Words: 1353
Up to this point my understanding for the history of modern architecture has increased greatly. This paper has given me the chance to compare and contrast different architects and their buildings that have been so much a part of the history of modern architecture. I will be comparing the Crane Memorial Library, by Henry Hobbs Richardson to the Boston Public Library, by Mimic, Mead and White. The next set of architect’s buildings I will be analyzing is Richard Morris Hunts, The Breakers, and Richard M. Upsilon’s Connecticut State Capital.
After that will discuss the similarities and preferences of Frank Lloyd Wrights Robbie House and the Mansion Worth, by Victor Worth. Lastly, I will be discussing the works of two renowned architects from the Chicago School, Louis Sullivan and Dammar Alder. Am comparing a work by Henry Hobbs Richardson with one by Mimic, Mead and White. The work by Richardson that I have chosen is his Crane Memorial Library located in Quince. This was built in the years 1880-1883. The work by Mimic, Mead, and White that I have chosen is the Boston Public Library.
This building is in Boston, and was constructed in the years 1887-1895. The main reason why I thought comparing these two works was a good idea is that they are both libraries. The first thing that stands out in their differences is the size of these buildings. The Boston Public Library is huge and considered the first large metropolitan library in the world. Both of these libraries have tall windows for their respective reading rooms. My preference is to read with natural light from outdoors rather than lamp lighting.
So can understand why libraries would include larger windows where the people would be doing most of their reading. One thing noticed to be more apparent in the Boston Public library was the use of arches. The whole reading room is one colossal coffer barrel vault with arched tall windows surrounding the room filling it with light. There is an arched lobby that includes decorative arches in relation to Renaissance palaces. All of the murals (classical-styled paintings) by John Singer Sergeant were all in arches on the third floor.
The last noticeable abundance of arches is located in the courtyard where 20-foot columns are connecting arches all the way around it. The only arch saw in the original Crane Memorial Library as the large and wide one located in the entrance. This was true until the second addition was made 90 degrees to the right of the original, with an arched entrance with five arched windows across the front of the building. I feel as though these libraries are much different from each other in the idea of American architecture. Have been to the PL in person and can tell you from experience that it is gigantic.
While it may be the larger of the two, like the gray granite with brown sandstone trim design of the Crane Memorial Library better. I also enjoy the polychrome details with the quinine windows. The PL reminds me of a large box, so I don’t appreciate the exterior as much as Richardson Crane Memorial Library. I will be comparing The Breakers by Richard Morris Hunt (which was constructed between 1893 and 1 895) and Connecticut State Capital (which opened in 1 878 but construction was done in the years of 1872 – 1879), which was created by Richard M.
Option. Richard Morris Hunt incorporated a very extravagant look to every room in the house. Even though both of these buildings are extremely intricate with detail, Hunts detailing with 22-carat gold on the ceiling is truly amazing. Hunt had high occult and hectic detail in the walls and ceilings of almost every room in the building. One thing that both of these buildings have is very high ceilings. The exterior of the Connecticut State Capital is made from a mix of marble and granite. The contours and in both structures are very prominent features.
Another similarity of these two buildings is that there is gold on the ceiling of one of Hunts rooms in the Breakers, and the Capital Building has gold on the dome on the top of the structure. Both of these works of art have stained glass windows, which is an amazing touch to the rooms. The Breakers had tapestry that was imported from Europe; the Connecticut State Capital had the colored marble that was imported from Italy. Both structures have European influences and touches to them. Personally, I enjoy the luxury and extravagance of the Breakers.
Frank Lloyd Wright was a respected architect that designed many beautiful homes. He mastered the use of planes and edges to keep everything precise and clean. He combined ideas influenced by Amman structures and Japanese architecture to create his own twist of the two. I appreciate all of his works, but the one I’d like to discuss is the Robbie House, constructed in 1908. On the exterior, this house has stretching horizontal figures classifying it as a prairie style house. Inside, there is a fireplace surrounded by the stairs, which leads to the dining room.
Wrights idea was to have the rooms flow into each other. This idea was inspired by Japanese architecture with open plans and lowered ceilings. An Art Nouveau architect I would like to compare with Frank Lloyd Wright is Victor Worth. Hart’s works oppose Wright’s edgy designs. For example, Hart’s designs have a curving feature that rides through the buildings. It almost seems like here is a planned path for people to follow through them with no right angle edges. The Mansion Worth, designed in 1898, is a work by Victor Worth that would like to compare to Wright’s Robbie House.
This was Hart’s home and is now a museum. This building is fit snug in between other structures, which is different than the open placement of the Robbie house. The ceilings, stairs, walls, corners, and furniture are all curved to fit the overall idea of the house. Noticed the beautiful wood trimming on the walls and parts of the floors perimeter, which contrasts the use of white walls and ceilings nicely. Eke the work of both of these architects but if I had to choose one over the other it would be Victor Hart’s Museum.
The curves, colors, lighting and furniture are the factors convincing me in my decision. The shift from iron-frame to steel- frame construction was a giant step in the stages of development of modern architecture. This idea Of steel-frame construction came from the Chicago area. This idea was developed and carried out by a group of respected and renowned architects also known as the Chicago School. Two of these architects that I found substantially entertaining are Louis Sullivan and Dammar Adler.
There isn’t too much to contrast with these two architects because they worked together on so many great works of arch texture, but the two did have their differences. Louis Sullivan was an innovative architect/ planner who kick started the tall skyscraper design. Sullivan and Adler teamed up for many jobs but my favorite work by these two men is the Auditorium Building located in Chicago, which is now Roosevelt University. It was constructed in 1886-1890. Sullivan brought his ornament style out in this building with plants giving it a more lively feeling.
The auditorium is outstanding with acoustic enhancing arches by Alder, who acted as engineering designer, and ornamental details and finishes by Sullivan. The partnership between these two men was one of the most influential in all of American Architecture. After learning so much about these structures and their architects, my views on architecture have changed for the better. I can see all the intricate detail that went into each structure and the thought that was put into the works. I compared the Crane Memorial Library, by Henry Hobbs Richardson to the Boston public Library, by McCain, Mead and White.