James Polshek Quotes

United States, Architect
February 11, 1930

James Stewart Polshek (born 1930, Akron, Ohio) is an American architect living in New York City. He is the founder of Polshek Partnership, the firm at which he was Principal Design Partner for more than four decades. He is currently Design Counsel to the legacy firm Ennead Architects, as well as being actively engaged as design lead on multiple projects.

I don't think architecture should be considered as an art form in the first instance. Whenever I say that, it makes people really angry. But this is a very political profession in the Grecian sense. I believe there have to be reasons for every building, and that the ideas should not be self-referential.

James Polshek
- People
- Believe
- Art
I've always seen architecture as a healing art, not just as a beautification art.

James Polshek
- Art
- Architecture
- Healing

I went into architecture a little as 'Peck's Bad Boy.' It allowed me to be a critic in a socially condoned way.

James Polshek
- Bad
- Boy
- Architecture
I kind of cherish at least the idea of Midwestern candor and openness. But I couldn't live there.

James Polshek
- Live
I had it drummed into me from an early age that personalizing everything was not a good thing. Besides, I don't think that kind of commodity-driven system makes for the most productive architecture.

James Polshek
- Good
- Age
- Architecture