University of Washington College of Built Environments École des Beaux-Arts
Occupation
Architect
Paul Thiry (1904–1993) was an American architect most active in Washington state, known as the father of architectural modernism in the Pacific Northwest. Thiry designed "some of the best period buildings around the state of Washington during the 1950, 60s and 70s."[1]
Thiry was born in Nome, Alaska, of French parents. He was a 1928 graduate of the architecture school at the University of Washington and studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in France.[1] He traveled in Europe and met Le Corbusier, before returning to Seattle in 1935.[2] He also traveled to and worked in Japan.[3]
Thiry designed his own house upon his return [2] but had few commissions in the 1930s. Those he built "showed a clear understanding of the European International Style in his use of spare, geometric forms, clean lines, and new building technologies."[4]
Aerial view of the Climate Pledge Arena, built originally as the Washington State Pavilion for the Century 21 Exposition.
Thiry came to national attention in 1937 with a cement-based stuccoed residence for a manager at Portland Cement, Frank J. Barrett. The innovative house was published in The Modern House in America in 1940: the garage and house formed two rectangles, with a "smooth, undecorated exterior", its doors and windows flush with the surface. Steel window frames were painted blue-green, and glass-brick was used around the entry and along the walls of the partly sunken living room.[5]
Thiry has been compared to other modernists in the Northwest such as Pietro Belluschi (1899–1994) and John Yeon (1910–1994).[4] Thiry is quoted as having said that "Buildings should be good neighbors."[6] He is credited with being "instrumental" to introducing International Style architecture in Seattle.[2]
The Flanagan chapel is "a creatively designed 16-sided structure" with an 85-rank Casavant Frèresorgan and seating for 600 people. According to the Lewis and Clark website the building "serves as a meeting place for lectures, musical performances, and religious services. The entry is a bridge flanked by Northwest Coast Indian-style statues depicting the four evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) created by the native artist Chief Lelooska.[8]
^"The Nalley's Fine Food pavilion was a plastic form shell pneumatically applied on a frame of reinforcing rods and metal lathe. The exterior of the pavilion was constructed without a straight line or sharp angle. The unique oval contained a theater which showed movies of the great Pacific Northwest. In the lobby of the building were displays of the food products from Nalley's Tacoma-based company. Image courtesy University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections Division." Vintage Seattle
^Mark Allen Torgerson An architecture of immanence: architecture for worship and ministry today Calvin Institute of Christian Worship liturgical studies series Edition illustrated Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2007 ISBN0-8028-3209-1, ISBN978-0-8028-3209-2, 313 pages, page 112
