The Disenchanted Mountain: Tafuri and the American Metropolis

This lecture delves into Manfredo Tafuri's critical writings on architecture, exploring his key works such as 'For a Critique of Architectural Ideology' and 'The American City'. It discusses the emergence of the skyscraper, the Chicago School, and the spatial planning of New York, focusing on the Regional Plan and zoning regulations. The presentation also covers the 'setback' as a skyscraper form and Raymond Hood's vision of 'New York 1950'. The instructor Pier Vittorio Aureli provides insights into Tafuri's concept of the 'Disenchanted Mountain' through a schematic history of Rockefeller Center's planning, highlighting the transition from an idealized vision to a pragmatic urban reality.