A blog of sketches of historic buildings

641

30/5/2019

The Empire State Building, 104 floors, completed in 1931, towering over its late nineteenth century neighbours. American icon. Need I say more? This is the view from just outside Macy’s department store.

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640

29/5/2019

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Federal Hall, Wall Street, New York. Constructed in 1842 as a custom house and acting as the US Reserve treasury from 1862- 1920, this building stands on the site where the US congress first met, where the Bill of Rights was passed and where George Washington was inaugurated President. Behind its elegant Greek temple façade, with Doric Columns, is a large rotunda supported on more decorative Corinthian Columns, clearly modelled on the Panteon in Rome with a coffered roof rising to a central circular rooflight. Quite a place.

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639.

20/5/2019

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Smith Tower Seattle, Fourth tallest building in the world in 1914 (44 stories) Great decorative work throughout. Indigenous American inspired decoration in the lobby and Chinese inspired decoration in the top floor restaurant. All beautifully conserved and lit with fine views from the top floor along 6th Street to the Space Needle. The original Otis lifts are, however, the best part of the conservation work. In polished brass with ornate detail they are beautiful objects lovingly restored.

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May 18th, 2019

18/5/2019

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The Space Needle, Seattle (View from 6th Avenue and Stewart Street).

This was constructed for the 1962 World Fair and despite the ever increasing height of downtown, remains a dominant landmark in the city. Two lifts give access to the viewing floors at its upper level and these have been carefully conserved to retain their 1960'S styling. The lower viewing floor rotates and has recently had a glass floor installed. This is quite an experience and fully in keeping with the futuristic design. At the base of the tower a shop captures those exiting but it is of high quality and well laid out.

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May 14th, 2019

14/5/2019

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Downtown Seattle. Most buildings have been constructed in the last 10 years. In this view south west from Boren Avenue only the curved Marriot Hotel to the far right and the concrete clad tower to the far left appear to be older. Seattle has seen an increase in population of around 40% in the last 30 years and this is reflected in an increasing density of its downtown.

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641

640

639.

May 18th, 2019

May 14th, 2019

Marks of Time

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