Master Preservationist Program-Day Four. Analyzing the Architecture
Meeting Street blows my mind. While I always make it a point to look up and around in the midst of my daily hustle bustle, I never realized how much spectacular architecture graces its length. From South Battery up past Calhoun St – it is not the number of buildings that surprised me, but the tremendous journey through architectural styles that does. Knowing when the buildings were built, and being able to analyze their architecture, can tell you stories of Charleston’s economy, of societal styles, of familial preferences, and even of weather and disaster.
So come with me along Charleston’s Museum Mile and have a look for yourself. I haven’t even scratched the surface with the photos below, but it’s a starting point! (and plus, I have about 7 phone calls to return…)
(Before we go please note that today’s class was actually called “How to Read a Building (Exterior) and Observation” and was taught by Adrienne Jacobsen of Glenn Keyes Architects, one of the preeminent firms in town.)
Federal – 51 Meeting Street, The Nathaniel Russell House and 59 Meeting Street.
Queen Anne – 2 Meeting St (currently a lovely Bed and Breakfast)
Beaux Arts –Gibbes Museum of Art
Romanesque Revival – The Circular Congregational Church
Roman Revival – Market Hall
Greek Revival – The Hibernian and The Charleston Hotel
Here’s a photo of the Charleston Hotel – one of the city’s grandest architectural achievements on Meeting Street.
What? You don’t recognize that? That’s because it was torn down in 1960 and replaced with…a motor lodge. And then fortunately THAT was replaced by something else entirely.
Interesting how on this one piece of land, we can track the evolution of American priorities over the past 5o years…
But I digress…from columns and capitals, to balustrades and keystones, to finestration and muntins, hipped roofs, quoins and belt courses. It is the details of a building that tell you its story and give you a glimpse into a city’s past. If you’d like more on that, take a look at the Pictorial Key of A Field Guide to American Houses. Here’s a little sample!
So I hope you enjoyed today’s march down Meeting St. I have more photos on my Picasa page if you’d like to delve a little further.
Read Master Preservationist Program-Day Three. Getting in the Guts.
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