Cass VS Clarence

Cass Gilbert

Gilbert was a conservative who believed architecture should reflect historic traditions and the established social order. His design of the new Supreme Court Building (1935), with it's classical lines and small size contrasted sharply with the very large modernist Federal buildings going up along the National Mall in Washington, D.C., which he disliked. Cass Gilbert reminds me of a more classical person and likes to stick to the books on architecture. He was the architect for the Woolworth Building (below left) and our Minnesota State Capitol (below right).

   

Clarence Johnston

Clarence did all sorts of buildings in Minnesota. The U of M is just one example for this, parts of the U of M were designed by him. His style is more tasteful and understanding version of modern. February 1883, Johnston went abroad, traveling in Europe and Asia Minor. The Folwell Hall is an imaginative version of central European late Renaissance/early Baroque architecture. In 1886, Mr. Johnston established his own practice in Saint Paul. Five years later, he was retained by the State Board of Control, preparing plans for the Minnesota State Prison and other institutions. He was architect for the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota and drew plans for all the buildings on the new campus and some on the older portion. The Minnesota State Prison is a Gothic Revival building. He also designed part of Winona State University which is also Gothic style. Clarence was the architect for the F. Scott Fitzgerald House on Summit Avenue. The house is a Romanesque Revival. I can point out that he was interested in the revival look.