Hilyard Robinson
Encyclopedia
Hilyard R. Robinson was a renowned African-American modernist architect
known for his work in designing public housing.
School of Architecture
and the University of Berlin. He earned a B.A. and M.A. in architecture from Columbia University
. In 1924 he joined the faculty of Howard University
's School of Architecture. Interested in housing design that followed the social and aesthetic principles of modernism, Robinson traveled widely through Europe and conferred with Modernist architects including Marcel Breuer
, Walter Gropius
and Mies van der Rohe. Robinson once commented that "[T]he wrecked continent [of Europe]…serve[d] as a laboratory" for future projects that he would build on behalf of African America. He was also a member of the International Housing Association of Frankfurt, Germany and the Regional Planning Association of America
.
Public Housing
Robinson's significant buildings include the Langston Terrace Dwellings
, built with the architect Paul Williams
in 1936. Considered the first public housing project for African Americans, the project was placed on the National Register of Historic Buildings in 1987. Other housing projects he designed include Cedar Gardens in the Anacostia neighborhood of Washington, DC and other housing projects in Baltimore, MD, Lyons Homes, Sparrow's Point, MD, Hampton, Virginia and Ypsilanti, Michigan.
Although primarily known for his design of public housing projects, Robinson designed a number of residences for fellow faculty members at Howard University, including the Nobel Peace Prize winner Ralph Bunche
and Rayford Logan
. Both residences are located in the historic Brookland
neighborhood of Washington, DC. The Ralph Bunche House
completed in 1941 is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Other significant projects include the Tuskegee Army Air Field for the infamous Tuskegee Airmen
. Robinson also built many educational buildings including Slowe Hall and Cramton Auditorium at Howard University
in Washington, DC and buildings at Hampton Institute in Hampton, Virginia, Jarvis Christian College
in Jarvis, Texas, and Livingston College
in Salisbury, New Jersey.
Robinson is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
fraternity.
and Paul Revere Williams.
Robinson was married to his wife Helen. He is buried at National Harmony Memorial Park, in Largo, Maryland.
The Helena and Hilyard Robinson Auditorium at Howard University is named after the architect and his wife.
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
known for his work in designing public housing.
Life
A native Washingtonian, Robinson studied at the prestigious M Street High School, Philadelphia's School of Industrial Design, the University of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
School of Architecture
University of Pennsylvania School of Design
The University of Pennsylvania School of Design is the design school of the University of Pennsylvania. It is currently ranked 3rd in urban planning by The Best Colleges, 10th in urban planning by Planetizen, and 8th in architecture by DesignIntelligence...
and the University of Berlin. He earned a B.A. and M.A. in architecture from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. In 1924 he joined the faculty of Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
's School of Architecture. Interested in housing design that followed the social and aesthetic principles of modernism, Robinson traveled widely through Europe and conferred with Modernist architects including Marcel Breuer
Marcel Breuer
Marcel Lajos Breuer , was a Hungarian-born modernist, architect and furniture designer of Jewish descent. One of the masters of Modernism, Breuer displayed interest in modular construction and simple forms.- Life and work :Known to his friends and associates as Lajkó, Breuer studied and taught at...
, Walter Gropius
Walter Gropius
Walter Adolph Georg Gropius was a German architect and founder of the Bauhaus School who, along with Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier, is widely regarded as one of the pioneering masters of modern architecture....
and Mies van der Rohe. Robinson once commented that "[T]he wrecked continent [of Europe]…serve[d] as a laboratory" for future projects that he would build on behalf of African America. He was also a member of the International Housing Association of Frankfurt, Germany and the Regional Planning Association of America
Regional Planning Association of America
The Regional Planning Association of America , formed by Clarence Stein was an urban reform association developed in 1923. The association was a diverse group of people all with their own talents and skills...
.
Public Housing
Robinson's significant buildings include the Langston Terrace Dwellings
Langston Terrace Dwellings
Langston Terrace Dwellings are historic structures located in the Kingman Park neighborhood in the Northeast quadrant of Washington, D.C. The apartments were built between 1935 and 1938 and they were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987....
, built with the architect Paul Williams
Paul Williams (architect)
Paul Revere Williams, FAIA was a Los Angeles-based, American architect. He practiced largely in Southern California and designed the homes of numerous stars including Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball/Desi Arnaz, Lon Chaney, and Charles Correll...
in 1936. Considered the first public housing project for African Americans, the project was placed on the National Register of Historic Buildings in 1987. Other housing projects he designed include Cedar Gardens in the Anacostia neighborhood of Washington, DC and other housing projects in Baltimore, MD, Lyons Homes, Sparrow's Point, MD, Hampton, Virginia and Ypsilanti, Michigan.
