Edward Lifson
Encyclopedia
Edward Lifson is an award-winning American journalist and architecture critic. He writes on architecture, urbanism and culture, in addition to news and politics. Lifson created and hosted a popular radio show in Chicago
called "Hello Beautiful!" to explore urban architecture and design issues. Prior to that he was a correspondent for National Public Radio. In the U.S. he covered urban affairs, politics, economics, labor and arts and culture. In 1996, he established the National Public Radio Bureau in Berlin
, Germany. In Europe, Lifson covered the rebuilding of Berlin as a city and a national capital, European Union
, post-Cold War politics, NATO, the launch of the euro
, immigration issues, and Central Europe’s transition to democracy and capitalism. As a war correspondent, he reported extensively for NPR from Serbia
, Kosovo
, Montenegro
and Macedonia
before and during the war in Kosovo. In addition to Berlin, he has lived for many years in Paris
, Florence
, Italy
and in England
.
Lifson's work has also been heard on the BBC
and CNN
and seen in Dwell (magazine)
, The Architect's Newspaper
and Metropolis (architecture magazine).
Increasingly, his journalism focuses on what makes cities work and how they can be improved. His particular interests include public space
, transportation and art; street furniture, landscaping, parks, civic buildings, sustainability
, housing, historic preservation
, China
, modern architecture
and Japanese architecture
.
He created and hosted "Hello Beautiful!"--the popular award-winning weekly radio program about arts, architecture and culture—on Chicago Public Radio until mid-2007.
A report by Lifson on the impending auction of Mies van der Rohe's modernist masterpiece Farnsworth House on the Fox River in Plano, Illinois, caused people across America to donate money to preserve the house in its original location.
In 2007 he was a fellow in the USC/Annenberg Getty Arts Journalism Fellowship in Los Angeles.
In 2007/8 he was a Loeb Fellow at the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University
, where he studied urban planning
and design, history and theory of architecture, landscape architecture and sustainability. In 2008/9 he was an Annenberg Fellow in Los Angeles at the University of Southern California to study the Specialized Journalism of Architecture.
In 2009/10 he was a Visiting Fellow at the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University
, involved in urban planning
and design, history and theory of architecture, landscape architecture and sustainability.
He conducted the last interview with the American writer, oral historian, actor and radio host Studs Terkel
.
He is working on a new national radio program about cities, architecture and design.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
called "Hello Beautiful!" to explore urban architecture and design issues. Prior to that he was a correspondent for National Public Radio. In the U.S. he covered urban affairs, politics, economics, labor and arts and culture. In 1996, he established the National Public Radio Bureau in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Germany. In Europe, Lifson covered the rebuilding of Berlin as a city and a national capital, European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, post-Cold War politics, NATO, the launch of the euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
, immigration issues, and Central Europe’s transition to democracy and capitalism. As a war correspondent, he reported extensively for NPR from Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
, Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
, Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
and Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
before and during the war in Kosovo. In addition to Berlin, he has lived for many years in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Lifson's work has also been heard on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
and seen in Dwell (magazine)
Dwell (magazine)
Dwell is an American magazine devoted to modern architecture and design. It was launched in September 2000 by mail-order heiress Lara Hedberg Deam with architecture and design critic Karrie Jacobs as its editor-in-chief. In August 2002 Jacobs left the magazine and was replaced by senior editor...
, The Architect's Newspaper
The Architect's Newspaper
The Architect's Newspaper is an architectural newspaper covering the East Coast, Midwest, and West Coast in three print editions and online....
and Metropolis (architecture magazine).
Increasingly, his journalism focuses on what makes cities work and how they can be improved. His particular interests include public space
Public space
A public space is a social space such as a town square that is open and accessible to all, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, age or socio-economic level. One of the earliest examples of public spaces are commons. For example, no fees or paid tickets are required for entry, nor are the entrants...
, transportation and art; street furniture, landscaping, parks, civic buildings, sustainability
Sustainability
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
, housing, historic preservation
Historic preservation
Historic preservation is an endeavor that seeks to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historical significance...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, modern architecture
Modern architecture
Modern architecture is generally characterized by simplification of form and creation of ornament from the structure and theme of the building. It is a term applied to an overarching movement, with its exact definition and scope varying widely...
and Japanese architecture
Japanese architecture
' originated in prehistoric times with simple pit-houses and stores that were adapted to a hunter-gatherer population. Influence from Han Dynasty China via Korea saw the introduction of more complex grain stores and ceremonial burial chambers....
.
He created and hosted "Hello Beautiful!"--the popular award-winning weekly radio program about arts, architecture and culture—on Chicago Public Radio until mid-2007.
A report by Lifson on the impending auction of Mies van der Rohe's modernist masterpiece Farnsworth House on the Fox River in Plano, Illinois, caused people across America to donate money to preserve the house in its original location.
In 2007 he was a fellow in the USC/Annenberg Getty Arts Journalism Fellowship in Los Angeles.
In 2007/8 he was a Loeb Fellow at the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, where he studied urban planning
Urban planning
Urban planning incorporates areas such as economics, design, ecology, sociology, geography, law, political science, and statistics to guide and ensure the orderly development of settlements and communities....
and design, history and theory of architecture, landscape architecture and sustainability. In 2008/9 he was an Annenberg Fellow in Los Angeles at the University of Southern California to study the Specialized Journalism of Architecture.
In 2009/10 he was a Visiting Fellow at the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, involved in urban planning
Urban planning
Urban planning incorporates areas such as economics, design, ecology, sociology, geography, law, political science, and statistics to guide and ensure the orderly development of settlements and communities....
and design, history and theory of architecture, landscape architecture and sustainability.
He conducted the last interview with the American writer, oral historian, actor and radio host Studs Terkel
Studs Terkel
Louis "Studs" Terkel was an American author, historian, actor, and broadcaster. He received the Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction in 1985 for The Good War, and is best remembered for his oral histories of common Americans, and for hosting a long-running radio show in Chicago.-Early...
.
He is working on a new national radio program about cities, architecture and design.