Monastery at Large

Category: Architecture

  • Postcards from the South: Fleming duBignon Residence – Atlanta

    Postcard view of Fleming duBignon Residence (1902), Atlanta

    This postcard depicts the Fleming duBignon Residence in Atlanta, designed by Willis F. Denny and completed in 1902.

    As noted on the front, the home was located at 925 Peachtree Street, and the photograph was “Taken on Xmas day 1907”.

    The card was postmarked in Atlanta on March 2, 1909, and addressed to Miss Cynthia Farie at 202 East 31st Street in Savannah, Georgia, with the following message written on the back:

    “I thought you would like a picture of Grandfather’s house. I want to thank you for the pretty valentine. Lots of love from Tissie.”

    You think the grandfather knew his house had an exact duplicate in Louisville, Georgia?

  • BMA Tower (1963) – Kansas City, Missouri

    Skidmore, Owings & Merrill with Tanner-Linscott & Associates. BMA Tower (1963). Kansas City, Missouri.
    Skidmore, Owings & Merrill with Tanner-Linscott & Associates. BMA Tower (1963). Kansas City, Missouri.1 2
    Entrance at the south facade of BMA Tower, Kansas City
    Entrance at the south facade of BMA Tower, Kansas City
    Looking northwest across the entrance plaza at BMA Tower, Kansas City
    Looking northwest across the entrance plaza at BMA Tower, Kansas City

    References

    1. “B.M.A. Moves This Weekend To Its Gleaming New Tower”. The Kansas City Times (Kansas City, Missouri), October 4, 1963, p. 10. ↩︎
    2. Fitzsimmons, Fred. “A Simple Spire, The B.M.A. Tower Offers Electrifying View Of The City”. The Kansas City Star (Kansas City, Missouri), October 20, 1963, p. 5F. ↩︎

  • Postcards from the North: Kingston Passenger Station – Kingston, New York

    Postcard illustration of the Kingston Passenger Station (1883), Kingston, New York

    This postcard depicts the Kingston Passenger Station in Kingston, New York, completed in 1883.

    Between 1875 and 1880, Kingston was the home of W.W. Goodrich, a terrible architect and bullshitter extraordinaire who later practiced in Atlanta.

    Goodrich had nothing to do with the design of this Queen Anne-style depot, but you’ll be seeing more about Northern train stations here at some point in the future—and Goodrich (blech).

    BIF wrote on the front of the postcard: “Here is where I got off train.”

    It’d be more fun if he’d omitted the last word.

    The card was postmarked in Poughkeepsie, New York, date unreadable, and addressed to Miss E. Crosby of RFD #2, Chester, Vt.

  • Mint Museum Uptown (2010) – Charlotte, North Carolina

    Rodolfo Machado of Machado and Silvetti Associates, with George Sexton and Clark Patterson Associates. Mint Museum Uptown (2010). Charlotte, North Carolina.  
    Rodolfo Machado of Machado and Silvetti Associates, with George Sexton and Clark Patterson Associates. Mint Museum Uptown (2010). Charlotte, North Carolina.1 2 3
    Northeast elevation of the Mint Museum Uptown, Charlotte, North Carolina
    Northeast elevation of the Mint Museum Uptown, Charlotte, North Carolina
    Southeast facade of the Mint Museum Uptown, Charlotte, North Carolina
    Southeast facade of the Mint Museum Uptown, Charlotte, North Carolina
    Atrium in the Mint Museum Uptown, Charlotte, North Carolina
    Atrium in the Mint Museum Uptown, Charlotte, North Carolina
    Gallery in the Mint Museum Uptown, Charlotte, North Carolina
    Gallery in the Mint Museum Uptown, Charlotte, North Carolina
    Atrium in the Mint Museum Uptown, Charlotte, North Carolina
    Atrium in the Mint Museum Uptown, Charlotte, North Carolina
    Gallery in the Mint Museum Uptown, Charlotte, North Carolina
    Gallery in the Mint Museum Uptown, Charlotte, North Carolina
    Entrance lobby in the Mint Museum Uptown, Charlotte, North Carolina
    Entrance lobby in the Mint Museum Uptown, Charlotte, North Carolina
    Gallery in the Mint Museum Uptown, Charlotte, North Carolina
    Gallery in the Mint Museum Uptown, Charlotte, North Carolina
    Gallery in the Mint Museum Uptown, Charlotte, North Carolina
    Gallery in the Mint Museum Uptown, Charlotte, North Carolina

    References

    1. Maschal, Richard. “New Mint will get flavor from Beantown”. The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, North Carolina), January 19, 2006, p. 3B. ↩︎
    2. “Sneak Peeks”. The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, North Carolina), April 25, 2010, p. 4E. ↩︎
    3. “Minted in 2010”. The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, North Carolina), October 3, 2010, p. 1E. ↩︎

  • Postcards from the South: Prudential Building – Atlanta

    Postcard view of Prudential Building (1899), Atlanta

    This postcard depicts Atlanta’s Prudential Building—later known as the Grant Building—designed by T.H. Morgan of Bruce & Morgan and completed in 1899.

