tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53347960085394695392024-03-13T14:21:36.304-07:00A Place in RichmondSpaces and Sights That Can't Be Experienced From a CarMark Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16609885345614942855noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334796008539469539.post-42766561441260719982011-05-15T17:57:00.000-07:002011-05-15T18:14:43.924-07:00Community Spaces in the Fan<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">One of <city w:st="on">Richmond</city>’s urban treasures is the Fan district, located just west of <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Virginia</placename> <placename w:st="on">Commonwealth</placename> <placetype w:st="on">University</placetype></place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Except for a few rental properties, the Fan is remarkably intact and holds its ground against the rapid expansion of the university.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of the properties within a block of the campus are beautifully restored 130 year-old private homes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">What most distinguishes the Fan from other <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Richmond</place></city> neighborhoods is the density and character of the row-houses, the happy sprinkling of retail and restaurants, and the public sidewalks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a pedestrian-oriented neighborhood where people know most of their neighbors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G96uA5Sci6Q/TdB07NEJORI/AAAAAAAAAvA/3qnLbwrm2bM/s1600/DSC04431.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" j8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G96uA5Sci6Q/TdB07NEJORI/AAAAAAAAAvA/3qnLbwrm2bM/s320/DSC04431.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">There are all types of people who live in the district but most seem to share a passion for community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An example is the Strawberry Street Festival which was held last weekend to benefit Fox Elementary – the public grade school in the middle of the Fan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is an annual neighborhood gathering on the school yard which draws about a thousand people during the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Most <city w:st="on">Richmonders</city> know that the Fan district gets its name from the way the streets “fan” out along <place w:st="on">Park Avenue</place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This shift actually starts at the Cathedral that sits in a triangular plot bounded by Park & Floyd Avenues at <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Monroe</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Park</placetype></place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From this point, new streets seem to spin off at a slight angle as <place w:st="on">Park Avenue</place> heads northwest.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Small triangular parks are formed each time a new street begins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grove Avenue</span><br />
</street><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">begins at VCU and the park is now absorbed within the VCU Academic campus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other triangular parks start Hanover and Stuart Avenues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These small parks are public areas and mark important cross-streets within the district.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tuARU9AbPLY/TdB1AZ3uLpI/AAAAAAAAAvE/PTwO2mt_tP4/s1600/DSC04429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214px" j8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tuARU9AbPLY/TdB1AZ3uLpI/AAAAAAAAAvE/PTwO2mt_tP4/s320/DSC04429.JPG" width="320px" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The shift then makes an interesting change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of spinning off another triangular park, a large block was created and the new street (Kensington) starts mid-block.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The size of each building lot remains similar to the rest of the Fan - leaving a large center area of the block for public space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unlike the triangle parks that are bounded on all sides by busy roads, “<place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Scuffletown</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Park</placetype></place>” as it is called - is buried in the center of the block.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bVSb9VsgeuM/TdB1DRrM5tI/AAAAAAAAAvI/udygPEZE9T0/s1600/DSC04427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; height: 120px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; width: 193px;"><img border="0" height="133px" j8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bVSb9VsgeuM/TdB1DRrM5tI/AAAAAAAAAvI/udygPEZE9T0/s200/DSC04427.JPG" width="200px" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Evolving over the years, this little place is now a great escape for anyone who knows how to find it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Short walls and paved surfaces define it from the alley on one end. It is nicely landscaped and a few of its neighbors have placed gardens facing it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The best way to find it is to <u>walk</u> into the alley at the end of Kensington Avenue or across the street from the Strawberry Street Café. </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eb5PzWtaVbA/TdB1Go-ikhI/AAAAAAAAAvM/myYJWRw7_Fc/s1600/DSC04428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212px" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eb5PzWtaVbA/TdB1Go-ikhI/AAAAAAAAAvM/myYJWRw7_Fc/s320/DSC04428.JPG" width="320px" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">There are a few other blocks within the Fan that pay attention to the alley and make it a special place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This one is certainly my favorite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>Mark Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16609885345614942855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334796008539469539.post-31501566296332731052011-04-07T07:31:00.000-07:002011-04-07T10:22:04.129-07:00Egyptian Building at the VCU Medical Center<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oR8UWZf1bJc/TZ24GK7_m8I/AAAAAAAAAus/H4WJuPVhB3g/s1600/DSC04238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oR8UWZf1bJc/TZ24GK7_m8I/AAAAAAAAAus/H4WJuPVhB3g/s320/DSC04238.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The VCU Medical Center is the new name for what most people call MCV or the Medical College of Virginia. As it continues to grow, the campus weaves it way around a collection of very historic structures. Five are particularly notable: Monumental Church, old First Baptist Church, old First African Baptist Church, the Egyptian Building, and the White House of the Confederacy. The first four of this group have been absorbed into the campus and hold their own against the scale of their large neighbors.</span></div></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n74nxq9IMH4/TZ3N0S7lKLI/AAAAAAAAAu0/k2-ha9L90jE/s1600/DSC04235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n74nxq9IMH4/TZ3N0S7lKLI/AAAAAAAAAu0/k2-ha9L90jE/s200/DSC04235.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The White House sits very uncomfortably on a block with two high-rise bed towers and the emergency entrance wraps around it. Its companion and architecturally modern Museum of the Confederacy is almost consumed by the main hospital. The scale difference is more than uncomfortable and the zero lot line is taken literally - there is one inch between these two structures.</span></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mDgVSo1rKjM/TZ236kJbC2I/AAAAAAAAAuk/zk1XPwT-5f0/s1600/DSC04231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mDgVSo1rKjM/TZ236kJbC2I/AAAAAAAAAuk/zk1XPwT-5f0/s200/DSC04231.JPG" width="96" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana;">A welcome contrast to that clash of neighbors is the courtyard between the Medical Sciences building and the Egyptian building - the early home of the medical college. This small three-sided courtyard was created at the time of the Medical Science building's construction and includes a doorway remnant from the old Saint Philip Hospital. The hospital's original columns and entablature can be found just inside that building.</span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">One of the most clever and respectful designs I've seen in Richmond is the facade of Medical Science Building. I am told that Eddie Smith of Richmond was the design Architect. The building is very modern, but several of its elements hint to its Egyptian Revival neighbor: the columns at the base, the slight inward cant at the corners, and the multi-story relief of a pyramid and sun. </span></div></div></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EoQvv5VOR1c/TZ3oPeT3rAI/AAAAAAAAAu8/XjKFvxirDsc/s1600/DSC04188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EoQvv5VOR1c/TZ3oPeT3rAI/AAAAAAAAAu8/XjKFvxirDsc/s200/DSC04188.JPG" width="133" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EXeimRnQ8fE/TZ3PpF_plMI/AAAAAAAAAu4/V7Z-LzRwhrQ/s1600/DSC04239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Few architects have the skill to create a modern structure in a historic context. Most designers would clumsily mimic details of such an iconic neighbor (or) cower from the challenge and ignore the building altogether. </span></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">In Europe, Architects seem to have less trouble understanding how to respect an old neighbor while building something new and relevant for today. Their cities are ancient in comparison to those in the US. You will find countless examples of new and old structures comfortably side-by-side.