#2 – (8/28) Mercedes Garcia – Thorncrown Chapel

I’m honestly not too familiar with the history of Thorncrown Chapel but I visited this building less than a year ago and it made an impression on me. Even though there are signs for it on the road, Thorncrown itself seems like it is trying to be illusive. It is very firmly in the forest and it is much smaller than the picture suggests, meaning that if there wasn’t a road leading right up to it you could miss it altogether. The architect of the building must have had the seclusion of the forest in mind while designing this chapel because the thick air of quiet outside is doubly reinforced on the inside. While this space is open to rent (mostly for wedding ceremonies), there are no real services given here. Rather, they are open for private worship. This made being inside the chapel very stifling. There is a lady posted at the door here who is there only to ask you to be quiet (both as you enter and once you inevitably break her one rule). This clashed so much with the feeling of excitement that I felt at having stumbled across this building. Nonetheless, I enjoyed seeing it and this off-putting somberness of the space was probably intended.

#1 – (8/21) Mercedes Garcia – Price Tower

 

 

The Price Tower in Bartlesville, Oklahoma was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1956. It was one of the first buildings I remember seeing that led me to think of architecture as a form of art. Though it is not the most physically compelling piece (namely, it is very short for a skyscraper), some of its finer points are in the details. For instance, the visible green on this skyscraper is actually copper. Wright knew that the copper he chose for the long, vertical (and functional) louvers and accents would eventually age into this green so they were washed prior to construction. On the inside there is a heavy emphasis on triangular shapes, so much so that it can be very disorienting. I was lucky enough to spend a night in the Price Tower now that it has been reconstituted as a hotel and it was like no space I had ever experienced. The Price Tower was a great motivator for my interest in studying architecture.

Blog # 2 Perspolis Tahereh Dinpajooh

This Images belong to Persepolis ( city of Persia) in Shiraz and it has ancient history. Evidence by archaeologist has shown that the city of Persepolis was constructed  in 515 BCE by the Dariush I,the new member of royal, and it was burned and ruined by Alexander the great in 330 BCE.I visited Persepolis with my family four years ago and it had a huge influence on me by looking at every part of it. When I saw this place I was a amazed by the way it was built with rocks and metals without any equipment. I think every part of the Persepolis structures tell you the history of the past and how ancient people lived. By visiting this place I became more interested on ancient history.

more training, Fred Lee wk2

This is the Shoot House.  Soldiers that were deployed overseas spent many hours training in houses just like this one to prepare themselves for different types of urban assault and defense.  The interior sign reads: “A pint of sweat on the training grounds saves a drop of blood on the battlefield”, General George Patton.

Theatre from Summer Camp, Alexandra Bradford wk 2

At Inspiration Point, a camp grounds in Eureka Springs, there is a building like a theatre. However, it is open on its sides, supported by unfinished wood pillars, and the whole structure is built on a downslope so that the highest row in the audience is at the top of the hill. For five summers I went to camp here and performed on this stage in the middle of the spectacular Ozarks mountains and forests. In the audience, you would hear the sounds of the woods in between performances. I thought this building was so cool, and I loved to be outside on the warm summer nights and listen to the least weathered piano they had and the stringed instrumental pieces. It was somewhat secluded and was a beautiful, truly inspiring place.

"Hooah" Fred Lee

Army Boot Camp is the place where my life was changed forever.   The day that I walked through the doors of this place was one of the scariest days of my life.  People were yelling words I had never heard before. The other people that were there with me were from all over the United States and looked very different than the people from my home town. There was one similarity; we all had the same terrified look on our faces.  That day I would not have thought that it would take me 24 years to walk out the door.

Charn Langford 1

Griffith Observatory

Sitting high above Los Angeles on a hill near the Hollywood sign sits this access point to the heavens. Architecturally this building is more made for functionality than as a display of beauty. It's purpose is scientific and educational however, I think architect John C. Austin managed to design a stunning building. In person it is quite impressive, The center dome houses an impressive telescope and the smaller copper rooftop in front of it make it the clear visual focal point of the observatory. The two wings draw the eye towards the two smaller domes which also house telescopes, then the wrapped staircases on the far edges solidify the structure by drawing  you back to the center. The colors are simple yet they compliment the dry coastal mountain area that surrounds the observatory. If ever you find yourself in LA with some time to kill, it is worth the visit.
                                                                                                                    - Charn Langford