This paper will discuss the Smithsonian Institution Building (The Castle). It was designed by James Renwick, Jr. and was completed in 1855 (“Smithsonian Institution”). It was the first of the Smithsonian Institution’s buildings. In the early days it housed exhibitions, offices, a library and the living quarters of the secretary of the Smithsonian Institute (National Park Service). In 1865 a fire destroyed major section of the building. It took until 1969 to restore the building and repair the damage of the fire (“Smithsonian Institution”). Over the years the National Mall expanded around this building and more Smithsonian buildings were constructed leading to the major exhibits being moved to these locations. Nowadays it mainly houses the information center and administrative offices (“Smithsonian Institution”). The building is a combination of Romanesque and Gothic architecture, also including certain greek elements. Overall, this building …show more content…
For this purpose the architecture plays an important role. Designing this building so that it is reminiscent of the Romanesque and Gothic style makes a lot of sense for this type of building. Not only does the building itself reference an important historical time period, but this design also highlights the building and makes it very recognizable from other buildings in the area. These aspects help it serve its purpose as one of the signature Smithsonian buildings and one of the administrative centers. In conclusion, this building is a signature building of the Smithsonian Institute. It serves its function through its use of Romanesque and Gothic architecture which helps it stand out amongst the neighbouring buildings. Some of the architectural elements used are round arches, rose windows, buttresses, ribbed groin vaults and compound piers. Overall, it is a good example of a modern adaptation of classical
“Cleveland Museum of Art: Building,” Cleveland Art, Cleveland Museum of Art, 2013. Web. 25 March, 2014.
The University of Maryland names the majority of its campus’s buildings after the legacies of influential alumni and world scholars. Most would assume that the activities that occur in each of these buildings would be a representation of the namesake, however, that is not true for the Skinner Building.
This paper will be covering the infrastructure of Franklin College and cover some of the changes to the campus and why the changes happened. Most of the information this paper is based upon came from articles found in Franklin College’s Archives. My archival search began in the grounds and campus files. From there I moved to maps. I received many ideas from Ruth, the archivist, and through the oral history she gave me, I was able to piece together a topic based on the things I thought stood out among Franklin College’s grounds changes. Most evidence is dated, but there are a couple maps without dates. The maps can be easily traced back to when they were published based upon the information gathered from other sources. Another issue that arouse when researching came from issues regarding some accurate dat...
Upon first walking up to the Heard Museum through the front gate, the first things that can be noticed are the architectural features of the Museum. To me the architecture appeared to be Italianate, but it was later uncovered in the tour to be Spanish Style. Though, both Spanish Style and Italianate architecture are nearly one and the same, as a matter of fact Spanish Style architecture is derived from the Italianate style with was brought to Spain by the Romans. Stepping back from purely architectural features, it can also be notice that within the landscaping of the front lawn there is a path which runs in the shape of a swirl. The center of that swirl where everything comes together rests in a pit, almost as if the spiral shape runs downhill towards the center. This shape, as referenced from the James Luna presentation, is a culturally significant symbol to many Native American peoples. As the path from the main gate leads the visitor to the front of the building, a contemporary style wall adorns the right side of the path and displays several sculptures and information plaques which reference the Native American efforts during time of war throughout US history. As the path continues to lead to the entrance the the galleries, covered pathways take visitors past sculpture gardens and courtyard areas.
As highlighted by William Jordy in his book American Building and their architects: first, the placing of the central courtyard in a library hindered communication between the different sections of the library. Second, although the courted building allowed for wider stacking systems (a maximum width of 40 feet) and windows, McKim could not leverage this advantage, since smaller windows needed to be placed around the stacks as a “precaution against large scale conflagration.” Third, the random placement of ancillary rooms for special collection, the lecture hall, toilets stacking system, and lockers to fit into the main building program, appear to have little consideration for their utility
When walking through Boston's renowned Harvard Yard, one may scope out the mixture of architecture throughout its landscape. From the traditional Memorial Hall influenced by Romanesque churches, to the Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts, Harvard Yard is like a salad bowl of architecture. Perhaps because I am a lover of Victorian style structures, or maybe because of its interior's beauty and richness, Memorial Hall intrigued my interest most of all.
...ise architecture at the time is undoubtedly one of his greatest achievements. Louis Sullivan gave light to the phrase, ‘form follows function,’ however, one could argue this to be hypocritical coming from the man who focused to heavily on ornamentation. Through in depth research, this discussion successfully concludes that, as Sullivan himself stated, a building that bears no decoration could be a magnificent building. Then again, in terms of the Wainwright building, when the ornamentation and construction turn into one, the building is likewise magnificent.