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9OlT4mhf3ZQ/TZ24I20zoNI/AAAAAAAAAuw/uDiT9pEnsBk/s1600/DSC04224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9OlT4mhf3ZQ/TZ24I20zoNI/AAAAAAAAAuw/uDiT9pEnsBk/s320/DSC04224.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The Egyptian Building is the focus of the square and was designed by Philidelphia architect Thomas W. Stewart in 1844. The exterior has changed little since its original construction. A year later Stewart is credited with the design of St. Paul's Episcopal Church - across from Capitol Square. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WxpefKXNsWE/TZ239HBZTmI/AAAAAAAAAuo/-Z8_qYxXWrA/s1600/DSC04226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WxpefKXNsWE/TZ239HBZTmI/AAAAAAAAAuo/-Z8_qYxXWrA/s200/DSC04226.JPG" width="121" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana;">In 1939, Baskervill extensively redesigned the interior of the Egyptian building, carrying the exterior theme inside. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The sloped auditorium space was once a surgical theater where students could watch procedures. Today it is used for classroom space. A few offices and locker rooms are upstairs. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The inside details include hieroglyphics, colorful coffered ceilings, and a stone scarab beetle in the floor. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">If you check out this place, be ready to walk a few blocks. The MCV campus is one of the most active places in Richmond.</span></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div>Mark Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16609885345614942855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334796008539469539.post-9217346970423641842011-03-28T21:39:00.000-07:002011-03-28T22:27:03.965-07:00Old City Hall<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q99fynF82ZM/TZFYprWJGuI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/Qfaw3FZGykI/s1600/DSC04129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; height: 251px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; width: 343px;"><img border="0" height="248" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q99fynF82ZM/TZFYprWJGuI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/Qfaw3FZGykI/s320/DSC04129.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My choice for the award for "most ornate building in Richmond" goes to the Old City Hall at 10th and Broad Street. The excess of the Victorian Gothic exterior is surpassed only by the colorful painted arches and columns on the building's interior.</span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Built in the late 1800's, the structure occupies a very special place in downtown - facing the back side of Jefferson's Capitol grounds. It was retired from its original use when the new modern city hall was built in the 70's and is now used for general office space.</span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-drFrYNkv-jQ/TZFjEOrrzJI/AAAAAAAAAuU/a9Se02N1d0c/s1600/DSC04123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-drFrYNkv-jQ/TZFjEOrrzJI/AAAAAAAAAuU/a9Se02N1d0c/s200/DSC04123.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana;">My earlier comments poke a bit of fun at the exuberance of the design but it accurately reflects the architectural attitude of the country at that time. <span style="font-family: Verdana;">I have to admit it is one of my favorite buildings in Richmond. </span>What is truly amazing to me is that it was initiated little </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">more than ten years after the end of the Civil War. </span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lsVXCLNy98M/TZFjIOhhS4I/AAAAAAAAAuY/1CV3U9yclwI/s1600/DSC04125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lsVXCLNy98M/TZFjIOhhS4I/AAAAAAAAAuY/1CV3U9yclwI/s200/DSC04125.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The exterior is made of locally-quarried gray granite from near the James River. The Pump House in Byrd Park uses the same stone and has a matching style. Being void of color makes each elevation a study of light and shadow. The only color on the exterior is the greenish copper trim along the roof.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n0L0_fFcsLU/TZFjPOOAb4I/AAAAAAAAAug/rEa0PA8KyW0/s1600/DSC04127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n0L0_fFcsLU/TZFjPOOAb4I/AAAAAAAAAug/rEa0PA8KyW0/s200/DSC04127.JPG" width="153" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is hard to describe the interior so I'll leave that to photographs. What is particularly interesting to me is the skylit atrium in the center. The floor of the atrium is made of suspended glass block which extends the light to the basement level. The interior was originally lit by gas lamps and the original radiators are still in operation.</span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The National Park Service has a very good write up on the history of the building found here: </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/richmond/OldCityHall.html">http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/richmond/OldCityHall.html</a></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4dktkInsEyc/TZFjMO2ErRI/AAAAAAAAAuc/DS2fbrRJI4E/s1600/DSC04126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4dktkInsEyc/TZFjMO2ErRI/AAAAAAAAAuc/DS2fbrRJI4E/s200/DSC04126.JPG" width="108" /></a></div>Mark Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16609885345614942855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334796008539469539.post-65841224456681876162011-03-20T15:34:00.000-07:002011-03-21T04:38:13.346-07:00Virginia War Memorial<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-TC6LY1No67Y/TYaBirEVebI/AAAAAAAAAuI/gQFBGWk3vuA/s1600/DSC04056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" r6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-TC6LY1No67Y/TYaBirEVebI/AAAAAAAAAuI/gQFBGWk3vuA/s320/DSC04056.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For the past 8 years, I’ve led an Explorer post for high school youth interested in Architecture and Interior Design. Baskervill supports this educational program as part of our community outreach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are a series of eight meetings during the winter and spring which allow the students to peek into the design world and see if they want to pursue design as their education and career.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our sessions do this in a variety of ways: visual presentations on topics, hands-on projects, feedback, and tours of special places.</span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The tours included visits to finished buildings, those under construction, or a walking tour of a special Richmond</place></city> district – to see how urban design can make a difference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the past, we’ve walked down Monument Avenue, from Shockoe Bottom to MCV, and around one of my New Urban neighborhoods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year I chose to loop around the western section of the downtown riverfront and end at the Virginia War Memorial.</span></span> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QnTXIUhuTb0/TYaBU8P5LBI/AAAAAAAAAuA/_uO9CZbbOc0/s1600/DSC04062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" r6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QnTXIUhuTb0/TYaBU8P5LBI/AAAAAAAAAuA/_uO9CZbbOc0/s320/DSC04062.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The tour began at the War Memorial to give a panoramic view of downtown and to juxtapose the old and new.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I gave them renderings from the early 1800's that shows this particular view. There are only a few things remaining that provide a point of reference. We walked along the remnents of the old grown-over canal and the new one too. They were able to see the glassy new MWV building next to the heavy brick Tredegar Iron Works. Finally, we walked out over the bridge on Brown's Island to see the old and new bridge piers mark the river and the wildlife that lives all around. </span>Our walk ended back up the hill at the memorial where Melissa Vaughan of Glave Holmes explained the meaning and design behind the memorial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-dlqU5MjJMpo/TYaBgSuxzmI/AAAAAAAAAuE/ApMq56-il4Q/s1600/DSC04065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-dlqU5MjJMpo/TYaBgSuxzmI/AAAAAAAAAuE/ApMq56-il4Q/s320/DSC04065.JPG" width="229" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The original memorial was designed by architect S. J. Collins of <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Stanton</city>, <state w:st="on">VA.