Reasons to Celebrate the Death of the Architecture Critic

As architecture and design observers bemoan what recent job moves mean for the future of mainstream architectural criticism, Vanessa Quirk sees reason to be optimistic.

1 minute read

April 10, 2012, 8:00 AM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


Although the recently announced departure of Paul Goldberger from The New Yorker and the elevation of Michael Kimmelman, a reporter with no architectural training, to the most visible architectural criticism post in the country have some feeling blue, Quirk argues that, "criticism hasn't died the way you think. It's just been changed beyond recognition. And frankly, for the better."

Noting a general shift in the profession towards serving "a higher moral purpose," Quirk calls for a similar shift in focus for criticism. "It means moving beyond the description of the building as 'object' and delving into its context; it means talking to the people who live down the block; discovering how the average man perceives it; determining the extent to which it serves humanity."

And she celebrates the "transformation" signaled by Kimmelman's creation of "a socially-oriented oeuvre that not only recognizes Architecture's lofty goals, but harks back to old-school Huxtable: it defends the rights of the city-goer."

Friday, April 6, 2012 in ArchDaily

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

U-Haul truck on road with blurred grassy roadside in background.

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?

Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

March 27, 2025 - Alan Mallach

High-rise apartment buildings in Waikiki, Hawaii with steep green mountains in background.

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss

The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

April 6, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

People sitting and walking in plaza in front of historic Benton County Courthouse in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners

How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.

March 28, 2025 - Emily McCoy

Two white garbage trucks stopped on New York City street.

How the ‘Direct Vision’ Design Approach Saves Lives

Designing large trucks to ensure better visibility for drivers can reduce fatal crashes and improve workplace safety.

30 minutes ago - Smart Cities Dive

Rendering of proposed greenway design for downtown San Diego street.

San Diego Swaps Parking Lane for Kid-Friendly Mini Park

The block-long greenway will feature interactive play equipment and landscaping.

April 7 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Oil well on hilltop in Los Angeles with city neighborhoods in background.

Tracking the Invisible: Methane Leaks From LA’s Neighborhood Oil Sites

Environmental advocates are using infrared technology to monitor and document methane leaks from neighborhood oil sites, filling regulatory gaps and pushing for stronger protections to safeguard community health and the climate.

April 7 - LAist