It was something like October 10th. The Corm and I were desperate for architectural exploration, and a little fresh air. We deduced an itinerary for the Chestnut Hill/Elkins Park/Germantown Ave area. And then the journey began!
Although we were unable to secure entry to ANY of the architectural wonders we encountered that day, we did get up close and personal with them. And I think that is much better than just reading about them or seeing someone else's photos. Here are some thoughts about the various works we visited:
Baltimore Ohio Railroad Depot
Frank Furness
Flipping sweet. This was built in 1886? Get out. I'm sure if we had made it inside we'd notice more signs of its age, but from the outside it looked pretty intact! That's not to say the local Chestnut Hillians didn't sponsor some restoration, because that is so them, but it looks excellent. The detailing was most pleasurable, the Cormster grabbed many a snapshot of the various intricacies of the project. Why couldn't the East Falls train station be like this?
Venturi House
Robert Venturi (Bob)
I always pictured this building as light brown or tan, definitely not blue. Maybe I've only seen older photos of it. Anyway, it is definitely a unique one. There is so much going on which you can really only get a sense of by creeping over the backyard fence. With all the awkwardness on the exterior, I have a great curiosity about what sorts of architectural jests Bobby made on the interior. The assortment of clerestory windows and interlocking masses gets me pretty excited. I wonder how many 40, 50, 60-year old trick-or-treaters they got on Halloween... maybe we should have postponed our adventure 2 weeks for the perfect alibi to get a glimpse inside the houses!!!
Esherick House
Louis Kahn
Secluded on an elusive drive, the Esherick House presents a mysterious facade. The graphic nature of the exterior's contrasting wood and concrete finishes makes it delightfully novel. With a big-ass window and an ittby bitty balcony, I can picture some exquisite invite-only parties here. I'm not sure if I agree with its current landscaping...
Beth Sholom Synagogue
Frank Lloyd Wright
I've been to this beast before, with my architectural history class, so although we were turned away on account of the Sabbath, I do have some recollection of the interior. The strongest memory I have of the place is the 5 or so trash cans that were strategically placed throughout the seats and aisles to capture the rainwater trickling through the aging translucent panels. I don't know how soon the roof began to leak after construction, but I do recall that it is too expensive to replace and that the panels were originally not yellow. I think this was one of the earliest applications of these kind of panel system, so a more recent installation would prove less penetrable. They always say Frank was ahead of his time. Again with the detailing, this place is laden. I haven't been to many synagogues, but I suspect this one (on a clear day) offers is congregation a very spiritual escape. I remember that the sections and rows of seating were angled and sloped in such a way to give vast views of the central space. You could make eye contact with other members of the congregation during the ceremony, without turning your head. I thought this was pretty cool. It is quite a deviation from my experience as a Catholic parishioner sitting in straight rows, facing forward.
to be continued...