</state></place><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was completed in 1955 and dedicated the following year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The latest addition, an education center opened last year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is dedicated to Paul and Phyllis Galanti.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paul was a <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">Vietnam</country-region></place> prisoner of war for over 6 years and has been a very visible veteran in the Richmond area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The memorial is very simple and formal in appearance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a single linear space with a massive limestone statue and eternal flame at the south end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The roof is very thin and lightens the apparent mass of the entire structure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The east end is a uniform row of rectangular columns and was later enclosed with etched glass panels of the <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Vietnam</place></country-region> dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The west side is a wall with the interior face holding the names of the WWII and Korean dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This new wing does not touch the old and sits lower than the original memorial – respecting the importance of the original structure. The stones are different but their colors are similar.</span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-pn99LcQfweE/TYaBnk1P_LI/AAAAAAAAAuM/vc_JyWKigbA/s1600/DSC04067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" r6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-pn99LcQfweE/TYaBnk1P_LI/AAAAAAAAAuM/vc_JyWKigbA/s200/DSC04067.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When inside the memorial space, you hear the muffled traffic on Belvidere Street outside but feel apart from it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The view is directed away from the street to the vista of downtown and the river.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The new amphitheatre sits out of site from the memorial level and is oriented for this same view.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Inside the education center are exhibit areas, a theater, and multi-purpose spaces. Appropriately, there is little drama with the architecture; the focus is on the exhibits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lower level connects underground to the back of the amphitheater.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zDG3QGoGTEM/TYaAgScFpvI/AAAAAAAAAt8/oS7gn06tFh8/s1600/DSC04064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" r6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zDG3QGoGTEM/TYaAgScFpvI/AAAAAAAAAt8/oS7gn06tFh8/s320/DSC04064.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is my hope that the young people in the Explorer group better understand that a project with a strong idea and thoughtful design can quietly inspire. Architecture should yield the focus to the structure's people and purpose.</span></span></div></div>Mark Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16609885345614942855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334796008539469539.post-14939102061340315382011-03-15T22:04:00.000-07:002011-03-18T12:44:06.113-07:00Monumental Church<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Dq4UQ-RgGGI/TYBHJaTvytI/AAAAAAAAAtk/D08e_ZzXnds/s1600/BHC+040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" q6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Dq4UQ-RgGGI/TYBHJaTvytI/AAAAAAAAAtk/D08e_ZzXnds/s320/BHC+040.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">One of the truly extraordinary structures in Richmond is Robert Mill’s Monumental Church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is amazingly simple in concept - an octagon topped with a dome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This simplicity is appropriate for the solemn purpose of its existence, to memorialize the victims of a horrific theater fire on the day after Christmas 1811.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">There are many news accounts about the fire which started back stage and within ten minutes consumed the entire building, killing 72 people including many prominent Richmond citizens including the sitting Virginia Governor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The victims were so consumed that their ashes were entombed at the site in a brick crypt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-nytEM-BlK-k/TYBHldJLvpI/AAAAAAAAAto/1oVStlE2iPw/s1600/BHC+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" q6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-nytEM-BlK-k/TYBHldJLvpI/AAAAAAAAAto/1oVStlE2iPw/s200/BHC+005.jpg" width="147" /></a><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-eVJd_sHF-CM/TYBENE4MB7I/AAAAAAAAAtU/qrjDZ0q1lVA/s1600/BHC+045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">An interesting side-story mentions slave and blacksmith Gilbert Hunt running to the fire and catching people as they were dropped from the first floor windows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is reported that he later fought in the war of 1812 and eventually bought his freedom for $800.</span></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Needing to memorialize the victims of the fire, Chief Justice and Richmond citizen John Marshall led a group to raise money to build a church over the site of the destroyed theater.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pews purchased by citizens raised the necessary funds for construction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The designated pew of Chief Justice Marshall is the second box on the left side of the center aisle.</span></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">One of the first American-born Architects, Robert Mills won the design competition for the project which was completed near the end of 1814.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mills studied with Thomas Jefferson and James Hoban before working for Benjamin Latrobe as the Capitol was being erected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is most famous for the design of the Washington Monument.</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Ukms9uokhJ4/TYBGnq_VS1I/AAAAAAAAAtg/OPTscyQccUk/s1600/BHC+031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" q6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Ukms9uokhJ4/TYBGnq_VS1I/AAAAAAAAAtg/OPTscyQccUk/s400/BHC+031.jpg" width="280" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The original design had a few features that were never built.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The largest omission was the ornate tower over the back section.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A heavy brick structure was built to carry the tower’s weight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This part of the design now seems an odd contrast to the rest of the design.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was also to be a series of figures over the portico.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This portico is open on three sides and focuses on the podium and urn which carries the names of all fire victims.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Access is controlled by Historic Richmond Foundation which maintains the building and gives tours by appointment. Old buildings and particularly the tucked-away spaces can reveal much about the design thought and inventiveness of the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Architects who enjoy old buildings are archeologists at heart and try to get into the mind of the designer. They try to figure out what is original and what may have been changed.</span></span></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The building is entered through the front portico into the tall main space that has a shallow balcony wrapping ¾ of the volume – but quickly went through the small door panel into the back and down into the foundation space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This arched space encloses the brick crypt of the fire victims.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-imMtTsHxe0k/TYBFu0NOigI/AAAAAAAAAtc/ACgRphZJ3dQ/s1600/BHC+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" q6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-imMtTsHxe0k/TYBFu0NOigI/AAAAAAAAAtc/ACgRphZJ3dQ/s200/BHC+017.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Going up several flights of stairs, the back side of the half-domed alter is visible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One more flight takes you up to the access panel to the copper dome roof and lantern.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This lantern is centered over the crossing aisles below and brings natural light into the whole space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a series of steps up to the lantern built into the back side of the dome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Twenty-eight years ago, I rendered an ink-on-Mylar drawing of the framing of this dome for a historian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I recall, the framing is a series of trusses from the outer walls to the compression ring under the oculus and lantern windows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The curve of the dome takes the stresses from the center to the heavy masonry walls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be interesting to see the early 18<sup>th</sup>-century construction technology used to build this form.