Walter Netsch remembered at SOM and in new book

After his death on June 16th, the home page to Skidmore, Owings and Merrill's website became a memorial to Walter Netsch, who spent his entire architectural career at the firm. There's a brief tribute to Netsch, and, more importantly, a link to an extended interview Detlef Mertins conducted with Nestsch in 2001 at his north side home. There's a lot of discussion of Netsch's unique field theory, in concept and practice. Netsch talks about collecting leaves as a small child and studying their patterns, and later using chrysanthemum flowers and ginkgo leaves as inspirations for individual projects. He names the library at Wells College as the favorite among his designs. The interview is accompanied by a generous selection of drawings and photographs.

Blair Kamin reports on his Skyline blog that just before he died, Netsch was able to see an advance copy of a new book from Northwestern University Press, Walter A. Netsch, FAIA: A Critical Appreciation and Sourcebook, a compendium offering a short biography, an annotated bibliography, and essays from people like Robert Bruegmann, David Goodman, Martin Felsen and Sarah Dunn.