Entries Matthew Kennedy

1. State Penitentiary, Richmond VA

The Virginia state penitentiary is located in Richmond Virginia stood from 1796 until 1991. It held thousands of maximum security inmates and spanned around 17 acres. They later added in electric chair within the prison. Architectural speaking there is not much to say except that the building was designed not for aesthetics but for function, which is did perfectly. During its time period it was looked at like Fort Knox impossible to escape and a very scary looking place at that. The design for functionally fitting so many inmates and keep them within is very successful. High vaulted ceilings fits 3 rows of inmates stacked atop one another which gave the guards a view of all the prisoners at one time. It is difficult to find plans and sections of this very odd layout for a prison however the aerial view shows the most information about the design of the architecture. It shows 3 to 4 separate blocks for different levels of security. There also is a wall that surrounds the perimeter and a yard within the cell blocks.

2. NYU Bronx Library

The bronx Library at first glance resembles the pantheon in many ways, primarily the dome on the top that lets light in using a skylight and ancient greek doric columns that surround the structure. From 1894- 1973 it stood atop a hill in the bronx. The most interesting view or aspect of this structure is the round wall of columns that frames the main building within its parameters. It has now been turned into a bronx community college. The building also had a facade at the front which consisted of doric order columns and steps that lead up to the main part of the library. It can also be seen that on the lower level there is also another dome like shape. Personally the section drawing of the NYU library is one of my favorites drawings as it gives so much information about the external but also the internal. I thoroughly enjoyed the detail and the cleanliness. What I mean by that is the armatures from the larger dome on top match that of the smaller internal dome, both supported by columns. I also like the expression of circulation throughout. The dome is a solid which in turn creates a void and space beneath it and a way of organizing the layers and floors.

3. Washington Monument

The washington monument not only located in Washington, DC but also was created and given to and in remembrance of george washington. What many people notice upon first glance is the change in color of limestone. That is because they used limestones from different quarries during different time. While not a building for living it is still a piece of architecture because it has form and creates space. It stands over 500 ft tall in a park and was at one point one of the tallest structures in the world from 1884-1889. The plan and section for the constructions was way before its time and the perfect geometry in the plan is a work of art. All the armatures line up in such a very satisfying way. While it may not look that impressive during the time it was built this was almost state of the art. While studying the sections I've noticed the 3 beams that hold the sides and the top of the triangle in order to hold it in tact.

What I didn't not know before researching is that this is not a habitable space but a public space shown in the section with an observation window at the very top and an elevator shaft and working elevator in the middle that brings you to the top.

4. Palace of Versailles

The palace of versailles built for King Louis XIV in a baroque style of architecture located 20 miles southwest of paris. It had large curved forms, very high domes, complicated shapes and twisted columns. It was designed by an architect by the name of Louis Le Vau. The palace was built for the king from 1624 and finished in 1698. This was one of the best examples of baroque architecture at the time, with its decorative quality and scale is was a beautiful monument to architecture. The palace had many rooms but was built solely for the king and his servants. Since its a baroque style building the front of it you notice many decorations seem to be what is emphasized more than the structure. Consisted of gold ornaments it makes for a beautiful palace fit for well a king. When looking in plan you can clearly see that a very important aspect of the plan is the court that is centered around the other wings. What I like most is the wings and way of circulation in order to get around the palace. Also the way the wings separate importance and have a purpose. One wing is a gallery while the other is an auditorium or opera for the king

5. Pennsylvania Station

Located where Madison Square garden is today, this beautiful building was built in 1910 but sadly was destroyed later in 1963. With very high vaulted ceilings with a pattern similar to the pantheon. It is considered Beaux-arts architecture but resembles ancient greek architecture. The old Penn Station was made of pink granite and its influence was heavily ancient greek doric order style architecture which can be seen with the huge columns that stretch from floor to ceiling that framed the entrance facade. A Facade that very much resembled ancient greek architecture. The waiting room was inspired by the baths of caracalla, which is seen in the large domed like arches. Sadly the only surviving elements are some gargoyles scattered throughout the city. Although a simple square design in plan and section it includes arches which create a huge gathering and waiting space that used to exist within the station.  When looking at the plan versus the section you can also notice a sort of cross like armature.

This center base design not only allows a large amount of space but also creates easy circulation throughout. When looking at the section and elevation you see three clear breaks with the use of arches. These arches not only allows light in but is a mold for the armatures so that the rest may follow. You can see the similarities very well between the elevation and the plans.