</span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-420eal40FtE/TYBIHZ4w1QI/AAAAAAAAAts/_ZLWwn1_Qsc/s1600/BHC+029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" q6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-420eal40FtE/TYBIHZ4w1QI/AAAAAAAAAts/_ZLWwn1_Qsc/s200/BHC+029.jpg" width="150" /></a> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The main space appears larger than expected from the outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The exterior porticos, tall doors, and windows do a good job disguising the true size of the underlying octagonal volume.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The main sanctuary space is quite simple in organization with a raised alter on the north and dual cantilevered stairs to the balconies in rooms on the east and west sides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pair of doors at the top is unlike any I’ve seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each pair swings into the main space off of a standard hinge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However there is a second hinge (an inch into the door) that allows each inner panel to be pushed back into the stair – an early design of panic hardware that allows doors to also swing into the direction of travel.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--wU0Mw9C5Ww/TYBFIbDr03I/AAAAAAAAAtY/ZEwWgmiN2Fw/s1600/BHC+034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">What is also quite clever about these doors is a simple metal rod on the backside of this second hinge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When opened, the rod is stressed putting a slight resistance on the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After letting go, this rod pushes the door closed – an early design of a door closer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These doors and hardware items were an obvious response to the concern for fire safety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During his career, Mills became well-known for his design of fire-safe structures.</span></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-KJRQQu_oSKM/TYOhbqIUwqI/AAAAAAAAAt4/H7IowFJcsFo/s1600/BHC+026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-KJRQQu_oSKM/TYOhbqIUwqI/AAAAAAAAAt4/H7IowFJcsFo/s320/BHC+026.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Since 1965, Monumental Church no longer holds an active congregation but is a treasure of great historic and architectural importance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being 200 years old, it is in amazing shape considering that virtually all of the building and carpentry is original.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I strongly recommend you read the accounts of the fire before going to add a sense of reverence to the visit.</span></div></div></div></div>Mark Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16609885345614942855noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334796008539469539.post-8966507420071868492011-03-04T14:40:00.000-08:002011-03-05T19:00:27.694-08:00Shockoe Hill Cemetery<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-bBvwPior-i8/TXLtUdbYYrI/AAAAAAAAAtA/sFLytb-ZOAw/s1600/DSC03966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" l6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-bBvwPior-i8/TXLtUdbYYrI/AAAAAAAAAtA/sFLytb-ZOAw/s320/DSC03966.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Richard A. Etlin was one of my architectural history professors at <state w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Kentucky</place></state>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being in the midst of writing a book, much of his research ended up in our curriculum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The book would later be titled “The Architecture of Death”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those two semesters his students were confronted with images of Claude LeDoux and Etienne-Louis Boullee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These two late-18<sup>th</sup> century French Architects were exploring funerary design.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Along with mausoleums and other architectural forms, they were re-thinking how cemeteries could be used as thoughtful public park land.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_uZ4YCVBLG8/TXLtYc0XdII/AAAAAAAAAtE/whXymadlpVk/s1600/DSC03973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_uZ4YCVBLG8/TXLtYc0XdII/AAAAAAAAAtE/whXymadlpVk/s320/DSC03973.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I don’t know if this movement ever made its way to <city w:st="on">Richmond</city>, but there are (to my eye) some connections in three notable cemeteries of that time period: <city w:st="on">St. John’s</city>, <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Hollywood</city></place>, and Shockoe Hill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Hollywood</city></place> is the most scenic and famous as a resting place for presidents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">St. John’s</place></city> is the oldest and historic due to the “Liberty-or-Death” speech given by Patrick Henry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The least known of these is Shockoe Hill which began in 1822 when the church yard at <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">St. John’s</place></city> was at capacity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The most famous “resident” of Shockoe Hill is John Marshall who shaped the early Supreme Court into the equal third branch of our federal government.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other notables are buried there; names that locals would instantly recognize: Mayo and Foushee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">A separate Hebrew cemetery was created across Hospital Street from the main grounds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This one is dense and more scenic with a rolling topography.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may seem a strange comparison, but both parts of Shockoe Hill are almost urban.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The language I would use to describe urban design fits well in describing a cemetery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-5N8rrTP7-4o/TXLtrgKEJ0I/AAAAAAAAAtM/UWoSkTI5Vvk/s1600/DSC03977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" l6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-5N8rrTP7-4o/TXLtrgKEJ0I/AAAAAAAAAtM/UWoSkTI5Vvk/s200/DSC03977.JPG" width="133" /></a>There is a formal plan that defines pathways and districts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These paths are paved grids and pastoral trails.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Walls surround the grounds, separating the landscape from the street and some of the traffic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are fences and raised plots that define boundaries and trees that also create canopy and enclosure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Monuments take many expressive forms, showing personality and era – much like indigenous architecture does.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some monuments are literal portals or gateways – a subtle reference to the hereafter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Others have showy personalities while others are humble stone markers in the ground.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">In a cemetery this old, it is easier to think about it in a historical context – unlike newer ones in the suburbs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The character and form of the old brick walls always attracted my eye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is also curious that the wall is at a fairly constant level as seen from the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">inside</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When viewed from the surrounding streets, the brick wall ranges from as low as 4 feet to over 20 feet in height.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> G</span>ated portals face each street including one on 4th that appears to once have been a staired entry. The "ghost" of that missing stair is imprinted on the brick and a bricked-up arch is below. A little research at the Valentine museum would probably reveal what was once there.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ntVqoZcLMCY/TXLtcTsryfI/AAAAAAAAAtI/x6zhutohD7k/s1600/DSC03979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" l6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ntVqoZcLMCY/TXLtcTsryfI/AAAAAAAAAtI/x6zhutohD7k/s200/DSC03979.JPG" width="136" /></a>This cemetery partially surrounds one elegant building constructed 150 years ago – the Shockoe Hill Almshouse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This structure was originally a place to house and care for the poor of <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Richmond</city></place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the Civil War, it was converted into a Confederate hospital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Draw your own conclusions about the choice of locations for these uses. </span>Most famously, it can be seen in a Matthew Brady image of that era.