The Classical Tradition in Architecture: Once Normative, Now Counter-Cultural

A lecture by Mr. Catesby Leigh

Architectural traditions and modernism in the United States and Central Europe – a Transatlantic conversation

Event Overview

Join Common Sense Society–Hungary (CSS–HU) for a transatlantic conversation on architectural traditions and modernism in the United States and Central Europe. American architectural critic Mr. Catesby Leigh will hold a lecture followed by reflections by art historian Prof. József Sisa and architect Dr. Domonkos Wettstein, moderated by CSS faculty member and historian of political thought and philosopher of art Prof. Ferenc Hörcher.

Take part in this public event at John Lukács Café of the National University of Public Service on Wednesday, February 22. The lecture will start promptly at 6:00 P.M.

This event is realized in partnership with the Research Institute for Politics and Government of the National University of Public Service.

Featured Speakers

Mr. Catesby Leigh is a co-founder of the National Civic Art Society (NCAS) and served as its chair for six years. From the outset, the reform of the federal government’s architectural patronage along classical lines has been one of the NCAS’s primary goals. After graduating from Princeton, he spent most of the 1980s as a foreign correspondent in South America, where he grew increasingly interested in traditional architectural environments and was struck by their modernist counterparts’ failure to achieve comparable levels of physical or visual amenity. Mr. Leigh has written commentaries on memorial projects, on fine art, and on urban planning. He first wrote about New Urbanism and its emphasis on pedestrian-friendly planning and receptivity to regional architectural traditions three decades ago. His work has appeared in City Journal, the Claremont Review of Books, First Things, Modern Age, National Review, The American Conservative, the Wall Street Journal, the Weekly Standard, and other publications.

Prof. József Sisa is an art historian who specializes in the history of Hungarian architecture in the 19th century. He also serves as a professor at the Institute of Art History.

Dr. Domonkos Wettstein is an architect, researcher, and assistant professor at the Department of Urban Planning and Design at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics.

Prof. Ferenc Hörcher is head of the Research Institute of Politics and Government of the University of Public Service, Hungary, and a senior research fellow of the Institute of Philosophy of the József Eötvös Research Network, Hungary. He is a political philosopher, historian of political thought and philosopher of art. His last book publications include: The Political Philosophy of the European City, A Political Philosophy of Conservatism and A Political Philosophy of Conservatism. Prudence, Moderation and Tradition.