The Brutalist Figure—Grid: Exploring New York Brutalism

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This paper is well written and thoroughly researched, focusing on the Brutalist architecture in the United States, particularly in New York, and its use of the grid system. It also offers a historical framework explaining the reasons and ways in which the grid has been used in building from prehistoric times to modern practice and ideas. Nevertheless, there are several aspects in which this work could explore further with more precision and thoroughness, as shown below.

1. When the attention is restricted to a certain city and just a few buildings inside that city, the term "The Brutalist Figure-Grid" is too broad and lacks specificity. There are several instances of cities and structures in other parts of the world that exemplify the Brutalist style, such as Chandigarh in India, Eastern Europe, Russia, and Singapore. However, these examples are not pertinent to the current subject in the article. Therefore, the title should clearly indicate the extent and focus of the article.


2. The evidence of grid as an organizing system predates the Egyptian and Roman civilizations. For instance, the Indus Valley and several other regions throughout the globe also demonstrate the use of grids. The causes, as stated by the author (lines 74-81), vary and include factors such as religion (mandala) and culture playing a part. If the author intends to provide a historical context, it should be comprehensive and include both Western and non-Western perspectives. Otherwise, please disregard this section since it makes a little contribution to the primary focus of the article.

3. The author has made some unreferenced or unexplained claims concerning the grid and its implications in certain sections of the paper. These claims should be appropriately attributed and clarified. For instance, certain lines such as 232-233, 552, 641-643, 680-686, 701-703, and others need attention. The author should use caution over the matter.

4. The primary strength of the paper lies in its comprehensive case studies, which are accompanied with very relevant and top-notch drawings and photographs. The author should further explore this aspect since the discussion (section 5) lacks sufficient rigor and critical analysis. The conclusion is hastily executed.

Overall, the paper has the potential to be fantastic if the unnecessary content is removed and the main points are more clearly aligned with a suitable title and conclusion. 

Author Response

The reply in a PDF file attached

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This article presents an interesting contribution on how the Brutalist grid plays a crucial role in shaping architectural spaces, particularly in the context of urban planning and building design. The article delves into the merits and drawbacks of the use of the grid in architecture, shedding light on its contributions to structural and perceptual comprehensibility, as well as its impact on social relations and the perception of space. The paper explores how the grid is utilized in various aspects of architectural design, from floor plans to facades, and its historical significance in different architectural movements. It also discusses the social implications of the grid, emphasizing its role in organizing space, promoting efficiency, and fostering social cohesion. The paper touches upon the concept of the uncanny in relation to the Brutalist grid, highlighting how the familiarity and unfamiliarity of the grid structure can evoke feelings of discomfort or unease. The discussion on the grid's influence on human behavior, perception of space, and social relations provides a comprehensive understanding of its impact on architectural design. The paper suggests that while the Brutalist grid offers numerous advantages in terms of order and structure, its implementation in existing cities may pose challenges. The paper emphasizes the importance of considering the specific context, scale, and desired character of a city when deciding on the suitability of a grid-based urban planning approach. The Brutalist grid serves as a tool for organizing space, creating visual interest, and shaping architectural experiences, albeit with potential complexities and nuances that need to be carefully navigated.

A few suggestions:

1)    In the keywords "Architecture" and " Concrete" can be indicated by the first letter lower case;

2)    I suggest inserting image references (figures1) etc. always before the closing dot of the sentence and not at the beginning of a sentence;

3)    It is suggested that the caption of an image placed on the previous page should not be captioned on the next page. Keep image and caption on the same page;

4)    It is suggested that Figure No. 1 also be maintained in color;

5)    Arrange the text and images in such a way as to avoid half-white pages;

6)    References must be numbered in order of appearance in the text (including citations in tables and legends) and listed individually at the end of the manuscript;

7)    The paragraph "Grid Façade - A State of Mind" lacks numbering;

8)    In the text, reference numbers should be placed in square brackets [ ] and placed before the punctuation; for example [1], [1–3] or [1,3]. For embedded citations in the text with pagination, use both parentheses and brackets to indicate the reference number and page numbers; for example [5] (p. 10), or [6] (pp. 101–105).

9)    Check for correct formatting of references, which should be written as follows:

o   Author 1, A.B.; Author 2, C.D. Title of the article. Abbreviated Journal Name Year, Volume, page range.

o   Author 1, A.; Author 2, B. Title of the chapter. In Book Title, 2nd ed.; Editor 1, A., Editor 2, B., Eds.; Publisher: Publisher Location, Country, 2007; Volume 3, pp. 154–196.

o   Author 1, A.; Author 2, B. Book Title, 3rd ed.; Publisher: Publisher Location, Country, 2008; pp. 154–196.

o   Author 1, A.B.; Author 2, C. Title of Unpublished Work. Abbreviated Journal Name year, phrase indicating stage of publication (submitted; accepted; in press).

o   Author 1, A.B. (University, City, State, Country); Author 2, C. (Institute, City, State, Country). Personal communication, 2012.

o   Author 1, A.B.; Author 2, C.D.; Author 3, E.F. Title of Presentation. In Proceedings of the Name of the Conference, Location of Conference, Country, Date of Conference (Day Month Year).

o   Author 1, A.B. Title of Thesis. Level of Thesis, Degree-Granting University, Location of University, Date of Completion.

o   Title of Site. Available online: URL (accessed on Day Month Year).