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cemetery is visible in the photo's foreground. </div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I have some personal work-history with this building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1983, I was part of the design team that converted the unused building into affordable senior housing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is still being used for that purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2EawO-g9fD4/TXLt3H0cXxI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/MWIFlgGt6fA/s1600/DSC03969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2EawO-g9fD4/TXLt3H0cXxI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/MWIFlgGt6fA/s320/DSC03969.JPG" width="214" /></a> <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Today, a cemetery is seldom considered to be a desirable neighbor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Shockoe Hill was cut off from the public consciousness when</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Interstate 95 was carved around it on two sides - separating it from the business district.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A public housing project was placed on another side along with the renovated senior housing project mentioned earlier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The grounds are well cared for but it’s sad to see this little place of history get so little respect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
Take some time to walk around one sunny day.</div></div></div>Mark Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16609885345614942855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334796008539469539.post-49708945002447769112011-02-20T13:46:00.000-08:002011-02-20T14:58:27.084-08:00Main Street Station<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k11tfBaXLdg/TWGTUqC4lBI/AAAAAAAAAsg/CMeDdne2JUY/s1600/DSC03938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" j6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k11tfBaXLdg/TWGTUqC4lBI/AAAAAAAAAsg/CMeDdne2JUY/s400/DSC03938.JPG" width="318" /></a>Jefferson's capitol in downtown is perhaps the most historic and studied piece of architecture in Richmond. It was built upon a hill overlooking the James River to its south but is now surrounded by taller buildings on all sides. That classic view from and to the Capitol is now gone.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The building most recognized by those who don't live in Richmond is <em>"that train station with a clock tower".</em> Being less than 20 feet from Interstate 95 makes Main Street Station hard to miss.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">When I moved to Richmond shortly after college in 1981, the station was closed and a hangout for the homeless. In fact, most of Shockoe Bottom could be described that way. The architectural office I went to work for (SWA) was located diagonally from the Farmer's Market and less than a block from the station. My memory is that the only <em>legal</em> businesses in that area were Domino's Dog House, Loving's Produce, Main Street Grill, and SWA.<br />
<br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WGmW5JDOCwg/TWGWuPaM0bI/AAAAAAAAAs0/YKTsazxInks/s1600/DSC03942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" j6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WGmW5JDOCwg/TWGWuPaM0bI/AAAAAAAAAs0/YKTsazxInks/s320/DSC03942.JPG" width="320" /></a>The area held so much promise and the Station seemed the key to any redevelopment of the area. The development arm of SWA planned to turn the structure into a retail center like Harbor Place in Baltimore and Faniel Hall in Boston. With the influx of new traffic drawn to this center, the entire area would become a hotspot for other businesses. At least, that was the plan.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">One of the highlights of that time was exploring the empty Station one day with a co-worker. The journey began by going up the dozen steps from Main Street to the downstairs lobby. From that point, you can get directly to the platform by going up the long, straight stairs on the west side. Most travelers preferred the more elegant path, up the wide switch-back stairs on the east side. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The main hall at the top was filled with tall classical columns and light poured through the Romanesque arches. The front balcony is off the main hall and quite spectacular. The view is no longer grand as when the Station was built, now looking onto the tangle of elevated roads and ramps that cut diagonally in front. </div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lFmeh9aOVjQ/TWGTi3qpu_I/AAAAAAAAAso/xjgSFznKjWM/s1600/DSC03944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lFmeh9aOVjQ/TWGTi3qpu_I/AAAAAAAAAso/xjgSFznKjWM/s320/DSC03944.JPG" width="212" /></a> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
Passing through the main hall, we entered the waiting area by the massive metal shed and elevated platform. This incredible open space of the shed had deteriorated badly. Unfortunately, the space can no longer be appreciated as it was designed. Later renovation enclosed the perimeter with metal panels.</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The next part of our exploration took us up two more sets of stairs to the upper floor and then into the attic with all the small dormers on the sloped roof. At the corner of the attic was a door leading to the shaft of the clock tower. To go further required us to climb around 20+ feet up a metal ladder to the next level. Arriving at the top, we were surrounded by the clock tower doors. </div></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Opening the door was one of the surreal experiences of my life. We had just climbed up so many steps to the top of the building - to find cars passing by right outside. I knew the interstate was there, but lost in the journey through the Station had become detached from the outside world. The noise of the traffic and the crudeness of how close the interstate was to the building was disturbing.</div></div></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xn12xBsgpoM/TWGW4E_MPyI/AAAAAAAAAs8/md0g85qy9pg/s1600/Waiting+Area.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; height: 200px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; width: 142px;"><img border="0" height="200" j6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xn12xBsgpoM/TWGW4E_MPyI/AAAAAAAAAs8/md0g85qy9pg/s200/Waiting+Area.JPG" width="131" /></a>Two years went by and money tightened. The scale of the retail concept diminished into an outlet mall. Then came the fire. I remember seeing the news flash of fire leaping from the roof on television and thinking that my job was disappearing with that fire<em>.</em> Our company's fortunes were very closely tied to the Station redevelopment. </div></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The fire burned the roof off but forced the hand of the developers. It jump-started our design work; redevelopment would happen now or never. I worked on the railing design but was not happy with the developer's concept and dreaded the prospect of one more year of restoration work. As a young intern interested in conceptual design, I wanted a different challenge and left a month later.</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Redevelopment into the retail mall did take place but failed after a couple years. Fortunately, the burned headhouse roof was rebuilt during that phase and remains substantially as designed 100 years ago. The State of Virginia took over the mall space under the train shed and converted it into offices. Subsequent renovation took the head house back to a working train stop, though not the primary one for Richmond. The main lobby areas are open to the public and beautifully restored. It is always a joy to visit but needs more people to make it alive again.</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P75stTSHwS0/TWGTSSNUZpI/AAAAAAAAAsc/qiBbzCwJVgg/s1600/DSC03959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" j6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P75stTSHwS0/TWGTSSNUZpI/AAAAAAAAAsc/qiBbzCwJVgg/s200/DSC03959.JPG" width="143" /></a>Time will tell if the current plans to convert the Station into the City's transportation hub will take place. I'd very much like to see that happen.</div></div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Mark Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16609885345614942855noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334796008539469539.post-89279718097914600322011-02-14T21:02:00.000-08:002011-02-14T21:45:55.720-08:00Railroad Bridge<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1r8P2Khzk0/TVoN8p0cUnI/AAAAAAAAAsU/AmJZWbHlVMA/s1600/DSC03538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1r8P2Khzk0/TVoN8p0cUnI/AAAAAAAAAsU/AmJZWbHlVMA/s320/DSC03538.JPG" width="320" /></a>One of the most iconic structures of Richmond is the concrete railroad bridge that crosses the James River about 5 miles west of downtown. It is best seen in its entirety from Powhite Parkway or Boulevard Bridge, but the enormity of it is best viewed at the river level. </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The pair of tracks at its top are very active, a main path for freight and passenger travel connecting north and south. It is a common sight to see dozens of Tropicana box-cars lined up. Amtrack also runs along these tracks and stops just a few miles north at the Staples Mill Road station. </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KJ91Hn4khYI/TVoS7pZ615I/AAAAAAAAAsY/WqV407aEYF0/s1600/Bridge+at+Riverside+Drive.