in collaboration with the Graham Foundation and the Chicago Chapter of the AIA Foundation took place at the Graham Foundation’s Madlener House.

December 9–10, 1988
Graham Foundation
4 W. Burton Pl., Chicago, IL 60610

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Left to right: John Whiteman, Karl Werckmeister, Stanley Tigerman, Charles Jencks, and David Watkin. Courtesy of the Graham Foundation.

Read paper by Henry N. Cobb
Read paper by David Watkins
Read paper by John Whiteman
Read paper by Charles Jencks

“Ethics on Architecture: Building Without Thinking vs. Thinking Without Building” brought to the surface issues we must face as we go on building and creating a “better” world.

Henry N. Cobb, of I.M. Pei & Partners, opened the symposium with his keynote address, “Ethics and Architecture?” on Friday at 5:45 p.m. At 7:30 p.m., following the keynote lecture, a reception was held at the Charnley House in honor of the symposium participants.

Stanley Tigerman began the second day of the symposium by introducing architectural historian David Watkin and John Whiteman, director of the Chicago Institute of Architecture and Urbanism, who debated the issue of History vs. Theory. The afternoon debate featured Charles Jencks and Karl Werkmeister, distinguished professor of art history at Northwestern University. Stanley Tigerman moderated the two sessions. The morning debate took place from 10 a.m. to noon; the afternoon debate from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Harry Cobb, keynote address, December 9, 1988. Courtesy of the Graham Foundation.

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Left to right: David Watkin, John Whiteman, Charles Jenks, Margaret McCurry, and Stanley Tigerman. Courtesy of the Graham Foundation.

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Left to right: Cynthia Weese, Sheldon Schlegman, Lawrence Booth, Stuart Cohen, and Julie Hacker. Courtesy of the Graham Foundation.

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Left to right: Lawrence Booth and Stuart Cohen. Courtesy of the Graham Foundation.

Left to right: Charles Jencks and David Watkin. Courtesy of the Graham Foundation.

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John Whiteman. Courtesy of the Graham Foundation.

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Charles Jencks. Courtesy of the Graham Foundation.

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Left to right: Stanley Tigerman and Charles Jencks. Courtesy of the Graham Foundation.

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