“As Modern As Tomorrow”
Lily Kane
Myriad untold stories of the modernist movement in design and architecture are percolating out there but it’s a real treat when one receives the kind of curatorial attention and love that is behind the stunning new monograph, Ira Rakatansky: As Modern As Tomorrow, published by the RISD Architectural Series and William Stout. (Props to the genius title, too.)
Edited by John Caserta and Lynnette Widder---with essays by Widder and architectural historian Joan Ockman---the book is a comprehensive historical survey of residential and public projects designed between 1944 and 1964 by Rakatansky (pictured above and below), a little known progenitor of New England modernism.
The book features archival and new color photography and is designed with the same thoughtful, smart and enduring clean-lined elegance that characterizes Rakatansky’s work. Providence area residents take note, there is a book launch Thursday, June 17, from 5-8pm at risd|works, Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design. For more information and a rad flip-book style sneak peek of the book check out The Design Office website.
[Images courtesy of The Design Office]