10)  In terms of content, it might be interesting to explore in more detail the historical and cultural significance of the grid in architecture by analyzing how societies have interpreted and used grid models.

Author Response

The reply in a PDF file attached

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This is a potentially compelling paper, one that presents an intriguing and  original argument. However, it suffers from lack of focus. This is evident in the introduction, where the subject is presented as both an examination of the role of the grid in Brutalist architecture (specifically constructive Brutalist architecture), using the example of two I.M. Pei housing projects in NYC and also "the merits and drawbacks of employing the grid in architecture...usefulness" The first aim is appropriate for a journal article of this length, while the later is very broad.

The paper proper appears to begin on page 18. In order to improve the text, the author is advised to edit out or heavily reduce the lengthy contextual sections on the history of Brutalism, the historical use of the grid in urban planning from the Renaissance to the modern era, theoretical criticism of the grid, the history of grid-planned cities in the USA, and the history of the Manhattan grid. All of these topics are well-understood by academic readers and need only be referenced briefly if needed. Condensing this material would allow the interesting material on the social connotations of the grid, using concepts drawn from anthropology, to be developed in more detail.

The author is also advised to be more precise in the use of the term 'Brutalism.' It is questionable if projects such as Stuy Town-Peter Cooper Village, Martin Luther King Towers, and Penn South may be described as 'Brutalist' lacking as they do the 'thick' masonry facade of typical Brutalist buildings.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

The quality of the English in this paper is good.

Author Response

The reply in a PDF file attached

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The changes that have been made to this paper are appropriate and strengthen the argument of the paper. The new title helps explain the focus of the paper. However, further refinement is needed before the paper is ready for publication. 

As described in the introduction, the scope is still very large. Because the grid is such a ubiquitous presence in Western architecture, any effort to examine it as an independent entity is very difficult to realize. The paper would be stronger if it did not make totalising claims but focused on the architectural grid in a specific context, such as its appearance in Brutalist New York City housing developments constructed between the 1950s and the 1970s. While the second half of the paper does this in an engaging and original way, the first half is still burdened by a lack of precision, generalizations, and lack of focus on the main narrative. To enhance the writing, adhering to a basic paper writing principle by beginning the first paragraph in a new section with a topic sentence outlining the argument would enhance clarity and cohesion. Finally, the paper is not yet situated in relation to contemporary architectural history, and the references are sparse. The comments below are intended to help the author realize the paper’s potential.

 

Further editing of the contextual material is needed in order to relate it more specifically to the argument. Section 2, on the origins of Brutalism and the architectural grid, is fine. However, it’s not clear what Section 3 is contributing to the paper. For example, of all the modern architects who utilized the grid, why are Superstudio and Archizoom given special attention? While their use of the grid is summarized, the relevance of their work to the argument about Brutalism expressed in the paper is not explained. The same goes for Section 3.2 which cites the writing of Christopher Alexander, Camillo Sitte, Robert Venturi, and Reyner Banham. Of these critics, it seems that Banham’s view of Brutalism is the most important for the paper, so I suggest the author focus on explaining Banham’s views in more detail, perhaps as part of Section 3.3, including why they are relevant to his argument. 

 

The introduction to Section 4, the urban grid in the US, appears redundant as it covers basic historical information. While the discussion of the Tower in the Park model and related NYC housing projects is clear, it would benefit from engagement with a wider range of sources. Not just Plunz, but also Robert Stern’s NYC 1960, for example.

When it comes to the discussion of specific modernist NYC housing projects, the paper would be more relevant if it made reference to more contemporary secondary sources on Pei and American Brutalism. The reliance on outdated references, such as James Marston Fitch's work from 1963, overlooks the abundant 20th-century literature on Pei and American Brutalism. Evaluating how the paper aligns with or revises contemporary architectural historians' understanding of Pei's work is essential.

Section 5 stands out as the paper's strength, showcasing the author's original insights. However, the limited and dated references (Gestalt theory, Bruno Zevi, Jane Jacobs – not ‘Jakobs’) detract from its impact. Exploring more contemporary authors who have discussed the intersection of the grid with social order and spatial perception would enhance the paper's relevance.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

The quality of the English is good.

Author Response

I want to thank the reviewer for their further insightful comments, which helped improve the paper.

I made changes to the paper accordingly; the additional text is highlighted in yellow.

Based on the reviewer's comments:

• In reference to section 3 (The Architectural and Brutalist Grid), the examples of theorists and architects advocating or opposing the grid were briefly mentioned as a reference and background/introduction to the Brutalist grid.
• Section 3. also included removing two pictures of Superstudio and Archizoom (which aren't related directly to the subject).
• Another image depicting the grid in Washington was also removed from section 4.
• As suggested by the reviewer, the discussion of Reyner Banham on the grid was moved under the Brutalist grid (new 3.1).
• Additionally, more sources related to contemporary discussions of Brutalism were added as references.
• Robert Stern's reference to the Kips Bay project in his book New York 1960 was included in the discussion of Kips Bay.

Round 3

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The major issues remain: the paper does not have a clear argument, it is not appropriately situated in relation to recent scholarship on the topic, and it is poorly referenced.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

The quality of the English is good.