Shaping the City with Roger Lewis
http://thekojonnamdishow.org/shows/2011-01-13/shaping-city-roger-lewis
Five hundred years ago, Andrea Palladio designed some of Italy's most iconic buildings. But his influence extended across an ocean, into the architectural DNA of the United States. Architect Roger Lewis joins us to discuss how and why Washington's iconic buildings reflect-- and sometimes rebel against-- Neoclassical architecture.
Guests
Roger Lewis
Architect; Columnist, "Shaping the City," Washington Post; and Professor Emeritus of Architecture, University of Maryland College Park
Related Links
An Architectural Tour of the Washington Area
View An Architectural Tour of Washington in a larger map
Comments
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Although I live in Virgina, my children go to school downtown. Watching the sun rise over the monuments is one of the few pleasures of the commute. We especially love the National Cathedral. Inside and out, it is just beautiful. One of my children is no longer at a Cathedral school and it was only after she left that she realized how special it was to have a building like the Cathedral and the surrounding Close as a regular part of her school day.
May favoite building is the Library of Congress....great classical vocabulary, wonderful movement through the space and fabulous frescos (painted decorations) that intrigue, inform and entertain.
I would like to know what Roger thinks of Milton Shinberg's recently published thoughts on moving the Supreme Court across the Potomac on axis with the mall and forming a balanced triangular geometry with the Capitol and the White House, reflecting the constitutional balancing of power of the three branches of government.
What is the oldest building in DC?
Regarding the NMAI building and its unusual shape; I thought some of the arguments were
It would be a building not of eurocentric design.
Reflect natural surrounding of native americans, aside from Mayan temples, Native Americans don't have a history of large architecture , borrowing from the south west use of cliffs was a natural choice to design a large building around.
Also it was to reflect the them of water and it effect on landscape, not many corners in the building to support the look/feel of history , the wearing away of sand and time. also the theme of the four directions are represented all over.