Pan American World Airlines Building, New York City 1958

Curator: Looking at this black and white photograph of the Pan American World Airways Building in New York City, taken by an unidentified artist, I'm struck by its coldness. Editor: Yes, it’s quite severe! This feels like an exercise in architectural dominance, all straight lines and hard angles. A real concrete jungle, right? Curator: Absolutely. The Pan Am Building, now the MetLife Building, epitomized corporate power. Its placement directly north of Grand Central Terminal was hugely controversial, blocking views and casting shadows. Editor: It’s a fascinating reminder of how buildings shape not just skylines, but also public perception and access. I can almost feel the ambition, or is it hubris, radiating from it! Curator: Perhaps it is a bit of both. It's certainly a photograph loaded with historical and political weight. Editor: Well, whatever it is, it sure makes you think about what we choose to build, and why.