Monastery at Large

Category: Washington, D.C.

  • Department of Housing and Urban Development (1968) – Washington, D.C.

    Marcel Breuer with Herbert Beckhard. Department of Housing and Urban Development (1968). Washington, D.C.
    Marcel Breuer with Herbert Beckhard. Department of Housing and Urban Development (1968). Washington, D.C.1 2
    Looking at the Department of Housing and Urban Development from the northeast
    Looking at the Department of Housing and Urban Development from the northeast
    Looking at the Department of Housing and Urban Development from the southeast
    Looking at the Department of Housing and Urban Development from the southeast
    Entrance of the Department of Housing and Urban Development
    Entrance of the Department of Housing and Urban Development
    Granite cladding on the northeast corner of the Department of Housing and Urban Development
    Granite cladding on the northeast corner of the Department of Housing and Urban Development
    Pre-cast concrete and granite on the southeast corner of the Department of Housing and Urban Development
    Pre-cast concrete and granite on the southeast corner of the Department of Housing and Urban Development
    Entrance arcade of the Department of Housing and Urban Development
    Entrance arcade of the Department of Housing and Urban Development
    Windows on the Department of Housing and Urban Development
    Windows on the Department of Housing and Urban Development
    Looking at the Department of Housing and Urban Development from the northeast
    Looking at the Department of Housing and Urban Development from the northeast
    Entrance sign of the Department of Housing and Urban Development
    Entrance sign of the Department of Housing and Urban Development
    Columns on the entrance arcade of the Department of Housing and Urban Development
    Columns on the entrance arcade of the Department of Housing and Urban Development
    Looking toward the northwest corner of the Department of Housing and Urban Development
    Looking toward the northwest corner of the Department of Housing and Urban Development
    Granite cladding on the northeast corner of the Department of Housing and Urban Development
    Granite cladding on the northeast corner of the Department of Housing and Urban Development
    Windows on the northeast corner of the Department of Housing and Urban Development
    Windows on the northeast corner of the Department of Housing and Urban Development

    References

    1. McCarter, Robert. Breuer. New York: Phaidon Press Limited (2016). ↩︎
    2. Nolan, Martin F. “LBJ Speeds Slum Housing”. The Boston Globe, September 10, 1968, p. 2. ↩︎

  • East Building, National Gallery of Art (1978) – Washington, D.C.

    I.M. Pei and Eason H. Leonard of I.M. Pei & Partners. East Building, National Gallery of Art (1978). Washington, D.C.
    I.M. Pei and Eason H. Leonard of I.M. Pei & Partners. East Building, National Gallery of Art (1978). Washington, D.C.1 2
    Henry Moore. Mirror Knife Edge (1977). West facade of the East Building.
    Henry Moore. Mirror Knife Edge (1977).3 West facade of the East Building.
    South facade of the East Building
    South facade of the East Building
    East facade of the East Building
    East facade of the East Building

    References

    1. National Gallery of Art, East Building | Pei Cobb Freed & Partners ↩︎
    2. Miller, Donald. “A Temple for Contemporary Art”. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), June 1, 1978, p. 18. ↩︎
    3. Mirror Knife Edge – Works – The Henry Moore Artwork Catalogue ↩︎

  • Robert Wilson Patterson Residence (1903) – Washington, D.C.

    Stanford White of McKim, Mead & White. Robert Wilson Patterson Residence (1903). Washington, D.C.
    Stanford White of McKim, Mead & White. Robert Wilson Patterson Residence (1903). Washington, D.C.1

    The only thing that makes this home’s exterior truly interesting is its unique butterfly shape, designed to conform to its site overlooking Washington, D.C.’s Dupont Circle.

    Location of the Robert Wilson Patterson Residence

    Otherwise, it’s fairly standard for Stanford White‘s later work, with an overwrought mishmash of Renaissance-inspired details that appears fitful and fussy, akin to the cluttered walls of an old art gallery.

    However, the marble and limestone construction is quite exquisite on close observation.

    White claimed the design had a “light and rather joyous character.”2

    I’m not sure about “joyous,” but I can go along with “light,” as the abundance of windows in the structure gives it an airy feel, particularly when the sun hits all five sides of the facade.

    Ornamentation on the Robert Wilson Patterson Residence, Washington, D.C.
    Ornamentation on the Robert Wilson Patterson Residence, Washington, D.C.

    The home was built at the same time as White’s partner, Charles F. McKim, was designing the nearby East Wing of the White House, which…is no longer with us.

    The Patterson Mansion is currently occupied by short-term rental units, and I hope to stay in one at some point in the future— preferably when D.C. is no longer occupied by madmen.

    God knows when that may be.

