In this Book
- Concrete Changes: Architecture, Politics, and the Design of Boston City Hall
- Book
- 2018
- Published by: University of Massachusetts Press
From the 1950s to the end of the twentieth century, Boston transformed from a city in freefall into a thriving metropolis, as modern glass skyscrapers sprouted up in the midst of iconic brick rowhouses. After decades of corruption and graft, a new generation of politicians swept into office, seeking to revitalize Boston through large-scale urban renewal projects. The most important of these was a new city hall, which they hoped would project a bold vision of civic participation. The massive Brutalist building that was unveiled in 1962 stands apart -- emblematic of the city's rebirth through avant-garde design.
And yet Boston City Hall frequently ranks among the country's ugliest buildings. Concrete Changes seeks to answer a common question for contemporary viewers: How did this happen? In a lively narrative filled with big personalities and newspaper accounts, Brian M. Sirman argues that this structure is more than a symbol of Boston's modernization; it acted as a catalyst for political, social, and economic change.
Table of Contents
- Acknowledgments
- pp. ix-xii
- Chapter 1. Dying on the Vine
- pp. 7-49
- Chapter 3. The New City Hall Design
- pp. 94-135
- Chapter 4. An Evolving Reputation
- pp. 136-181
- Chapter 5. Legacy and Significance
- pp. 182-226
- Conclusion: Boston City Hall at Fifty
- pp. 227-244
- About the Author
- pp. 273-275