Abstract An exploration into the history of the American President's residence, known as the White House, in Washington DC. It looks at the original plans of the house as designed by Irish architect, James Hoban, and how several additions and changes have been made throughout the years.
From the Paper "Many United States presidential candidates have battled over the years for the privilege of living at the most prestigious address in the country. After reviewing the literature on the history and architecture of the White House, which is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., it is easy to see why. Besides being a spectacular Georgian home, the White House is full of history, seeing more conflict, controversy and transformations than any single president."
Abstract This paper compares two of the more recently constructed memorials honoring America's fallen: the World Trade Center Memorial, which honors those who died in the September 11, Twin Towers attack; and the Vietnam Memorial, which honors the young men and women who served and lost their lives in the Vietnam War.
From the Paper "Those entering the contest for the Vietnam Memorial had to be a United States citizen who was at least 18 years old, and by the March 31, 1981 deadline, 2,573 individuals and teams had submitted 1421 designs. The designs were listed by numbers in order to maintain anonymity, and after narrowing down the entries to 39, the jury chose ?Number 1026 as it clearly met the spirit and formal requirements of the program. They felt its open nature would encourage access on all occasions, at all hours, without barriers, and yet free the visitors from the noise and traffic of the surrounding city (thewall-usa.com).?"
Tags: designs, entries, requirements, competition, remembers, honors, submissions, built
Abstract The National Gallery Museum is home to some of the world's most famous paintings, including "Venus and Mars" by Sandro Botticelli and "Sunflowers" by Vincent van Gogh. This paper presents a history on the museum, including the addition of the Sainsbury wing and then describes several paintings stored in the museum. It also provides an architectural description of the museum.
From the Paper "The atmosphere of the Early Renaissance gallery is sophisticated, accessible and subdued. Lighting is a combination of artificial light and natural light that is automatically controlled and "delicately balanced" (Venturi, Scott Brown & Associates). The wing takes advantage of natural lighting as much as possible, and is designed to reduce damaging ultraviolet radiation. The color of the walls is designed to minimize distraction, and showcase the individual works (The National Gallery Museum, Building). A "gently implied hierarchy" of rooms (ranging from small to medium and large rooms) make up the galleries (Venturi, Scott Brown & Associates)."
Abstract Before the end of Elizabeth's reign, St. Petersburg had become Russia's capital in a much larger sense than in Peter the Great's time. This paper discusses how palaces built by Rastrelli gave the city an aura of aristocratic elegance, while the great public buildings created by the Russian followers of Peter's foreign architects emphasized its importance as the center of a new empire.
From the Paper "Born just a few months after his sculptor father, Carlo, who had migrated from Florence to Paris, Rastrelli grew up in the dynamic world of art that had shaped the court of Louis XIV until the death of the Sun King in 1715 deprived France's artists of their greatest patron. Rather than join a legion of artists struggling to find new backers in the West, the Rastrellis set out for St. Petersburg, where the demand for men who could paint, draw, design, and carve all but guaranteed them work. From the moment the pair arrived, the elder Rastrelli was flooded with commissions. Russians still remember him as the sculptor whose full-length likeness of the Empress Anna blended "blowsy flamboyance" and "portly vulgarity" into "a bronze portrait of imposing majesty", (Marsden, p. 108) but their appreciation for his modest talent as an architect has long since faded."
Abstract This paper presents an overview of several interpretations of Freud's definition of the uncanny and then takes a look at how it relates to contemporary thought and postmodern theory and art.
From the Paper "The uncanny is created or emerges in that fissure formed by a tension that results from a collapse of fixed certainties and accepted familiarity. Central elements in the idea of the uncanny, which has been adopted by the post-structural community and by elements of contemporary art, includes the idea of dislocation, de-centeredness, the un-homely and nothingness in place of habitual identity. Furthermore, the meaning of the uncanny has the potential to disturb the logocentric views of modernism."
Abstract This paper explains that the evolution of theater in Greece may be linked directly to the festivals of Dionysus, the Grecian god of wine and misrule. The author points out that Greek theaters, including the theater of Dionysus, were not free-standing works of architecture, but rather they were built into hills in amphitheater forms. The theaters of Lycurgus replaced the original wood of the Dionysus theater with stone, reaffirming the importance of theater in the city of Athens' civic and religious life, which continued well into Hellenistic times, culminating in the Romans' added changes to the structure and including the addition of the Bema.
Table of Contents
History of Theater in Ancient Greece
Architecture of Greek Theaters
Parodos
Bema of Phaidros
The Central Section
Marble Throne of the Priest of Dionysus Eleutherios and Other Priests' Seats
Skene
The Stoa on the South Side of Skene
From the Paper "The parodos of the Theater of Dionysus was a gangway leading into the orchestra over which chorus and actors made their entrances. There are two parodoi, one on each side of the orchestra. Parodos was also the name of the song chanted by the chorus as they entered the orchestra at the beginning of the play. This is another indication of the fusion of the role of ritual, the role of the chorus, and the role of architecture in early Greek theater."
