Ira Rakatansky
A former student of Gropius and Breuer, Rakatansky's innovative brand of mid-century modernism blew a fresh breeze through staid colonial New England and has yet to lose its momentum. His office, established in 1946, has practiced into the 21st century, and this book captures the full range of his residential, religious, and commercial projects. Original technical drawings, original photography from media coverage, as well as stunning color images beautifully illustrate the work of this brilliant and overshadowed figure of mid-century American architecture.
Edited by John Caserta and Lynnette Widder.
Texts by Joan Ockman, Lynnette Widder and Erin Eckhold.
Designed by John Caserta.
New photography by Thad Russell and John Caserta.
Softcover. 207 pages. 8.7 x 6.75 inches. Published by William Stout Publishers & RAS in June 2010.
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Ira Rakatansky
As Modern as Tomorrow was the 1948 headline of a Providence Journal article on Ira Rakatansky’s first built house: “a daring house of modern design…that makes no concessions to old-fashion ideas,” with “such startling features as a water-cooled roof, heated stone floors and great areas of glass that allow indoors and outdoors to merge.”
Born in Providence in 1919, Rakatansky completed undergraduate studies at the Rhode Island School of Design before continuing his education with Walter Gropius and Marcel Breuer at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design. In 1946, Rakatansky returned to Rhode Island to start an office that continues to practice into the 21st century. Rakatansky’s wide range of residential, religious and commercial buildings resulted from an innovative and systematic engagement with client, program, budget, materials, and detailing.
Amidst the colonial style of New England these buildings caused a stir, as suggested by another headline, ‘Neighbors Look Twice’—neighbors still look twice at Modern houses—tomorrow has not yet come. Rakatansky’s work, however, remains fresh, offering promise that tomorrow may yet arrive.