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="131" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KJ91Hn4khYI/TVoS7pZ615I/AAAAAAAAAsY/WqV407aEYF0/s200/Bridge+at+Riverside+Drive.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-awNNlzAIc5o/TVoNMTbZNOI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/wC4TDcBlU44/s1600/DSC03924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="148" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-awNNlzAIc5o/TVoNMTbZNOI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/wC4TDcBlU44/s200/DSC03924.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-moeOLRsxCLY/TVoNAjetWMI/AAAAAAAAAsM/rELedZirgx0/s1600/DSC03922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="133" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-moeOLRsxCLY/TVoNAjetWMI/AAAAAAAAAsM/rELedZirgx0/s200/DSC03922.JPG" width="200" /></a>Riverside Drive snakes through the final small arch on the south side. Two separate east-west train tracks pass underneath this bridge's gigantic arches on both river banks. The south tracks are lightly used and connect West Point and Amelia crossing the river downtown near the Mayo Bridge. The tracks along the north are highly traveled by coal cars going between West Virginia and Hampton Roads.</div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It's not easy to get down to the river near the bridge without walking through woods and thorny thickets. The river bank level is about 80 feet lower than the road above. A couple paths will take you there from Riverside Drive - made primarily by young people who fish and party along the rocks. At the bottom, you are very much in a different place. Graffiti and some trash is splattered about, evidence of the many people who use and abuse this natural place. The sense of isolation and challenge in finding this spot surely has something to do with this.</div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Once near the base of the bridge, you realize just how massive and imposing it is. The old piers of an earlier stone bridge are also visible. The distinguishing feature of the design is the series of large semi-circular arches that support slender arches under the track bed. Up close, the color is a beige-yellow from years of dirt and mold. From a greater distance, the color is more of a light gray except at sunset when the light comes in low, directly down-river washing the bridge in orange then red.<br />
<br />
When venturing down the hill to this spot, take the time to sit on a rock and just listen to the sounds. After filtering out the droan of the Parkway, you'll begin to hear and see the geese and ducks. The small stepped falls of the river are very calming. And if you're lucky, one of the bald eagles who are nesting on the nearby island will fly overhead.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oLQfxarw4fA/TVoMsVzoMlI/AAAAAAAAAsI/uDC5_dmjfaI/s1600/DSC03911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="270" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oLQfxarw4fA/TVoMsVzoMlI/AAAAAAAAAsI/uDC5_dmjfaI/s400/DSC03911.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Mark Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16609885345614942855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334796008539469539.post-83935746430562286022011-02-08T21:11:00.000-08:002011-02-08T21:39:17.407-08:00Pipeline Catwalk<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TVISbniBcJI/AAAAAAAAAsE/cB2dkzgSN6Q/s1600/DSC03873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TVISbniBcJI/AAAAAAAAAsE/cB2dkzgSN6Q/s400/DSC03873.JPG" width="267" /></a> <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I've worked within two blocks of this cool place for 13 years and only recently discovered it. Unless you know exactly where to look, you'll never stumble across it. The best way to find the starting point is to go to the river side of the floodwall at 14th Street and head west about 200 feet. Not far after crossing the grade-level tracks, you'll see a wooden stair that ends at the top of the bank.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This river bank drops about 15 feet straight down to the water. To start the journey, one must climb down a metal ladder to the 24" wide catwalk. Once on the pipe, you'll see that the bank along this section of the river is held in place by very old stacked stones which I presume were once part of the industrial buildings along the river.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The pipeline is suspended over the water and under the CSX elevated track. A metal grate walkway is bolted ontop. It's a very architectural experience to walk the quarter mile until the grate ends. You can continue to Browns Island if you wish to negotiate the flattened top of the pipe without a rail.</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TVISRk1WtGI/AAAAAAAAAr8/79kSp5_iR1E/s1600/DSC03880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="160" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TVISRk1WtGI/AAAAAAAAAr8/79kSp5_iR1E/s320/DSC03880.JPG" width="320" /></a>Along the way, you will see some new guests to our city and an indication that the James River is getting healthier: the Heron Rookery. The sign along the walkway tells the story best. In 2006 there were no heron nesting in the trees along the River. In 2007, there were 4. One year later, there were 34. I don't know exactly how many are there now, but it is nesting time and I can count more than three dozen nests in the treetops of Mayo Island from the pipeline view. These large birds constantly swoop down to feed on the fish at the first line of rapids near the bridge, then return to the nests.</div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TVISWnpjoAI/AAAAAAAAAsA/pNaUyxlBd04/s1600/DSC03877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="166" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TVISWnpjoAI/AAAAAAAAAsA/pNaUyxlBd04/s200/DSC03877.JPG" width="200" /></a>Walking further along the pipeline, there are rapids under your feet and a pretty good view of the downtown skyline. Overhead are a pair of train tracks. The walking experience could only be more interesting if one of the long coal trains were to pass over your head.</div></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The only disappointment with this view is seeing the ugly underside of the Cordish development. It appears that the design team turned its back to the river and didn't put any thought into that side of the building's base. The parking deck, best seen from the Manchester Bridge is crude and thoughtless. Sorry for the editorial comments, but as someone in the design and urban planning business, this complex misses the mark in so many ways. It occupies a huge footprint on the river's edge, but set aside no public access. Only upper floor tenants get a view of the river. After 5+ years, the canal-oriented plaza remains dead and only one restaurant occupies the retail spaces. I wonder why. </div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Thoughtful planning is so important to a city. Developments like this are around for 50+ years and mistakes are hard to undo. At least the wildlife don't seem to mind this complex as much as I do.</div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TVISO_bbJWI/AAAAAAAAAr4/_T_fEgLxyA8/s1600/DSC03881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TVISO_bbJWI/AAAAAAAAAr4/_T_fEgLxyA8/s320/DSC03881.JPG" width="206" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TVISFysfrGI/AAAAAAAAAr0/UmldJJsbg8A/s1600/DSC03882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="248" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TVISFysfrGI/AAAAAAAAAr0/UmldJJsbg8A/s320/DSC03882.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Mark Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16609885345614942855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334796008539469539.post-41042683311722136892011-01-30T20:52:00.000-08:002011-01-30T21:58:20.219-08:00Byrd Park Pump House<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TUZAUvX3nDI/AAAAAAAAArk/1JtJfvpEWYU/s1600/DSC03814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" s5="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TUZAUvX3nDI/AAAAAAAAArk/1JtJfvpEWYU/s400/DSC03814.JPG" width="265" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Though neglected, one of the more interesting historic structures in Richmond is the pump house at the bottom of Byrd Park. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It claims the oddest combination of program functions I’ve ever known.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The primary purpose of the late 19<sup>th</sup> Century building is to house water pumps powered by waterwheel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Water was pushed uphill to the reservoir about a half mile away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though this pump house is no longer in use, the later pump house next door still supplies drinking water to Richmond.