About.com Architecture

Russian Evolution

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:00:12 +0000

November 7, 1917 marks the second stage of the Russian Revolution when Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky lead Communist revolutionaries in a violent overthrow and captured the Winter Palace. You may have seen slightly different dates for these events - Russia still used the Julian calendar. But by any records, Russia's political upheaval brought dramatic changes, including a transformation in the visual arts.

Join us for a photo tour of Architecture in Russia. And, to learn more about the Russian Revolution, see this history timeline, from About European History.

^{Shown here: Hermitage Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia. Photo from ArtToday.com.}

Russian Evolution originally appeared on About.com Architecture on Saturday, November 7th, 2009 at 01:00:12.

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Born on November 6: Jean Louis Charles Garnier

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:00:00 +0000

French architect Jean Louis Charles Garnier was born on November 6, 1825. Garnier was inspired by Roman pageantry and aspired to design buildings that had the drama of a pageant. When he designed the Op�ra in Paris, Garnier combined classical ideas with over-the-top ornamentation.

More French Architecture: Architecture in France

Born on November 6: Jean Louis Charles Garnier originally appeared on About.com Architecture on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 01:00:00.

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The Dawn of Deco

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:00:00 +0000

Archaeologist Howard Carter thrilled the world when, on November 4, 1922, he discovered steps leading down to the ancient tomb of King Tutankhamen. Soon a fascination for Egypt found expression in clothing, jewelry, furniture, graphic design and - of course - architecture.

By 1925, the world had a jazzy new style known as Art Deco...

The Dawn of Deco originally appeared on About.com Architecture on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 01:00:00.

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Obama Names Mayne

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:39 +0000

Obama has named the Pritzker Prize-winning architect Thom Mayne to serve on the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. It will be interesting to see whether Mayne can bring an architectural air to the Committee, which throws illustrious members like cellist Yo-Yo MA together with popular icons like "The Devil Wears Prada" fashion editor Anna Wintour.

The 26-member group is charged with fostering arts activities through the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) .

Obama Names Mayne originally appeared on About.com Architecture on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 00:00:39.

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Is Your House a Queen?

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:52 +0000

From charming cottages to towered mansions, there's nothing like a Queen Anne house.

Is your house a Queen? Here's your chance to show off!

_{Above: The owners moved this Queen Anne house from Pasadena to San Pedro, California. Photo � Tyler McLaughlin}

Is Your House a Queen? originally appeared on About.com Architecture on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 00:00:52.

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Celebrating Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 01:00:00 +0000

On November 1, 1512, Michelangelo's frescoes on the vaulted ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome were first shown to the public. The Renaissance artist Michelangelo spent four years painting the detailed Biblical scenes. In 1980, amidst great public outcry, preservationists began cleaning away the dirt and soot that had darkened the frescoes. When the restoration was completed in 1994, many people were astonished to see what brilliant colors Michelangelo had used. Some critics questioned whether the "restoration" was historically accurate.

Celebrating Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel originally appeared on About.com Architecture on Sunday, November 1st, 2009 at 01:00:00.

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Born on Halloween: Richard Morris Hunt

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 01:00:00 +0000

Gilded Age architect Richard Morris Hunt was born on October 31, 1827. Living during an era when American business leaders amassed huge fortunes, Richard Morris Hunt became known for designing palatial and sometimes spooky homes. Among his works are these Newport, Rhode Island mansions:

Breakers Mansion for Cornelius Vanderbilt II, whose ghost is said to wander the lavish rooms.
the $11 million Marble House for railroad baron William K. Vanderbilt
the lavish renovation of Beechwood for the fabulously wealthy William and Caroline Astor. Visitors have reported strange noises, cold spots, and candles blowing out by themselves.

^{Photo: Astors' Beechwood � John W. Corbett, www.corbettphotography.net}

Born on Halloween: Richard Morris Hunt originally appeared on About.com Architecture on Saturday, October 31st, 2009 at 01:00:00.

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Who Is Marcel Breuer?

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:48 +0000

Talk of Bauhaus usually zeros in on Walter Gropius, Mies van der Rohe, and their followers. Often overlooked is Marcel Breuer (1902--1981) who designed tubular steel furnishings, the Wassily arm chair, and other iconic Bauhaus furnishings. Buildings by Breuer have fallen out of favor, and yet they represent an important part of the Bauhaus movement.

A roaming exhibition produced by Germany's Vitra Design Museum is now showing at the Museum of Design Atlanta and the Atlanta-Fulton Central Library in Atlanta, Georgia. The concrete library building was designed Marcel Breuer and illustrates the heavy, Brutalist - or B�ton Brut - approach that he turned to. Completed in 1980, the building is now on the 2010 World Monuments Watch List of Most Endangered Sites.

The Marcel Breuer exhibit continues in Atlanta through January 16, 2010.

_{Above: Central Library in Atlanta Georgia by Marcel Breuer. Photo cc Earlopogous.}

Who Is Marcel Breuer? originally appeared on About.com Architecture on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 00:00:48.

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Birth of the Arch

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:04 +0000

The famous Saint Louis Gateway Arch in Missouri celebrates a birthday today. Designed by Finnish-born architect Eero Saarinen, the arch officially opened on October 28, 1965.

The Saint Louis Gateway Arch is actually an enormous steel catenary curve. It commemorates Thomas Jefferson's Louisiana Purchase of 1803 and symbolizes the gateway to the American West.

Challenge: Are you a math whiz? See if you can solve this Catenary Curve problem

^{St. Louis Gateway Arch Photo: ArtToday.com}

Birth of the Arch originally appeared on About.com Architecture on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 00:00:04.

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The Architecture of Death

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:00:58 +0000

The designs and emblems you see on tombs and monuments are beautiful, but they aren't merely decorative. Scholars have studied gravestones through the ages and found a treasure trove of symbolic meanings. You can see a fascinating sampling in this photo gallery of Cemetery Symbols from our About Guide to Genealogy.

More About Cemeteries:

The Architecture of Death originally appeared on About.com Architecture on Monday, October 26th, 2009 at 01:00:58.

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