Abstract

The first building designed under the 1962 Guiding Principles for Federal Architecture was for the newly formed U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in Washington, DC. The report had a clear mandate: to create architecture that would reflect the dignity, enterprise, vigor, and stability of the American Government. This article examines Marcel Breuer’s design for HUD’s new office building, in relation to the guiding principles. It asks the questions: Does the design of this building achieve its goal in translating the values as stated in the report into physical form? If so, how do the four beliefs influence the design; specifically, how does each standard manifest three-dimensionally to create a structure that conveys these ideals? And, do these aspects connect to create a cohesive language that serves as a symbol for a dynamic, evolving government?