</span></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The other use of the building was as a venue for dances and concerts – on the open balcony at the top floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From this vantage point, you could look down on the canal and locks, hear the water as it poured out of the spillway, and see across the natural beauty of the James River.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A sign at the site alludes to people arriving by canal boat to enjoy the performances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m curious if that romantic scene ever occurred.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps there’s a photo of it within the archives of the Valentine Museum.</span></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TUZAQTyii3I/AAAAAAAAArg/_vP8CiYT5Bw/s1600/DSC03820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" s5="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TUZAQTyii3I/AAAAAAAAArg/_vP8CiYT5Bw/s200/DSC03820.JPG" width="133" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The gothic revival building was designed by the City Engineer in a gothic revival style.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has many characteristics of a church and is highly ornate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The windows are tall and slender with gothic arches at the top.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These features do a great job of disguising its utility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The canal locks are themselves an interesting object within the site. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are two channels for water running parallel to the river. Both are fed from a point up-river.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The upper one supplied water to turn the waterwheel in a sudden drop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lower one contains the series of locks which used to raise and lower small boat traffic around the rapids on this section of the river.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TUZAa8WLpXI/AAAAAAAAAro/M8cqbOOAThk/s1600/DSC03808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" s5="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TUZAa8WLpXI/AAAAAAAAAro/M8cqbOOAThk/s200/DSC03808.JPG" width="132" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The stonework for the locks and building is said to have come from a small stone quarry 10 yards from the front of the building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Granite such as this was quarried at several points along the stepped falls of Richmond.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It provided an important resource for 18<sup>th</sup> and 19<sup>th</sup> Century development.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two other quarries can be found along the western stretch of Riverside Drive near the Pony Pasture and in the center of Belle Isle.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Finding this spot is rather tricky at the moment. There is road work being done in front along Pump House Road. Access is blocked from the Boulevard Bridge side near the toll booth. You now must wind your way to the west side of the Carillon and do the tricky left turn near the entrance to Kanawha Trace. The grounds are overgrown as you can see in the photos, but are fairly easy to walk.</span></div></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TUZAnZ66VBI/AAAAAAAAArs/kTjz7jIGM0U/s1600/DSC03817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: right; float: left; height: 335px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 260px;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TUZAnZ66VBI/AAAAAAAAArs/kTjz7jIGM0U/s320/DSC03817.JPG" width="208" /></a></div>Mark Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16609885345614942855noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334796008539469539.post-54567458341028399472011-01-23T06:04:00.000-08:002011-01-23T07:56:53.358-08:00The Kanawha Canal Locks and Bridge<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TTw3vDRhh6I/AAAAAAAAArQ/FTc53Oep_QM/s1600/DSC03704.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 251px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 166px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565384520995276706" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TTw3vDRhh6I/AAAAAAAAArQ/FTc53Oep_QM/s320/DSC03704.JPG" /></a> <div><div><div><div>One of the challenges of being an architect in an old city is finding a balance between our history and the need for economic growth. I love old buildings and came to Richmond 30 years ago to work in a firm that revitalized old buildings. That work included a large dose of archeology and history of which I’ve always had an interest. To redraw an old building is to get into the mind of the one who originally designed it.<br /><br />It is also my belief that a city should grow and evolve. Its Architecture and urban character should not be stagnant but reflect the technology and culture of the day. Everything old is not historic and worth saving. <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TTw49vU7R-I/AAAAAAAAArY/jhqC3MieSLI/s1600/DSC03734.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 250px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 141px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565385872850503650" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TTw49vU7R-I/AAAAAAAAArY/jhqC3MieSLI/s320/DSC03734.JPG" /></a></div><div><br />History is not written only through literature. It is revealed in a city’s urban design and Architecture. The street layout reflects the transportation and social structure of the day. The Architecture of a city illustrates our values, economics, and lifestyles. Because a new project will be around for at least 50 years, Architects have a responsibility to understand history and how a new project will impact its neighbors and fit into the overall urban character. They should help a client (and the public) discern what has lasting value and what may no longer be relevant. Removing an old building or street pattern is forever after great consideration.<br /><br />While most of the old residential districts are intact, much of the old Richmond commercial area has been destroyed over the years. The most defining urban feature of 19th Century Richmond – the Kanawha Canal was lost by the construction of the Downtown Expressway and the James Center. There are only a few remnants remaining of that industrial setting. </div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TTw3PupyoKI/AAAAAAAAArI/XoS02a6-MV0/s1600/DSC03717.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 250px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 220px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565383982883971234" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TTw3PupyoKI/AAAAAAAAArI/XoS02a6-MV0/s320/DSC03717.JPG" /></a><br />The most intact part of the original canal can be found near the intersection of 12th and Bryd Street. Two lock sections remain though the gates have been removed. However, the stone blocks that used to hold the gates are still in place. The water level drops a couple times down to the arched bridge that used to connect directly to the tobacco storage warehouses at Shockoe Slip and to Gallago Mill where the Omni complex now stands.<br /><br />This stone bridge has some interesting details - including a keystone at the top of the arches. One of these is inscribed with an 1860 date. Several large stones have drill and wedge slots where they were split at the quarry. <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TTw20OqloCI/AAAAAAAAArA/xXe8k-HSXss/s1600/DSC03723.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 151px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 166px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565383510440910882" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TTw20OqloCI/AAAAAAAAArA/xXe8k-HSXss/s320/DSC03723.JPG" /></a><br /><br />With the sale of the Reynolds property, this area will soon experience some change. The bulky metal industrial buildings that cover the lower section will be gone and the canal should once again be open to the sky. Hopefully the new residential development will respect and save this small section of the Canal.<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TTw2eQTYFmI/AAAAAAAAAq4/3xxBHe7Y2b0/s1600/DSC03735.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 163px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 132px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565383132923303522" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TTw2eQTYFmI/AAAAAAAAAq4/3xxBHe7Y2b0/s320/DSC03735.JPG" /></a></div><div></div><div>For more images of the canal, see my Flickr page at: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/uklars/sets/72157625762269441/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/uklars/sets/72157625762269441/</a></div></div></div></div>Mark Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16609885345614942855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334796008539469539.post-70807187375734737412011-01-20T20:42:00.000-08:002011-01-20T21:21:38.907-08:00Pedestrian Bridge to Belle Isle<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TTkU5iHECjI/AAAAAAAAAqo/zeVHXgl31No/s1600/bridge%2Bramp.jpg"></a><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TTkUfyGSJ1I/AAAAAAAAAqg/eVYPlO7jQPM/s1600/Lee%2BBridge.