Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building

 Architect Edward Larrabee Barnes created

...a shining beacon of modernism...that incorporates vast shining waterfalls of glass with a five-story atrium filled with trees...which is ...the biggest destroyer of migratory birds among the structures studied by City Wildlife. (Metcalfe, 2011, Bird impact kills in DC ranked by order of deadliest buildings)

Wow, that was really not what I was expecting to find when I looked up this building that I had noticed near Union Station while on my bus-top tour.  It seems that, although stunningly beautiful, the glass-fronted building (and others like it) when illuminated at night, attract migratory birds with deadly results.  For reasons that are not known, as the birds in a migratory path over the city spot them, they either fly into the glass walls, breaking their neck, or fly around the buildings until exhaustion sets in and they fall to the ground and die from impact or are killed by predators.

The City Wildlife project conducts studies of the buildings killing the most birds and makes efforts during migratory seasons to get the management to voluntarily reduce the lighting at night.

The World's Ugliest Building*

*  Trippy.com and Reuters

 Sometimes I just get so excited when I figure out something--like spotting this building and thinking it was brutalist...and then confirming it later.  As the bus rolled by, I was just drawn to the structure, almost mesmerized by this big ol' box of a building.  Exactly what the General Services Administration asked for in 1963 for the new headquarters of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, designed by Charles F. Murphy and Associates of Chicago:

...traditional box-like structure...incorporated the Bureau's request for a central core of files surrounded by offices.

When the Pennsylvania Avenue Advisory Council got wind of that, they requested the GSA to redesign the building to conform to the Pennsylvania Avenue Plan, which GSA sort of did, but there was that whole security thing in a building designed for the FBI and all.

 Recessed panels along the ground floor were spaced to give the illusion of two-story columns, with an "arcade-like facade" (FBI.gov, on the building's history).  Construction took 7 years.  Thirty-eight years after the first proposal for a separate FBI building was completed, 15 years after Congress approved construction, the last of the employees moved into the building--three years after it was completed.  The wheels of bureaucracy do turn slowly.

President Richard Nixon signed PL 92-520 designating the J Edgar Hoover Building just two days after Hoover's death.  The Washington Post reported in November 2011 that the FBI was "bursting at the seams" and "urgently needs...new headquarters" (O'Keefe).  The building was described as "aging" and "deteriorating" and "in need of serious repairs."  This "aging" hulk is 38 if you don't count the 7 years spent building the thing, just a baby amidst all the really old buildings in DC--like, say the Capitol for instance.  How does a concrete block deteriorate?  Was the concrete just not that well put together in the first place?  It is concrete and steel for crying out loud...not that I would question the judgment of the FBI if they say the building is deteriorating, but serious repairs?

The dcist reported that it could take up to 14 years to renovate, but the building could be demolished and rebuilt in about 7 years.  No wonder we can't get anything done.

Greek Key Brickwork: Falling in love

 You don't see many houses like this in Mississippi; in fact, I will bet there is not even one like this in the whole state.  As we were walking through the neighborhood in search of the Woodrow Wilson house, we spotted this place for sale.  It appears to be four flats, once on each floor.  The upper two floors open onto a small balcony, the first floor opens into a courtyard, and the ground floor opens into the garage--a six-car garage.

 The intriguing Greek Key pattern in the bricks ran the length of the house, front and back and sides.  Terracotta trim was also evident throughout the detail work.

 There were two half-turrets on the side elevation, consisting of a small one near the rear, and a larger one at the front corner of the building.

I do love me some good details!  The Greek Key motif began to take shape in the Early Geometric Period (900-850 BCE), according to jewelry historian Lord Hayden Peters (www.artofmourning.com), although the name Greek fret or key is a modern designation (wikipedia).  The original name is a meander or meandros, and is identified by a continuous line shaped into a repeated motif.  The symbol represents eternal flow, infinity, and eternity.

Russian Cultural Centre

 The Russian Cultural Centre is housed in a building constructed in 1895.  An early occupant was Evalyn Walsh McLean, who owned the Hope Diamond and the Washington Post, according to The Friends of the Russian Cultural Centre.  While the Centre is an agency of the Russian Government, the Friends is the US 501(c) (3) nonprofit which provides support for the Centre.

Restoration, Renovation, and Innovation took 22 months, from 1998-99.

The mansion containing 33 rooms was purchased in the 1950s by the Russian Government as a school for Embassy children.  Later, it was used for the Russian Embassy consulate.

 ...created by Bilateral Agreement between the Governments of the United States and Russian, to develop positive relations in the 21st century--That Our Two Nations Never Again Polarize.

The Mission: provide a forum where the Russian and American people can learn about and enjoy the culture of the other in the areas of Education, The Arts, Commerce, Athletics, and Science.

Interior photographs (click on "The Building" in the menu to the left) illustrate the symbol of the Centre, joined flags, the lamp of knowledge signifying that knowledge of each other's culture is the key to peace.  I second that emotion, a firm believer that knowing each other makes for better relationships, in whatever capacity.

After Ms. McLean, the occupants were the Benjamin Franklin Pilson family; the three Pilson children founded The Friends of the Russian Cultural Centre.

It's all in the details.