Trinity Church is a prime example of revival architecture. When the “New Republic” of the United States gained its independence, the “New Democratic Citizens” wanted their place in history reflected in their architecture. The people of the 18th century were proud people, with rights, rights to build homes and communities of their own. And so, the revival style was born, a style built upon the perceptions of their predecessors, the Greeks and Romans. The difference was they had more freedom than their predecessors.
Today we have the Smithsonian Institution that represents the trauma that many of the people today do not have imprinted in their memory. This is a way for all people, who were both present and not present, to pay their respects to the participants and the victims in World War II.5 In creating the Smithsonian, the Americans initially wanted to reflect deeply upon the occurrences by design...
His design was a Neo-classical plan that followed the classical style of ancient Greece and Rome. He drew a building that consists of two wings that extended north and south of a centural section. A huge cast-iron dome rests on the central section of the building.(World, 196) President Washington was very pleased with Dr. Thorton's plans and he was awarded first prize. Now it was time for Washington to lay the cornerstone on September 18, 1793.(National Park)
With the Pantheon being built over 1700 years ago, it’s amazing that architects are still using features and techniques from this work of architecture in modern creations. The use of this type of classical architecture will continue to be used in works for public space due to its remarkable exterior appearance and it’s long lasting structural durability. When both Jesse hall and the Pantheon are compared it is possible to see their similarities from the types of domes that top each, their external facades, and their interior plan. While they share many similarities, the differences that Bell and Binder used in their creation make this work of architecture unique to many other public spaces.
Items displayed in museums hold historical significance and are representative of society’s culture. Preserving valuable collections for education and enjoyment is a primary role of museums. While fulfilling this role, the architecture of the museum is also an important factor. Historical buildings are converted into museums and architects must consider the use of the space and the museum’s purpose during their initial design. Other museums are built with a clear purpose in mind. As museums are designed, many characteristics are determined. Display and storage spaces as well as visitor services impacts museum’s functionality. Based on the function of a museum, architectural requirements are different.
“In the Cause of Architecture” is an essay written by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1908. In this work, Wright outlines many of his architectural values. This text goes into great detail about the philosophy behind Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture, as well as many important milestones in his life, such as working for Adler and Sullivan. This text is useful because it comes straight from Frank Lloyd Wright himself. It talks about many things important to his role as a notable American, such as his influences for his architecture and his architectural
There is a Romanesque style in the arched windows and the brick walls. The Beaux-Arts tradition is a T-shaped floor plan. The building measures 75 feet in diameter with three wings. The Rotunda’s walls are made of Italian marble and the floors have mosaic tile. The statue in the center of the floor is called “Three Muses.”
In the Florence Cathedral, Florence, Italy, there is a cathedral church whose octagonal dome, built without the aid of scaffolding, was considered the greatest engineering feat of the early Renaissance. Dedicated to Santa Maria del Fiore, Our Lady of the Flower, it is also known as the Duomo, after the Italian word for cathedral. Created by many great Early Modern artists, this piece of architecture is a perfect example the Renaissance style. We can come to a better understanding of why this is so by exploring what the characteristics of the Renaissance “style”. To understand the properties of the Florence Cathedral that fit the Early Modern style, I will begin with a description and its history. The cathedral's architectural style, although greatly influenced by French Gothic elements remained distinctively Florentine, especially the geometric patterns of red, green, and white marble on the building's exterior. Construction of the cathedral began in 1294 on the site of a Christian church founded in the 6th or 7th century and continued until 1436. Several celebrated Italian architects were involved in the project, including Giotto, Arnolfo di Cambio, Andrea Orcagna, and, most notably, Filippo Brunelleschi, who was responsible for designing and building the dome. The cathedral's exterior is ornamented with sculpture and mosaics by Italian artists Donatello, Nanni di Banco, and Domenico Ghirlandaio, among others. The building's stained-glass windows are the work of the Italian architect and artist Lorenzo Ghiberti, and the interior is decorated with sculpture and fresco paintings by several Renaissance masters. Construction of the campanile (bell tower), situated to the right of the entrance to the Duomo, was begun by Giotto and completed according to his plans in 1359, after his death. Nearly 278 ft high, the campanile is embellished with red, green, and white marble panels of relief sculpture by Italian artists Andrea Pisano and Luca della Robbia, and niches with sculpted figures by Donatello and other masters. Facing the cathedral and campanile is a smaller, octagonal structure, the Baptistery of San Giovanni, noted for its gilt-bronze doors, elaborately worked in high relief by Andrea Pisano and Lorenzo Ghiberti. With that background information about the cathedral, one question comes to mind: what is it that makes the Renaissance style distinct? Renaissa...