James Rossant


James Stephan Rossant was an American architect, artist, and professor of architecture. A long-time Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, he is best known for his master plan of Reston, Virginia, the Lower Manhattan Plan, and the UN-sponsored master plan for Dodoma, Tanzania. He was a partner of the architectural firm Conklin & Rossant and principal of James Rossant Architects.

Early life

Born in New York City, Rossant grew up in the Bronx, where he attended the Bronx High School of Science. Rossant's brother was journalist Murray Rossant. He studied architecture at Columbia University, the University of Florida, and Harvard University's Graduate School of Design.

Career

Architecture

After the war, he worked in Italy with Gino Valle. In 1957, Rossant joined Mayer & Whittlesey as architect and town planner. His first large design project was the Butterfield House apartment house in Greenwich Village. He also worked on the Lower Manhattan Plan. For Whittlesey & Conklin, he developed the master plan for Reston, Virginia.
Image:Reston,_Virginia_-_Lake_Anne_plaza.jpg|thumb|right|Lake Anne Plaza in Reston,
designed by James Rossant and William Conklin
For Conklin & Rossant, his work included the Crystal Bridge of the Myriad Botanical Gardens, the Ramaz School, Two Charles Center, and the U.S. Navy Memorial at Market Square.
Image:Myriad Botanical Gardens.jpg|thumb|right|Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory at the Myriad Botanical Gardens in Oklahoma City, designed by Rossant and Conklin
For 3R Architects, his work included Tanzania's new capital at Dodoma under the sponsorship of the United Nations. He served on New York City's Public Design Commission. On November 2, 1971, Rossant appeared with Ada Louise Huxtable on the television show Firing Line on discuss "Why Aren't Good Buildings Being Built?" He appeared posthumously from television clips and his wife in interviews as part of Rebekah Wingert-Jabi's 2015 documentary Another Way of Living: The Story of Reston, VA.

Artwork

Rossant painted all his life and exhibited frequently. His sculpture includes work publicly accessible on Washington Plaza along Lake Anne in Reston. He published Cities in the Sky in 2009, based on one of his longest series of architectural paintings. He also illustrated several cookbooks by his wife.

Teaching

Rossant taught architecture at the Pratt Institute and Urban Design at New York University's School of Public Administration. As lecturer, he visited the National University of Singapore, the American University of Beirut, Harvard University, the University of Virginia, and Columbia University.

Personal life and death

Rossant married Colette Palacci while serving in the army in Europe; the couple moved back the US in the mid-1950s. The couple had four children.
He died at Germonville, Condeau, in the Orne portion of Le Perche, Lower Normandy, from complications of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Rossant was survived by his wife Colette Rossant ; children Marianne, Juliette, Cecile, and Tomas ; and eight grandchildren.

Works

James Rossant wrote a memoir which he published privately and shared with members of his family.
Writings:
  • Articles
Drawings:
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