Memories made possible by the dome

Posted 3/17/16

To the Editor:

I enjoyed your article about the “Giant’s House” in the Feb. 23 edition of the Warwick Beacon. My dad, H. Michael Planka, an architect and a longtime Warwick resident, worked …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Memories made possible by the dome

Posted

To the Editor:

I enjoyed your article about the “Giant’s House” in the Feb. 23 edition of the Warwick Beacon. My dad, H. Michael Planka, an architect and a longtime Warwick resident, worked on that project in 1962. (He had joined Castellucci & Galli Associates but had not yet become a partner). 

I always remember him talking about it because he was enamored of the “geodesic dome” design made popular by the famous architect, Buckminster Fuller. Having grown up in Warwick, I took pride in knowing he was a part of this unique structure every time I drove by it. Coincidentally, another project that he worked on was the John E. Fogarty building in Providence, which was recently highlighted in an article in the Providence Journal, because it also is slated to be demolished to make way for another building. 

I have heard for some time that the airport “giant” was slated to be torn down and a friend had thought it would make a nice “pavilion” in City Park, but you would need a “giant” to move it. Ahhh…it is too bad that it cannot be used, but time marches on and the landscape must change, as I know my dad would understand. Thank you for highlighting it. 

Jana Planka

Narragansett

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here