This has been a much needed break this week.  The semester has flown by, and demanded much in a short period of time.  Coming home from DC last week dealt my body a blow I could not shake off.  I'll spare the details, but when I went to the doctor last Friday, she said no 12 hours in a car travel to Texas.

Randy went on alone to see his dad, and J and I stayed here--just us and the 5 dogs and 7 cats.  (Not my cats, at least not intentionally mine, that is.  Strays that wander up and I feed them.)  I do, however, have to claim intentionally having 5 dogs, but pretty much for the same reason.  Organizing and sorting out the feeding, exercise, yard time, play time for 5 dogs, 2 of whom cannot be together at the same time, is no easy task.

In between that, I have managed to do a whole lot of nothing--slept late, cooked superb meals, and done a bit of laundry, but mostly just hanging.  My body thanks me.  In only 4 days, I am well on the road to recovery, feeling great and energetic, and continuing to lose weight.  I have maintained healthy eating and exercise for over 6 weeks now, even while in DC.  Nothing like some success to motivate you to excel. 

I have also been finding time to blog again, and nothing helps bring that on like a trip with new photographs.  DC was an architectural Disneyland, with hundreds and hundreds of incredible buildings in the tiny area in which I was.  I am also getting itchy to head out on another Mississippi road trip once the semester winds down in 2 more weeks...before I head out on another Texas road trip to make up for the non-visit during Thanksgiving.

 Meanwhile, the last of Pontotoc beckons.  I love building details.  This building at the end of the block on East Marion is a fairly recent re-do, and the building itself is estimated circa 1950 (MDAH/HRI database) but I love the detail that helps it seem at home with the other buildings.  In this case, English bond (the alternating rows of headers and stretchers) in the building is interrupted by the 3 spaced soldier stacked bond designs.  Soldier refers to the brick placed vertically rather than on its side, and with the narrow end facing out.  This form of stacked bond (an alternate from the usual stacked with the brick horizontal)

...usually require bed joint reinforcement to give adequate stability (ibstock.com).

 The parapet of this building has decorative brickwork and the facade is divided by pilasters.  According to Sanders (1993) in the National Register nomination for the Pontotoc district,

Brick dentil accents the facade where the roof and parapet meet...small vent in each bay...two belt courses, (only one is visible here) one above second story windows, and one forming the sills for the windows.

Visible just to the right is part of the brickwork detail on the building next door.  Sanders adds,

A belt course of soldier bricks separates the parapet from the window openings. 

 Around the corner, this interesting looking building--which does not show up in the MDAH database or the historic district nomination form--has some type of green tile or glass block embedded in the facade in a diamond shape.

Around the corner on West Marion, vestiges of vitrolite cover the brick underneath a plate glass window.  

 It's also seen in the old newspaper office in Oxford.  Apparently, it is a pre-requisite that at least one piece must be broken or chipped.

Still, it has an interesting look to it, and was used to "modernize" buildings.

2000 Connecticut: Art Deco Apartments

 This restored nine-story Art Deco building was built in 1936.  The management team of Keener & Squire have interest in historic preservation and have renovated several historic mansions and apartment buildings in the Dupont Circle area of Washington, DC.  Dupont Circle is located in the "old city" of DC, an area planned by architect Pierre Charles L'Enfant.

Hans Wirz and Richard Striner in Washington Deco (1984) described 2000 Connecticut:

...delicate Deco floral patterns in the Calritz illustrates use of limestone and terracotta panels as well as the compact character of Deco floral motifs.

Wentworth Studio describes Art Deco in their Historic Styles/Art Deco Style 1925-1940:

Buildings were richly embellished with hard-edged, low relief designs: geometric shapes, including chevrons and ziggurats, and stylized floral and sunrise patterns.

...architects and developers, especially in Greater Washington, DC, found that the style adapted quite well to apartment buildings...visual interest could be further enhanced by stretching linear forms horizontally and vertically throughout the building...

...frequently done with bands of brick, canopies, or coping.  Doorways are sometimes surrounded with elaborate pilasters and pediments.

Doors were frequently made of aluminum or stainless steel.  These aluminum doors illustrate a chevron design.

King William Flats

The King William houses 14 flats in the Kalorama Triangle neighborhood.  A 1-bedroom rents for $3250 per month for 700 square feet.  The more economical studio is only $2200. 

 The Kalorama Triangle was originally part of the 19th century Kalorama Estate.  Kalorama is Greek for "fine view."  The terrain was hilly, and rural until development began in the late 1800s.  Primary development occurred between 1897-1931, and the addition of the streetcar line down Connecticut Avenue helped fuel the growth of the area (Kalorama Triangle Historic District brochure, planning.dc.gov).

 The early buildings were mostly in the popular Romanesque style.  A period of downturn halted building in the area, and when it resumed, other architectural styles were more popular and the neighborhood introduced the Georgian and Federal influences.

Although the area was restructured to remove some of the hilliness, much of the original terrain remains, and we did extensive walking up and down hills on the curving and winding streets.  I think DC has replaced New York City as my favorite city now, for the beautiful ambience of the neighborhoods and more relaxed sense.  But, rather like Atlanta, while I would have relished living here in my younger days, it was a tough trip for me physically.  Most of my photographs are from the top of the bus!