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One of the most interesting executive orders from Donald Trump’s first day back in office was one titled “Promoting Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture.” That order begins:
IherebydirecttheAdministratoroftheGeneralServicesAdministration,inconsultationwiththeAssistanttothePresidentforDomesticPolicyandtheheadsofdepartmentsandagenciesoftheUnitedStateswherenecessary,tosubmittomewithin60daysrecommendationstoadvancethepolicythatFederalpublicbuildingsshouldbevisuallyidentifiableascivicbuildingsandrespectregional,traditional,andclassicalarchitecturalheritageinordertoupliftandbeautifypublicspacesandennobletheUnitedStatesandoursystemofself-government.
Thisexecutiveordercaughtmyattentionbecausearchitecturehasalwaysfascinatedme.Ineverpossessedthetalenttobecomeanarchitect,butvariousstyleshavealwayscapturedmyattention.It’ssimilartoanexecutiveorderthatTrumpwrotein2020;myfriendandcolleagueMattMargolispointedoutthatJoeBidenpromptlyrescindeditin2021.
Architecturecanbeart,whetherit’sthelovelyclassicalarchitect
