(1947-2007)

Taking the baton from Paul Goldberger, Herbert Muschamp was The New York Times architecture critic from 1992 to 2004. During the twelve years he occupied this distinguished position he practiced a sharp and forceful criticism with an effusive and original prose, praising the Seattle Public Library by Rem Koolhaas and Joshua Ramos as “the most exciting new building it has been my honor to review”, or the Center for Contemporary Arts in Cincinnati by Zaha Hadid as “the most important American building to be completed since the end of the Cold War”, or championing emerging architects like Greg Lynn. Born in Philadelphia in 1947, Muschamp arrived at New York in the mid-sixties decade and soon came into contact with the Andy Warhol Factory. He began his architectural studies at the Parsons School of Design, to which he would return to teach in 1983, after studying at London’s Architectural Association. At that time he also began his career as critic at Vogue and Art Forum, and was later named architecture critic at The New Republic, post which he held for five years before moving on to The New York Times.