Architecture Archives - Page 44 of 50 - The Molly & Claude Team

Architecture – Chateauesque
(or Chateau Style in Canada)

July 12, 2017 by Claude Jobin

This week lets talk about the Chateauesque or Chateau Style of architecture. A revival style inspired from the French chateaus of the Loire Valley in France. The popular architect of this revival which was popular at the end of the 19th century and the begining of the 20th was Richard Morris Hunt. He was inspired by what he saw in France and brought the style to North America. In this style one can find elements of the Gothic and the Renaissance styles.

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Architects – Thomas Stent & Augustus Laver

July 5, 2017 by Claude Jobin

Today I feature 2 architects, Thomas Stent and Augustus Laver. The architects of the East & West Blocks of Parliament Hill. Centre Block of course gets most of the attention but these two buildings complete the Hill and are certainly of merit.

The East Block, officially the Eastern Department Building is of the Victorian High Gothic Style, otherwise known as neo-gothic or gothic revival. The East block is one of the buildings on the Hill that has the most retained its original character. Remember that it is open for tours during July and August. Construction of the East Block started in 1859.

The West Block officially the Western Department Building is also built in the Victorian High Gothic Style. Construction on it also started in 1859. It is Currently undergoing restoration and preparing to be the new temporary home of the House of Commons Chamber.

Laver also designed the Russell House Hotel (1840-1928). The hotel occupied the location of what we now know as Confederation Square. It was the most glamorous Hotel in Ottawa before the Chateau Laurier was built. Alas when the Chateau opened its doors the Russell House lost its cachet. Sir Wilfrid Laurier lived there for 10 years before moving to Laurier House. Perhaps he had dinner with other visitors – Oscar Wilde, Anna Pavlova, and Lord Stanley: Imagine that. It fell victim of a fire in 1928.

This is a great picture of Russell House and the East Block, and the Centre Block with the Library in the background.

In addition Laver designed the James Flood Mansion in San Francisco. A testament to Layer – it is the only building on Nob Hill to survive the earthquaque and fire of 1906.

Architect – Thomas Fuller

June 28, 2017 by Claude Jobin

Troops deliver a feu de joie on Parliament Hill for the Queen’s Birthday Review in 1868

With the sesquicentennial celebrations in full swing it’s an appropriate time to feature Thomas Fuller. Fuller was born in England in 1823. In 1857 he immigrated to Canada. Two years later his firm, Fuller and Jones was selected by the Governor General Sir Edmund Walker Head to design a Parliament House: the Centre Block. It was to be built in gothic revival, the neo classical style was considered but at the time was rejected as it was too closely associated with American republicanism.

In 1867 he was selected to build the New York State Capital in Albany. Cost overruns had him removed and he returned to Canada, he was hired as Chief Dominion Architect. He held that position from 1881 to 1896. In that capacity he was involved in the design of every Federal Building.

Old Post Office, Galt, Cambridge, Ontario 1886

Architect – Sir Christopher Wren

June 21, 2017 by Claude Jobin

St. Paul’s Cathedral, City of London. Exterior, elevated view from south east.

Christopher Wren, another from the list of top 10 architects of all times. He was born in 1632 in Wiltshire, he studied latin and the works of Aristotle at Oxford. Then science and mathematics.

He became one of the most celebrated English architects after the Great Fire of London in 1666. Among other structures he helped rebuild 52 churches. His masterpiece is St Paul`s Cathedral.

The Monument to the Great Fire of London was constructed between 1971-76

The Royal Observatory was commissioned by King Chares II in 1675

In the late late 17th century the Wren Library was added to Trinity College

Between 1689 and 1700 Wren was called upon to draw plans to expand Hampton Court. It was to be modernized and inspiration was found in France by Mansart and Le Vau`s work on Versaille.

In 1682 Wren worked on the Royal Hospital Chelsea

Between 1685 and 1687 his attention turned to Whitehall.

