Trump’s architectural vision for Washington, D.C. looks like Ancient Rome
This article delves into a proposed executive order by the Trump administration to mandate classical architectural styles for all major federal buildings, particularly in and around Washington D.C., and for federal courthouses and public buildings exceeding $50 million in construction costs. The draft order, titled "Making Federal Buildings Beautiful Again," explicitly favors styles reminiscent of "democratic Athens" and "republican Rome," citing iconic structures like the White House, the Supreme Court, and the Lincoln Memorial as prime examples of architectural beauty. Conversely, it criticizes modernist approaches such as Brutalism and Deconstructionism, labeling several modern federal buildings as "undistinguished," "uninspiring," and "just plain ugly."
The proposed order outlines a broad definition of classical style, extending beyond typical columned facades to include Renaissance architects like Michelangelo and Palladio, alongside Enlightenment-era and 19th-century designers. It also shows a degree of tolerance for Gothic, Romanesque, Spanish colonial, and "other Mediterranean styles generally found in Florida and the American Southwest," potentially influenced by properties like Mar-a-Lago. A significant aspect of the proposal is the establishment of a presidential commission with extensive powers, which could potentially override the authority of the Commission on Fine Arts, the existing independent federal agency responsible for overseeing the capital's design. Additionally, the order includes a controversial provision that bars artists, architects, designers, engineers, and art critics from participating in public hearings concerning federal design projects.
The architectural community has voiced strong opposition to the proposed mandate. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has formally stated its strong opposition to uniform style mandates for federal architecture. Architectural critics, such as Philip Kennicott of the Washington Post, have likened the proposal to severely limiting the tools available to federal contractors, emphasizing the restrictive nature of such a mandate. An editorial in The New York Times questioned the rationale behind enforcing "Fake Roman Temples." The article highlights that the proposed order seeks to reverse the principles established by Daniel Patrick Moynihan during the Kennedy administration, which promoted architectural diversity by allowing design to originate from the architectural profession rather than being dictated by the government. The White House has not yet commented on the proposal. This directive reflects a preference for traditional aesthetics over contemporary design philosophies, raising questions about artistic freedom and the evolution of federal architecture.
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