Tag: Washington DC

We stayed at the Watergate hotel, famous for it’s curves and these points, of course, it’s famous for other things, but I’m taking architecture here.1960’s design, the contrast is wonderful when you zoom in.Zooming in is great for seeing materials and texture, on an old church.The new African American museum.Skylight and courtyard at the Portrait gallery. Shadows are a great part of texture.Gate and bricks in Georgetown. People don’t do this kind of metal work anymore.Or this.An old lock on the C&O canal in Georgetown, old brick and wood. More on the canal later.I’m embarrassed to say, I didn’t notice this incredible marble booking in the lobby of the Watergate Hotel until we were leaving.I thought that because of the expense, this style of working with marble went out in the 30’s with the depression. Now I know why it took five years to renovate the hotel.So, what is booking you ask? (clearly, you haven’t been on one of my downtown tours). Notice the diamond shape. Four squares of marble,  the top two are mirror images as are the bottom two. In order to achieve that, you need to study the marble carefully, then slice it very thin so that you can flip one of the pieces and get a mirror image. In this case, they had to then find another vein in the marble that would be a close enough match to create the diamond.

Go back and look at the first image, in that case, they cut the marble four times to create the design.  I can’t tell you how much I love that someone took the time, effort and expense to bring back booked marble.Another favorite texture of mine is stained glass, of which there is plenty in the National Cathedral.So these griffins-gargoyles don’t come close to those on the Cathedral, but they are a nice whimsical touch over a store front in Alexandria.

Next, I’ll share nature’s textures.

Leah

DC is all about the monuments, see, the Washington Monument pops up everywhere.The height of the Capitol determines how high buildings can be. I think my tours in downtown Los Angeles have changed my viewpoint. I like having tall modern buildings in a city, gives it some gravitas.There is nothing like the Lincoln memorial at night, if I have to choose a favorite, it is this one, the majesty is palpable. Apparently a lot of people agree.Booyah! to the Marines. The Iwo Jima memorial is so impressive.With every new battle, they add a new inscription. I confess, I like this much better than the general WWII memorial. That one felt so overwrought and over done. Here the sculpture is a true piece of art that really tells the story.From there, to the greatest memorial to those who fought for our freedom. Arlington Cemetary.The grave of the unknown soldier, or soldiers, since they have added more remains. I’m thinking that today with all our DNA technology, there may be people who’re bodies are lost forever, but if found, they are identified.The changing of the guards, so solemn, so impressive, so many people standing and watching and honoring our American soldiers.

Mt. Vernon is covered in scaffolding, up on the weather vane, a crow sits atop the dove with the olive branch.The National Cathedral is worth a visit. For it’s flying buttresses…gargoyles…arches…. and stained glass.

I will be sharing more of sights of DC, ones that don’t necessarily show up in all the travel brochures.

Leah