designsourcebook A Ladue News Special Section
Stephen Emer Takes Top Post at Mackey Mitchell Meet Stephen Emer, the newly elected president of Mackey Mitchell Architects, a nationally ranked top 10 architectural firm based in St. Louis. In addition to designing and/or working as a project architect on many significant structures in St. Louis, Emer, a Washington University graduate, has a keen interest in architectural history and served two terms as commissioner of the Kirkwood Landmarks Association, where he helped guide and encourage people interested in restoration projects. We asked Emer to weigh in on St. Louis architecture, the mystery of McMansions, and what he hopes to bring to the Mackey Mitchell culture as its new president. What’s your favorite project to date? When I was a young architect, I worked on a private residence for a family who loved their home but needed more space. The design was brick Georgian, and the clients wanted the replacement home to closely resemble the original. Instead of providing a larger duplicate, we immersed ourselves in the architecture of Colonial Williamsburg in order to gain a deep understanding about the buildings of that period. This research allowed us to draw inspiration from the historic construction methods and reinterpret those details using contemporary construction techniques. I enjoyed the effort it took to get the scale and proportions of the various elements correct. Working on this project, I learned many valuable lessons about being an architect. I continue to draw upon those experiences to this day. Another project that tops my favorite list is the dining hall/leadership center we did for Westminster College, which has become a hub of community for students, faculty and the community. Which St. Louis building do you consider to be the most beautiful? The one that first comes to mind is the Wainwright Building. At the time of its completion, it was radically innovative and ground-breaking. It was one of the catalysts of the boom of tall skyscraper construction that would forever reshape major American cities in the early 20th century. Louis Sullivan’s design is simultaneously traditional, with a clear expression of base, shaft and cap, and daringly modern in terms of height and elegant verticality. His brilliant use of ornament — inspired by nature — is not applied as an afterthought, but is integral to the overall design. The carved spandrel panels stacked between windows emphasize the brick pilasters vertically, making the building seem much taller. And the decorative top with projecting cornice provides a strong silhouette against the sky. The Gateway Arch is a close second—if not a tie for first—in terms of beauty. Though it is less of a building in the strictest sense, it is an amazing sculpture you can actually inhabit. I never cease to be awestruck by the various ways there are to appreciate the monument’s form. Its appearance changes as the skin reflects natural light throughout the day, in changing weather and the progression of
Stephen Emer was the project architect for the dining hall at Westminster College in Fulton, Mo.
seasons. Our civic identity is inextricably linked to the Arch. Without it, the St. Louis skyline would be utterly without distinction. Other noteworthy buildings include the Cathedral Basilica, St. Louis Union Station, City Hall, Continental Building, Civil Courts Building, Old Courthouse, the Cass Gilbert-designed Art Museum and Central Library, the Harvey Ellis Water Tower, the Muny, the Climatron and the Contemporary Art Museum, to name a few. I’m surely forgetting several. Do you think St. Louis has more and better residential architecture than most U.S. cities? St. Louis is known for its wonderful residential neighborhoods — Lafayette Park, Benton Park, Soulard, Lindell Boulevard and the Central West End, particularly the private places. In the outlying cities of Clayton, Ladue, Huntleigh, Kirkwood and Webster Groves, there is an abundance of lovely and historic homes, as well. There was definitely a golden age of residential projects in the city, roughly from the late 19th into the early 20th centuries, when there was just the right mix of wealthy visionary clients and talented local architectural firms who collaborated well, and focused on producing quality design and craftsmanship. Maritz & Young was one of those prolific firms that produced a number of fine homes over an impressive span of time. Several St. Louis architects of distinction who practiced later in the century, such as Harris Armstrong and Fred Dunn, were highly influential to a great many other architects, thereby elevating the overall quality of design. Kansas City, Philadelphia, Boston and New York also have many notable residential areas. But I feel St. Louis is uniquely blessed with a fine variety of well-maintained neighborhoods. What started the McMansion trend and why does it persist? The ‘McMansion’ phenomenon probably started around the late ’70s and early ’80s and coincided with another pejorative term that described the rising class of young and upwardly mobile professionals, or yuppies. Conspicuous consumption and keeping up appearances was regarded as imperative to maintaining one’s new social position. The
prevailing mindset seems to have been one of achieving luxury through size. If you need a garage large enough to store four cars and perhaps a boat, it is easy to see how the homes would also get inflated. In addition to inappropriate size, these residences were typically an odd collage of design elements assembled with little logic or sensitivity. The architectural fundamentals of scale, function and delight got lost in the shuffle. ‘McMansion’ conjures the worst aspects of the fast food business. The reference is apt. Now we know much more about healthy eating, organic food and local produce. I like to think today everyone is better-educated about the importance of appropriateness, energy efficiency and even a certain level of modesty in residential design, not to mention the imperative for including professional architects in the process. What do you hope to bring to the Mackey Mitchell corporate culture? I certainly hope to build on the wonderful spirit of creative collaboration established by Gene Mackey, who founded the practice 45 years ago, and Dan Mitchell, who has been with the firm for 35 years. I always want Mackey Mitchell to be a place that attracts the best and brightest young architectural minds who are nurtured and mentored by a dedicated, passionate and wise group of seasoned professionals. In such a culture, everyone has a voice and contributes to the mission of client problem-solving and vision-shaping.
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October 18, 2013 {LadueNews.com}