American Modern: Architecture, Community, Columbus, Indiana
American Modern is the first in-depth publication about Columbus, Indiana, that demonstrates the unique convergence of civic, industrial, and social forces that produced the preeminent laboratory of architectural modernism in the country.
The definitive book on one of the foremost modernist cities and architecture destinations in the USA: Columbus, Indiana
The midwestern city of Columbus, Indiana, is more than a mecca of modern architecture; it is an example of how design can help foster a remarkable community. The dozens of buildings and projects by legendary architects—from mid-century titans such as Eero Saarinen and I. M. Pei to contemporary practitioners Deborah Berke and IwamotoScott—remain integral to its urban fabric. This book explores Columbus’s optimistic program of bold new architecture and landscapes, initiated by the legendary industrialist J. Irwin Miller and local leaders, and the generations-long quest to develop the ideal American city through design excellence.
This is the first in-depth history of Columbus, Indiana, demonstrating the unique convergence of civic, industrial, and social forces that produced the pre-eminent laboratory of architectural modernism in the USA. It presents a rich showcase of outstanding, generation-spanning architects and is published in association with Landmark Columbus Foundation, the civic organization behind the progressive preservation and promotion of the city’s architectural heritage, as well as the producer of the acclaimed program Exhibit Columbus, a two-year cycle of events that uses the context of Columbus to host conversations around innovative ideas and then commissions site-responsive installations in a free, public exhibition.
A look inside the book
Graphics created by Studio Lin.
American Modern Exhibition at Gallery 506
To celebrate the forthcoming publication of American Modern, Landmark Columbus Foundation has partnered with the Columbus Area Visitor’s Center to produce an exhibition about the book.
A new exhibition of never-before-seen photographs of Columbus, Indiana, by legendary photographer Iwan Baan and three silkscreen prints by Studio Lin that expand on the book's design and cover is now on view at the Columbus Area Visitor Center Gallery 506.
With 12 framed photograph prints that show Columbus landmarks such as The Robert N. Stewart Bridge (J. Muller International, 1999), North Christian Church (Eero Saarinen, 1966), First Christian Church (Eliel Saarinen, 1942), and the Cleo Rogers Memorial Library (I.M. Pei, 1969), among many others, the exhibition serves as a preview of the forthcoming book American Modern: Architecture, Community, Columbus, Indiana, which will be published in July 2024 by Monacelli Press.