    [Neal?] wrote on the front: “Around all Atl. Having a big time. Leave for S.S. Thursday. Best wishes to all.”

    I, for one, welcome the death of cursive writing.

    Published by the Orr Stationery Co. of Atlanta, the card was postmarked in College Park, Georgia, on July 16, 1907, and addressed to Miss Pearl Woodcliff in Flowery Branch, Georgia.

  • A.S. Beck (1936) – New York

    A.S. Beck (1936). 128 W. 34th Street, New York.
    A.S. Beck (1936). 128 W. 34th Street, New York.1

    Is it a relic sign or a fine example of Art Deco architecture? The answer is both.

    I admired this swanky old Manhattan storefront for years on my walks to and from Moynihan Train Hall, but for some reason, I only recently thought to take a picture of it.

    It was easy to find the opening-day newspaper advertisements for the A.S. Beck shoe store, but I’ve yet to determine the designer. Whoever it was, they did a swell job.

    Location of A.S. Beck

    References

    1. Advertisement. Daily News (New York), September 18, 1936, p. 16. ↩︎

  • Postcards from the South: Christian Science Church – Atlanta

    Postcard view of Christian Science Church (1899), Atlanta

    This postcard depicts the Christian Science Church in Atlanta, designed by G.L. Norrman and completed in 1899.

    Written on the front is the following note:

    “May 14, ’07

    Am addressing this Sacramento for fear you have not received your Yosemite mail. Beautiful weather here. I am fine + dandy. Business is on the move.”

    Published by the Witt Brothers of Atlanta and printed in Germany, the card was postmarked in Atlanta on May 14, 1907, and addressed to Miss Grace B. Smith at Box 165 Davis Ave, Sacramento California R.F.D. #2 International Hotel, Yosemite Cal., and received in Yosemite, California, on May 25, 1907.

    Got all that?

  • Postcards from the South: The Manor – Asheville, North Carolina

    Postcard view of the Manor Inn (1898), Albermarle Park, Asheville, North Carolina

    This postcard depicts the Manor Inn at Albermarle Park in Asheville, North Carolina, designed by Bradford L. Gilbert and completed in 1898.

    Published by the Southern Post Card Co. of Asheville, the card was postmarked in Asheville on April 9, 1921, and addressed to Mrs. H.V.M. Dennis of 81 E. Main Street in Freehold, New Jersey.

    Printed on the back is the following description:

    The Manor, Asheville, N.C.
    In the “Land Of The Sky.”

    The Manor, an exclusive Inn, is located in a park of thirty-six acres and has its private club house, with tennis, bowling and billiards within the park. It is operated by The Albermarle Park Company of Asheville which also owns Albermarle Park and about fifteen cottages within the Park. These can be leased and furnished for housekeeping.

    Also written on the back is the following note:

    “Fri. Eve.

    Had a very pleasant day – all of us feeling much better. You would hardly know Mary [Sr.?]”

    I can see where a Mary Sr. might be unrecognizable.

  • The Westin Charlotte (2003) – Charlotte, North Carolina

    John Portman & Associates. The Westin Charlotte (2003). Charlotte, North Carolina.
    John Portman & Associates. The Westin Charlotte (2003). Charlotte, North Carolina.1 2
    Looking at The Westin Charlotte from the west
    Looking at The Westin Charlotte from the west
    Terrace on The Westin Charlotte
    Terrace on The Westin Charlotte
    Looking at The Westin Charlotte from the northeast
    Looking at The Westin Charlotte from the northeast

    References

    1. John Portman: Art and Architecture. Atlanta: High Museum of Art in association with the University of Georgia Press (2009). ↩︎
    2. Lunan, Charles, and Hudson, Don. “Convention Hotel Checks In”. The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, North Carolina), April 30, 2003, p. 1A. ↩︎

  • Office of Stevens & Wilkinson (1947) – Atlanta

    Stevens & Wilkinson. Office of Stevens & Wilkinson (1947). Fairlie-Poplar, Atlanta.
    Stevens & Wilkinson. Office of Stevens & Wilkinson (1947). Fairlie-Poplar, Atlanta.1
    Office of Stevens & Wilkinson, Atlanta, date unknown
    Office of Stevens & Wilkinson, Atlanta, date unknown2

    References

    1. Stevens, Preston. Building a Firm: The Story of Stevens & Wilkinson Architects, Engineers, Planners Inc. Atlanta (1979). ↩︎
    2. Photo credit: Ibid., p. 30. ↩︎