[vandelay]

The urban politician gave a pretty accurate assessment. Chicago seems to have particularly vocal and orthodox modernist fanatics. They're very reminiscent of some developing countries that embrace modern architecture entirely in an effort to appear more cosmopolitan or technocratic, while exposing a certain degree of provincialism. Oddly, I could say something similar about Lagrange's architecture.

What's interesting is that Lagrange seems to tone down his kitschy designs in New York; look at 535 West End Avenue or the Touraine. Who knows what accounts for the difference, but fanatics and partisans everywhere should accept that good design can exist in many vernaculars.