Abstract This paper examines the parties involved in the collapse of the Kansas City Hyatt Regency walkway. The paper presents each responsible party and discusses the role each played and the degree of their guilt in this tragedy.
From the Paper "Additionally, the engineering firm's original designed was unable to support the minimum support value required by the Kansas City Building Code. This was a minimum of 151 kN, while the original design was capable of supporting only 90 kN. It was clear that the engineering firm involved was either incompetent or plain stupid, since the difference between the required minimum and the actual minimum in the original design is huge."
Abstract This paper provides a market analysis of Philadelphia to determine the condition of the local economy, the competitive supply and demand, and what the overall current and future market will be for Class B office space in Philadelphia. A summary of the research is provided in the conclusion.
From the Paper "On the one hand, the economic changes that have shaped Philadelphia since the end of World War II have created a process of decentralization of commercial and residential locations. This decentralization has inordinately affected the minorities in the city, with a large segment of the black population becoming more concentrated in many of the city's neighborhoods to the extent that segregation is more pronounced today than at any time during the last half century (Adams et al. 1991). On the other hand, Philadelphia has enjoyed explosive growth in commercial office construction that has dramatically changed the appearance of the Philadelphia skyline in just a few years."
Tags: historic, american, sites, william, penn, commercial, construction
Abstract During its two centuries of existence as the Byzantine capital of the Peloponnese, a number of churches and monasteries with domes and chapels were erected at Mistras. These structures played an important role in terms of promoting the religious function in the region, as well as providing a centralized focus for the ruling elite. This paper provides an examination of these monasteries and churches at Mistras, followed by a summary of the research in the conclusion.
From the Paper "In his essay, ?The impact of Frankish architecture on Thirteenth-Century Byzantine Architecture,? Charalambos Bouras writes: "In the eleventh and twelfth centuries, Byzantine ecclesiastical architecture in both the capital and the provinces was mature and self-contained, meeting to the full the church building's liturgical needs and dogmatic symbolism, as well as realizing possibilities in the development of other art forms such as sculpture and monumental painting" (2002:247). In the Peloponnenos in particular, where the principality of the Morea had been established, there are not only the most important monuments of Gothic architecture, but also the most characteristic examples of Western influence on embellished Byzantine church buildings (2002:248). The Crusaders were also responsible, according to Bouras, for building a number of strong fortresses in the areas, perhaps even a part of the palace at Mistras, and certain other new settlements. The buildings of the 13th century at Peloponnesos are numerous and were usually smaller than their forerunners (such as the Hagia Sophia), and were frequently included in monastic complexes (Bouras 2002)."
Abstract This paper explains that one of the most unique and forthright features of the Greek Church, the iconostasis, a screen running from wall-to-wall and decorated with icons, is the prime causal factor to differentiate the architecture of a Greek Orthodox church from Roman and Latin churches. The author points out that the most frequently used icon in the sketch of the Greek Byzantine iconostasis is "The Crucifix with Mary and John", whereas, the most frequent icon in the sketch of the Russian Orthodox iconostasis is a simple cross at the top.
Table of Contents
Introduction
The Emergence of the Iconostasis as a Consistent Theme in Byzantine Orthodox Churches
Influences that Impacted the Emergence of the Iconostasis in the East Orthodox Churches
Salient Features of the Greek Orthodox Churches and How Their Iconostasis Spread to Russia
Listing [by Frequency] of Icons in the Sketch of the Greek Byzantine Iconostasis
Russian Iconostasis of the Orthodox Church Established during the 17th?19th Centuries
Listing [by Frequency] of Icons in the Sketch of the Russian Orthodox Iconostasis
The Relevance of Iconoclasts as Perceived by St. John of Damascus and Pavel Florensky
Conclusion (s)
From the Paper "It would also be noteworthy to here acknowledge that even before being influenced by oriental trends in concern to the iconostasis early Greek Churches had a minor fence about waist high or lower, that divided the altar from the people. Naught more than an essential barrier or columns, it was common for this fence to be adorned with pictures of the saints at the top. This barrier, invariably comprised of columns at the top of which the pictures were affixed, can be idealized as the first instance of the iconoclast within the interior of the church. Gradually and eventually, the iconostasis evolved from a rather unexceptional separating fence into a "a great screen or partition running from side to side of the apse or across the entire end of the church". The iconostasis eventually came to completely obscure the altar as well as the sanctuary from the portion of the church where the worshippers are located. Solid materials, such as stone, wood and metal began to be employed in the construction of iconostasis and the final version, which is still seen today, had three doors within it. The center door, known as the royal door, leads directly to the altar while the doors to the right and left are respectively the deacon's door and the door leading to the area of the preparation of liturgy."