Architecture
Art Deco – Ottawa – Part 1

June 14, 2017 by Claude Jobin

Art Deco! My favourite architecture style! OK an all round favourite.

Partly inspired by the 1922 discovery of King Tut. It got its name from Arts Décoratifs, from the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes held in Paris in 1925.

Characterized by typically decorated buildings. Bas- reliefs, geometric designs, favouring the half circles and the chevrons as well as stylized flowers. It represented luxury and glamour.

Though it appeared before World War I in 1903-04 – it became more popular in the 20s. Oddly enough there are details on the Eiffel Tower built in in 1887 that are SO Art Deco! After the depression it became more subdued and finally lost it’s strength after World War II.

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Architect – Michelangelo
di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni

June 7, 2017 by Claude Jobin

When we think of Michelangelo we think of his David, la Pietà, the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, but we don’t immediately think architecture! But when I googled most famous architects there he is in the top 10.

Construction on the Laurentian Libray began in 1525. This library which houses over 11,000 manuscripts and 4,500 books was commissioned by the Medici and pope Clement VII. One of its purposes was to demonstrate that thee Medici’s were no longer merchants but members of the intellect. Slight plug for Netflix, if you haven`t seen Medici: Masters of Florence consider watching it – quite nicely done series.

Michelangelo designed this vestibule which features columns, recessed niches, and a staircase whose steps it is said flow down as if made of lava.

Laurentian Library Florence / Vestibule & Staircase

He designed the upper storey of the Farnese Palace including its impressive cornice.

In 1546 he designed the complex pavement of the Campidoglio.

1547 he was tasked with completing the dome of St.Peter’s Basilica. Such as it was with buildings of this magnitude they are started with one architect and finished by another. Michelangelo designed the dome, and after his death one of his pupil’s finished it. Its design is such that it has been used as a model for other domes: Saint Paul’s in London, Les Invalides in Paris, and the Capitol building in Washington.

Architect – Zaha Hadid

May 31, 2017 by Claude Jobin

As I continue to edit this post I’m having a bit of a surreal moment. Last night chose to feature Zaha Hadid, I drafted the post last night and this morning wanting to add a bit to it I open a new tab only to find that Zaha Hadid is the google doodle of the day. Ohhh!

That being said, Dame Zaha Mohammad Hadid was an Iraqi-born British architect. She died last year – and what a loss, her buildings are spectacular.

She was described as the queen of the curve. A professor at the Architectural Association School of Architecture described her as “a planet in her own orbit” Hadid was the first woman to win the RIBA Gold Medal. Her work has been classified into the style of deconstructivism.

The Maggie’s Centres are drop-in centres across the United Kingdom and Hong Kong which help anyone affected by cancer.

Finally a short video featuring Dame Hadid and her work.

Happy Ramadan – رمضان سعيد

May 27, 2017 by Claude Jobin

May the spirit of Ramadan Illuminate the world and show us the way to peace and harmony.

Enjoy this tour of some of the most beautiful mosques in the world.

Architect – Louis Sullivan

May 24, 2017 by Claude Jobin

Staying with the Chicago School of Architecture this week let’s explore one of it’s architect: Louis Sullivan.

Though there were at least nine prominent architects associated with the style – Louis Sullivan was the most prolific. In fact going back to the Daly Building I remember first hearing it was in the style of Louis Sullivan as opposed to saying it was in the Chicago School Architecture. I suppose in reality both statements are true.

Louis Sullivan was the mentor to Frank Lloyd Wright – if that were his only claim to fame it would be a good one.

He was born in 1856 of a Swiss-born mother and Irish-born father, he coined the phrase “Form follows function”

Prior to the late nineteenth century exterior walls were load bearing. Then came steel structures “column-frame” and the ability to go up was enabled. Though other architects had built tall buildings Sullivan became known as the father of of Skyscrappers.

Also known as the father of modernism being of the Victorian Era embellishments were added to his buildings sometimes in the Art Nouveau style sometimes in the Celtic Revival style (we’ll have to explore that sometime soon (Molly will like that))