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 174px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 237px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564501350849587026" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TTkUfyGSJ1I/AAAAAAAAAqg/eVYPlO7jQPM/s320/Lee%2BBridge.jpg" /></a> <div><div>You may have noticed a theme to the first group of essays. They are along the James River or Kanawha Canal - and to me are the best cluster of interesting places in Richmond. Occasionally, I will ride my bike to work on a 5-mile path designed to pass each of these very special places. The coolest part of the trip is traversing the pedestrian bridge that connects the north bank with Belle Isle. I usually get off my bike and walk the quarter mile just so I can enjoy the scenery. <a id="myphotolink" href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31056905&id=1010794712"></a><br /><br />The addition of this bridge twenty years ago made the island’s natural resources and history much more accessible. Previously, the only access was from the south. To get there, you first had to find a place to park along Riverside Drive, know where to cross the railroad tracks, and be willing to cross a dam or the wood vehicle bridge.<br /></div><br /><div>Suspended by cables from the Route 1 (Lee) bridge, the pedestrian walkway hangs delicately in contrast to the massive concrete pylons and roadway above. The arcing sections are high enough to challenge those like me who have a fear of heights. The view of the skyline and Hollywood Rapids is spectacular and well worth the short walk from the Tredegar Street gravel lot. <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TTkSRC00cMI/AAAAAAAAAqY/KGOmK2wBFbw/s1600/bridge.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 174px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564498898618446018" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TTkSRC00cMI/AAAAAAAAAqY/KGOmK2wBFbw/s320/bridge.jpg" /></a><br /><br />On a good day, activity is all around. There are hundreds of geese, ducks, and possibly even a heron visible from the bridge. Unless the water gets too high, you will usually see a group of kayakers playing in the class 3 & 4 rapids a couple hundred yards to the west.<br /><br />Look to the northwest and see the tomb of President Monroe in Hollywood Cemetery and a hydro-electric power-plant that forms the base of an office building for Dominion Virginia Power. Along the northwest bank is Tredegar Street and the remnants of the Civil War-era iron foundry. Stone bulkheads from abandoned train bridges create a rhythm across the river.<br /><br />For most of the last 200 years, Belle Island was an industrial site. Remnants of that history are still visible and will be the subject of a later essay. The island's history includes its use as a Civil War prison camp for as many as 10,000 captured soldiers - most held without shelter. I strongly recommend finding the prisoner diaries and the accounts of Walt Whitman before going. It will provide an eerie perspective when you next walk around the island. <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TTkVBjjz7qI/AAAAAAAAAqw/xakUmvJXzMM/s1600/bridge%2Bramp.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564501931062455970" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TTkVBjjz7qI/AAAAAAAAAqw/xakUmvJXzMM/s320/bridge%2Bramp.jpg" /></a></div><div></div></div></div>Mark Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16609885345614942855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334796008539469539.post-82030955478463215852011-01-12T21:41:00.000-08:002011-01-13T19:31:59.478-08:00Triple Crossing<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TS6RmM4cf-I/AAAAAAAAAqQ/Jnmis4BuXOg/s1600/DSC02841.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 288px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 190px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561542675328172002" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TS6RmM4cf-I/AAAAAAAAAqQ/Jnmis4BuXOg/s320/DSC02841.JPG" /></a>Along Dock Street, across the street from Baskervill is said to be the only place in America where three trains tracks cross. The highly used CSX east-west track is the highest. Trains on this track are long and heavy with coal going to Tidewater. The north-south line connects to Main Street Station just a block away. The on-grade line is lightly used and connects West Point and Amelia.<br /><br />My main fascination with this location is the confluence of many forms of transportation. Besides the three railroad lines, is the intersection of Interstates 95 and 195 high above. These massive concrete platforms provide a ceiling above the small park created along Dock Street.<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TS6RVvO1LcI/AAAAAAAAAqI/qhzEozkfOl4/s1600/DSC02833.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 287px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 284px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561542392491093442" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TS6RVvO1LcI/AAAAAAAAAqI/qhzEozkfOl4/s320/DSC02833.JPG" /></a><br /><br />My third-year college professor Pete Pinney was intrigued by "spaces" like this. He used to point out the unintended spaces created by the road overpasses in downtown Lexington. Pete would certainly enjoy this spot.<br /><br />The canal that lies underneath everything was created to remake the Kanawha Canal, originally surveyed by George Washington. The canal's current purpose is flood control. Running like a ribbon along the southern edge is the 20+ foot high flood wall built in the early 80's. It was designed to "protect" Shockoe Bottom from James River floods such as those during Camille and Agnes. Richmond's floods occur primarily when the upper James River is hit by large rainfalls. That water comes to Richmond two days later.<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TS6RJjV00HI/AAAAAAAAAqA/ASi5HZwJNZA/s1600/DSC02847.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 132px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561542183140774002" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TS6RJjV00HI/AAAAAAAAAqA/ASi5HZwJNZA/s320/DSC02847.JPG" /></a><br /><br />The last and most imfamous flood of recent years was Hurrican Gaston, dumping 13 inches of water into Shockoe creek within 4 hours. Ironically, the floodwall acted as a dam which created heavy damage in the area. This particular spot along Dock Street was covered with 8 feet of water and collected dozens of cars from upstream. The economic heart of the Bottom was destroyed and is yet to recover.<br /><br />It's a very pleasant place to take a stroll at lunch. If you want to get the full-treatment, take a short boat ride which starts at the turning basin and goes to the eastern end of the canal. Also when investigating Triple Crossing, be sure to read the historical plaque that describes an early slave revolt by one named Gabriel - taking place in this general area.Mark Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16609885345614942855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334796008539469539.post-16314455706674303372011-01-02T16:25:00.000-08:002011-01-12T17:31:34.528-08:00Brown's Island Pedestrian Bridge<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TSEmuqWTPDI/AAAAAAAAApY/N5_FOah49Cg/s1600/DSC02995.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 158px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557765998235565106" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TSEmuqWTPDI/AAAAAAAAApY/N5_FOah49Cg/s320/DSC02995.JPG" /></a> <div>One of my favorite places to experience the James River is from Brown's Island along Tredegar Street. Once you cross the bridge onto the island itself, you can walk onto a remnant of another bridge that once spanned across the river. A section in the middle has been removed, however the Brown's section was renovated and made accessible to pedestrians. Everyone can now go out over a section of rapids created by an old dam.</div><br /><div></div><div></div><div>As you step onto the bridge and pass under the CSX train trestle, be sure to look down. The renovation team embedded a series of brushed stainless "planks" into the walkway with historical quotes. This little detail is a thoughtful touch and adds historical relevance to the place. </div><div></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TSEeTFxeDpI/AAAAAAAAApQ/F-I7Yn6iNmk/s1600/DSC02991.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 257px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 176px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557756728467918482" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RK51HjG4oOA/TSEeTFxeDpI/AAAAAAAAApQ/F-I7Yn6iNmk/s320/DSC02991.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div></div><div>There are few legitimate places where the public can experience the river that is so much a part of Richmond's history and geography. This walkout is perhaps the most accessible and safest place to feel the river and its rapids without getting wet.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div><div><script type="text/javascript"><br /> var _gaq = _gaq []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-12612751-2']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);<br /> (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })();<br /></script></div>Mark Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16609885345614942855noreply@blogger.com0