    Gallery

    Third-floor windows on the south facade of the Robert Wilson Patterson Residence, Washington, D.C.
    Third-floor windows on the south facade of the Robert Wilson Patterson Residence, Washington, D.C.
    Third-floor balcony on the Robert Wilson Patterson Residence, Washington, D.C.
    Third-floor balcony on the Robert Wilson Patterson Residence, Washington, D.C.
    Pediment over the entrance of the Robert Wilson Patterson Residence, Washington, D.C.
    Pediment over the entrance of the Robert Wilson Patterson Residence, Washington, D.C.
    Eaves, consoles, and cornice on the Robert Wilson Patterson Residence, Washington, D.C.
    Eaves, consoles, and cornice on the Robert Wilson Patterson Residence, Washington, D.C.
    Pediment and ornamentation over a second-floor window on the Robert Wilson Patterson Residence, Washington, D.C.
    Pediment and ornamentation over a second-floor window on the Robert Wilson Patterson Residence, Washington, D.C.
    Columns, pilasters, and marble panel on the facade of the Robert Wilson Patterson Residence, Washington, D.C.
    Columns, pilasters, and marble panel on the facade of the Robert Wilson Patterson Residence, Washington, D.C.
    Second- and third-floor windows and ornamentation on the facade of the Robert Wilson Patterson Residence, Washington, D.C.
    Second- and third-floor windows and ornamentation on the facade of the Robert Wilson Patterson Residence, Washington, D.C.
    Third-floor window, marble panel, and ornamentation on the facade of the Robert Wilson Patterson Residence, Washington, D.C.
    Third-floor window, marble panel, and ornamentation on the facade of the Robert Wilson Patterson Residence, Washington, D.C.
    Marble panel on the facade of the Robert Wilson Patterson Residence, Washington, D.C.
    Marble panel on the facade of the Robert Wilson Patterson Residence, Washington, D.C.
    Eaves, cornice, attic window, stringcourse, and ornamentation on the facade of the Robert Wilson Patterson Residence, Washington, D.C.
    Eaves, cornice, attic window, stringcourse, and ornamentation on the facade of the Robert Wilson Patterson Residence, Washington, D.C.
    Second, third-floor, and attic windows on the facade of the Robert Wilson Patterson Residence, Washington, D.C.
    Second, third-floor, and attic windows on the facade of the Robert Wilson Patterson Residence, Washington, D.C.
    Ornamentation over a third-floor window on the Robert Wilson Patterson Residence, Washington, D.C.
    Ornamentation over a third-floor window on the Robert Wilson Patterson Residence, Washington, D.C.
    Second- and third-floor windows on the Robert Wilson Patterson Residence, Washington, D.C.
    Second- and third-floor windows on the Robert Wilson Patterson Residence, Washington, D.C.

    References

    1. National Register of Historic Places Inventory – Nomination Form: Washington Club ↩︎
    2. White, Samuel G. The Houses of McKim, Mead & White. New York: Rizzoli International Publications, Inc. (1998), p. 212. ↩︎

  • Foggy Bottom-GWU Station (1976) – Washington, D.C.

    Harry Weese and Associates. Foggy Bottom-GWU Station (1976). Washington, D.C.
    Harry Weese and Associates. Foggy Bottom-GWU Station (1976). Washington, D.C.1 2

    References

    1. Here’s what the Metro could have looked like – Greater Greater Washington ↩︎
    2. Hines, William. “Washington’s Metro: 4.5 Miles In 5 Years”. St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 24, 1975, p. 1D. ↩︎

  • Washington Union Station (1907) – Washington, D.C.

    D.H. Burnham & Company. Washington Union Station (1907). Washington, D.C
    D.H. Burnham & Company. Washington Union Station (1907). Washington, D.C.1 2 3 4
    Looking at Washington Union Station from the southwest
    Looking at Washington Union Station from the southwest
    Statuary and inscripted frieze on the south facade of Washington Union Station, Washington, D.C.
    Statuary and inscripted frieze on the south facade of Washington Union Station, Washington, D.C.
    Original waiting room in Washington Union Station, Washington, D.C.
    Original waiting room in Washington Union Station, Washington, D.C.
    Loggia on the south facade of Washington Union Station, Washington, D.C.
    Loggia on the south facade of Washington Union Station, Washington, D.C.
    Second-floor window on the south facade of Washington Union Station, Washington, D.C.
    Second-floor window on the south facade of Washington Union Station, Washington, D.C.
    Eagle statuary and inscribed frieze on the south facade of Washington Union Station, Washington, D.C.
    Eagle statuary and inscribed frieze on the south facade of Washington Union Station, Washington, D.C.

    References

    1. “New Union Passenger Station For Washington.” The Washington Post, March 17, 1902, p. 1. ↩︎
    2. “The Proposed New Union Railway Depot.” The Washington Times, March 17, 1902, p. 3. ↩︎
    3. “Farewell To Old Terminal”. The Sunday Star (Washington, D.C.), November 17, 1907, Part 1, p. 3. ↩︎
    4. “New Union Station”. The Sunday Star (Washington, D.C.), November 24, 1907, Part 8, p. 11. ↩︎