News
August 30, 2010
The Question of Credit
We’ve been in the process of training a class of new incredible walking tour guides in preparation for a busy fall schedule. One of the things that we discuss when we talk about the Wyly Theater is the issue of attribution. Who gets “credit?” The firm? The designer? How much attention is paid to the local architect of record?
In the case of the Wyly, we describe it as REDX/OMA project…giving credit to both Joshua Prince-Ramus and Pritzker Prize laureate Rem Koolhaas. Prince-Ramus was the head of the New York office of Hoolhaas’ firm OMA. In the midst of the project, Prince-Ramus left to form his own firm REX, but stayed on to see the Wyly to completion. Thus, the moniker REX/OMA. Confused yet?
LA Times architecture critic takes the issue of credit on in this article he wrote for Harvard Design magazine. It’s dense, but definitely worth a read. And includes mention of the Wyly conundrum also.
While we’re on the subject of Joshua Prince-Ramus, here are a couple of other pieces. Here’s one from Forbe’s in which he addressed the “myth of architectural genius.” And a story on one of his latest projects in Louisville, Kentucky.