Thomas Jefferson Building - Report Example

THOMAS JEFFERSON BUILDING Insert (s) Thomas Jefferson Building Introduction Thomas Jefferson Building (formerly known as the Library of Congress building) is an iconic architectural constructed between 1888 and 1897. Located on the 1st Street SE, between East Capitol Street and Independence Avenue in Washington D.C, the Italian Renaissance style building is best known for its noble artwork and classicizing façade, grandeur, scope and size. When the building was first opened to the public in November 1, 1897, many regarded it as a landmark national monument and its name was subsequently changed in June 13, 1980 as an honor to the U.S President Thomas Jefferson, who played a key role in the establishment of the library in the 1800s1. This paper argues that the building not only offers formal solutions in terms of methods of design, style and construction but also provides programmatic solutions in terms of use, plan, type and client. Methods of Design, Style and Construction The elaborate design of Thomas Jefferson building was intended to address a number of areas of human achievement without necessarily getting into the controversial areas such as religion and politics. As a result, although the sculptors were assigned several general themes, the muralists worked under strictly guidance from the engineers and the chief architect Edward Pearce Casey. The final work contained some of the richest interior decorations in the United States and particularly exhibited the American Renaissance styles characterized by exhibition progress of civilization and personification the Great men of the country. Generally, the American Renaissance (1876-1917) was a period characterized by renewed nationalism and feelings that the United States was the heir to the Roman law and Greek democracy. The general feelings of New Nationalism during this period were widely expressed in arts combining classical architectural styles with technology and modernism. Fig 1: Thomas Jefferson Building On the exterior of the building, several sculptured portrait heads depicting typical world’s races were installed as the keystones on all the main window arches. On the other hand, the second floor portico of the buildings main front entrance that is facing the U.S Capitol was decorated with up to nine sculptors of Great men based on the selections of Ainsworth Rand Spofford. The exterior of the building, particularly window arches of the main story, had sculptured portrait heads installed as keystones. The building’s second-floor portico found on the front entrance that faces the United States Capitol has nine famous busts belonging to great men. Notably, Ainsworth Rand Spofford chose this in compliance with the ideals predefined by Gilded Age. Generally, the design approach embraced during the construction of this building passes the message that design choices could be based on historical success scenarios, more so in situations when the involved designers have a vague idea about the expected outcome of the project. Besides, house construction projects need to reflect the national values as much as possible. Additionally, the building constitutes a number of the richest public interiors within the U.S, and represents a collection of efforts of specially trained American painters and sculptors whose training process focused on programs of symbolic elements that not only reflected the advances of civilization, but was also personified within Great Men and climaxing in official culture of the Americans in the Gilded Age. The building’s central block bears a close resemblance the Paris-based Palais Garnier in view of its great depiction of cultural nationalism. How the Building Offers Programmatic Solutions in terms of Plan and Use Requiring extra room for the expanding collection, Ainsworth Rand Spofford, the then librarian in the Library of Congress, proposed that the congress sets up a new building to particularly function as the American National Library. Earlier on, the library was located in a section of the Capitol Building2. The need for the new building was, in part, attributed to the expansion of the Congress and also the 1870 Copyright Law, which required that every copyright applicant was to send the Library two copies of their work. This conveys the message that the plans for the building was in such a way that the structure would permit expansion in case of an increasing need. In addition, the management was to some way acting by the regulatory requirements. This manner of operation can inform the modern construction endeavors that construction works need to be compliant to the existing regulatory requirements whilst remaining as responsive as possible to the increasing user needs. Paul J. Pelz and John L. Smithmeyer submitted the design plans that the congress did choose on. Apparently, the two architects were laid off, though at different times, and the completion of the building was finally left to Benard R. Green who was a civil engineer and Gen. Edward Pearce Casey. Proper documentation is necessary for house construction projects. The documents can serve as guide at any stage of the project phase, and even in situation when an involved team member quits the project, other people can come in and follow on the documentation3. Leaving the choice of the appropriate design plan to the congress is a good idea because exploration of design alternatives makes use of different talents and ways of reasoning. Such a forum would particularly be useful in bringing to light every design hitch that designers assume. So, it is a good idea leaving the process of evaluation of the appropriate design choice to a larger team. In essence, it is out of these good practices that the building today stands as an individualized blend of architecture and art and is deemed as a national treasure. Conclusion In conclusion, although the building was designed and constructed in the late 1800s, Thomas Jefferson building remains an iconic architectural land mark that is still regarded as a national monument in the United States. The design of the building effectively offers both formal solutions in terms of methods of design, style and construction as well as programmatic solutions in terms of use and plan. Bibliography Catlett, Lowell. Thomas Jefferson: a free mind. Victoria, B.C.: Trafford, 2004. Cole, John Y., Reed, Henry H. and Herbert, Small. The Library of Congress: the art and architecture of the Thomas Jefferson Building. New York: Norton, 1997. Read More