Abstract This paper explores several key concepts related to Fire Safety Management. Specifically, the paper looks at the following concepts in greater detail: Fire protection/suppression systems, building construction, exit drill in the home (EDITH), and other home safety programs.
Introduction
Fire Protection/Suppression Systems
Building Construction ? Fire Proofing
Triangle Shirtwaste Factory Fire 1911
EDITH ? Exit Drills in the Home ? Home Safety Programs
The "Science" Behind Fire Safety and Protection
Prevention
Conclusions/Recommendations
From the Paper "Planning and preparation are often the key to safety in the event of a fire or any other emergency. The lessons learned in an emergent situation are often critical to prevention of damage in future emergencies. Fire protection and suppression systems were created with safety in mind; these systems fulfill some basic needs including detection, notification and suppression of fires. Alarm systems are obviously structured to notify occupants of a building in the event that a fire occurs. They also serve to summon the assistance of firefighters should an emergent situation occur. Alarm systems were not always required in commercial manufacturing plants. A majority of older structures in fact had very few protective structures in place to ensure the safety of occupants and firefighters. These standards have changed however in contemporary times. Use of fire alarm systems often goes hand in hand with fire suppression systems, which act to reduce the severity of a fire once started. In some instances, in the case of a small fire, a fire suppression system may be all that is necessary to put a fire out."
Abstract This paper outlines the key themes and findings within Daniel's book and discusses the relationship between Daniel's book and "Managing Urban America" by David R. Morgan and Robert E. England. The paper also highlights the strengths and weakness of the book and concludes with an overall positive review.
From the Paper "In When City and Country Collide: Managing Growth in the Metropolitan Fringe, Thomas L. Daniels describes the recent emergence of the rural-urban fringe in a diversity of cities across the United States. Throughout the book, Daniels develops his thesis that the urban fringe has expanded in recent years as residential and commercial development in cities has boomed, and that growth management must be used in order to contain the growth of the urban-rural fringe. Simply put, the urban fringe is that land that is at the border or the urban and rural landscape, taking the place of what was once the suburbs. Pressures from urban development have pushed away traditionally rural industries like mining, agriculture and forestry. The result is the rural-urban fringe, land that sits in the middle between urban development and the rural countryside."
Abstract This paper examines the various aspects of the Tugendhat House, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and compares them to Mies' other works. The house's architecture, layout, location and materials are analyzed and evaluated against the architect's style and not against the style of others. The paper offers pictures of the Tugendhat House to illustrate the architecture.
From the Paper "Ludwig Mies van der Rohe has created numerous buildings with his own unique and distinct styles; the Tugendhat House is one of these buildings. Grete and Fritz Tugendhat, descendents of wealthy Jewish industrialists in Brno, Germany (now, Brno, Czech Republic), commissioned the construction of the building in the late 1920s. Some of the structure's themes may be found in works done by Le Corbusier, Schinkel, and Mies himself. Throughout the building, it is evident that great stress and preparation went into project, whether it be the location, the facade, the plan, or the material the Tugendhat House a revolutionary concept that rejects traditional arrangements of the interior and promotes simplicity throughout."
Abstract This paper attempts to examine why firefighters have voiced concerns regarding the ever-increasing size of skyscrapers. In particular, it looks at how, when the World Trade Centre Twin Towers, which were at the time two of the world's tallest buildings, were completely destroyed by a terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, the event should have raised enough doubt and questions about the future of high-rise safety to put an end to the construction of skyscrapers; yet, after September 11th, the world's demand for newer and taller structures continued to dramatically increase.
Outline
Table of Content
Introduction
Twin Towers of New York
Building Construction Trends
Truss Construction
Firefighters Structural Analysis
Conclusion
Bibliography
Appendix A
Appendix B
From the Paper "The steel trusses that supported the flooring either melted or simply buckled which in turn released each upper floor down on the next below it and eventually falling completely to the ground. In other words, as the trusses failed, the concrete-slab floors literally plunged downward. When the two jets struck the buildings, the fact that they hit near the towers? tops, the weight of the floors became a force the buildings could not withstand. Although the towers went up easily utilizing these techniques, they were also the eventual cause of the buildings quick demise. The Twin Towers? radically different structural design created a situation where the load-bearing walls simply could not support the weight of the floors."
Tags: steel, trusses, twin, towers, world, trade, center
Abstract The Statue of Liberty is one of the United States' most beloved and recognized symbols. Designed to commemorate the American Declaration of Independence, the statue has a unique and interesting history. This short paper describes the statue's historical significance and outlines the statue's architectural style, construction, and materials.
From the Paper "During the building stages, a lack of funding impacted the creation of the sculpture. In France, a lottery, and public fees were used to help raise funds for the statue. Art exhibitions, theatrical events, prize fights, and auctions raised funds for the statue within the United States. American Joseph Pulitzer also used the editorial pages of his newspaper to solicit funding among the American middle class (Statue of Liberty.org)."
