Paul Hirshorn and Steven Izenour Learning from Hamburgers: Architecture of the ‘White Tower’ Lunch Counters Paul Hirshorn and Steven Izenour

White Towers Buildings built “one strict functional and symbolic theme” Variations as made necessary by external circumstances. Prototype for widespread franchise architecture that was to come later in the century.

Not time to read signs so they become symbols of information. Signs and Forms At the pace of modern life signs and symbols come to dominate the landscape. Not time to read signs so they become symbols of information. Spatial relationships made by symbols not by forms. Alternatively, the form can become the symbol.

The Duck “Where the architectural systems of space, structure, and program are submerged and distorted by an overall symbolic form. . . We call the duck in honor of the duck shaped drive-in, The Long Island Duckling.” Robert Venturi, Denise Scott Brown, Steven Izenour. Learning from Las Vegas, page 87.

The Decorated Shed Where systems of space and structure are directly at the service of program, and ornament is applied independently of them. This we call the decorated shed. Robert Venturi, Denise Scott Brown, Steven Izenour. Learning from Las Vegas, page 87.

Crawford Manor, New Haven 1962-1966, Paul Rudolph

1st white tower 1926 Glazed bricks, sign

Franchised, moveable Vitrolite, after 1933 Chicago 1933