Although primarily known for his design of public housing projects, Robinson designed a number of residences for fellow faculty members at Howard University, including the Nobel Peace Prize winner Ralph Bunche
Ralph Bunche
Ralph Johnson Bunche or 1904December 9, 1971) was an American political scientist and diplomat who received the 1950 Nobel Peace Prize for his late 1940s mediation in Palestine. He was the first person of color to be so honored in the history of the Prize...
and Rayford Logan
Rayford Logan
Rayford Whittingham Logan was an African-American historian and Pan-African activist. He was best known for his study of post-Reconstruction America, a period he termed "the nadir of American race relations"...
. Both residences are located in the historic Brookland
Brookland, Washington, D.C.
Brookland is a neighborhood in the Northeast quadrant of Washington, D.C., historically centered along 12th Street NE. Brookland is bounded by 9th Street NE to the west, Rhode Island Avenue NE to the south, and South Dakota Avenue to the east...
neighborhood of Washington, DC. The Ralph Bunche House
Ralph Bunche House (Washington, D.C.)
Ralph Bunche House was the home Ralph Bunche commissioned from Hilyard Robinson in 1941. It is located at 1510 Jackson Street, Northeast, Washington, D.C., in the Brookland neighborhood....
completed in 1941 is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Other significant projects include the Tuskegee Army Air Field for the infamous Tuskegee Airmen
Tuskegee Airmen
The Tuskegee Airmen is the popular name of a group of African American pilots who fought in World War II. Formally, they were the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group of the U.S. Army Air Corps....
. Robinson also built many educational buildings including Slowe Hall and Cramton Auditorium at Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
in Washington, DC and buildings at Hampton Institute in Hampton, Virginia, Jarvis Christian College
Jarvis Christian College
Jarvis Christian College is an independent four year, historically black college affiliated with the Christian Church . It is located in Hawkins, Texas. It was founded in 1912, and is currently headed by President Cornell Thomas....
in Jarvis, Texas, and Livingston College
Livingston College
From 1969 to 2007 Livingston College was one of the residential colleges that comprised Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey's undergraduate liberal arts programs. It was located on Livingston Campus in Piscataway, NJ. In the Fall of 2007 the New Brunswick-area liberal arts undergraduate...
in Salisbury, New Jersey.
Robinson is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ...
fraternity.
Legacy
As a long-time professor of Architecture at Howard University, Robinson influenced many architects, including Ralph VaughnRalph Vaughn
Ralph L. Vaughn is an American former college basketball player for the Southern California Trojans. He led the Pacific Coast Conference in scoring his senior season of 1939–40 at 15.0 points per game in which he was named a Consensus First Team All-American...
and Paul Revere Williams.
Robinson was married to his wife Helen. He is buried at National Harmony Memorial Park, in Largo, Maryland.
The Helena and Hilyard Robinson Auditorium at Howard University is named after the architect and his wife.
Timeline of works
All dates refer to the year work commenced- 1935 - Langston Terrace DwellingsLangston Terrace DwellingsLangston Terrace Dwellings are historic structures located in the Kingman Park neighborhood in the Northeast quadrant of Washington, D.C. The apartments were built between 1935 and 1938 and they were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987....
, Washington, DC - 1935 - Aberdeen GardensAberdeen Gardens (Hampton, Virginia)Aberdeen Gardens is a historic district located in Hampton, Virginia, USA. The district was part of a planned community initiated by Hampton University under New Deal legislation.-Design:...
, Hampton, VA - 1940 - Tuskegee Army Air Field, Tuskegee, AL
- 1941 - Frederick Douglass Dwellings, Washington, DC
- 1941 - Ralph Bunche HouseRalph Bunche House (Washington, D.C.)Ralph Bunche House was the home Ralph Bunche commissioned from Hilyard Robinson in 1941. It is located at 1510 Jackson Street, Northeast, Washington, D.C., in the Brookland neighborhood....
, Washington, DC - 1942 - Slowe Hall, Washington, DC
- 1943 - Flanner House, Indianapolis, IN
- 1956 - Ernest Everett Just Hall Howard University - Washington, DC
- 1960 - Communications Building, Hampton Institute, Hampton, VA
- 1961 - Cramton Auditorium, Washington, DC