1
Simon Kessel April 28th, 2020 Sketchbook Project Villa di Maser/Villa Barberi
The Villa di Maser was one of my favorite stops on our field trip. It was built in the late 16th century by Palladio and consists of a central block flanked by two symmetrical wings. The central block is the landowners house, while the wings house agricultural functions, though there are domestic spaces on the upper floors of the wings. Each wing is a long block with an open colonnade. The central block features beautiful frescoes that depict imagined rural scenes, animals, gods, and owners of the Villa.
2
Tomba Brion Carlo Scarpa’s Tomba Brion is a masterclass in creating a soft, evocative, and comforting environment using concrete. It is made up of various concrete structures on an L shaped plot on the edge of a cemetery in San Vito d’Altivole. The tomb was commissioned by Giuseppe Brion, the founder of the electronics company Brionvega, and he, along with his family, is buried there. Scarpa started construction in 1968, and it continued for the next decade. In my sketches, I have tried to capture the details that are so important to the overall effect. Scarpa uses various forms and textures of concrete to evoke a sense of calm, and the finely jutting features meld together perfectly. The top sketch is an attempt at understanding a pathway, and Scarpa’s use of enclosure. The middle sketch depicts an archway, while the bottom sketch is a detail of a raised decorative feature.
3
Seattle Asian Art Museum
The Seattle Asian Art Museum is a 1933 Art Deco building designed by Carl F. Gould that houses the Seattle Art Museum’s Asian art collection. The façade is made of sandstone, and features large central
4
windows. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is situated in a large park, opposite a reservoir, and on the top of a hill, giving the museum a great vantage point over the rest of Seattle. I have included two first attempts at sketching the building, along with a detail on the central windows, and a larger final sketch of the building. I have tried to capture the strong horizontal lines in the building, as well as how the gentle curves in the center contrast with the linearity of the wings. The small detail of the central windows studies the art deco style wrought iron window bars, which are a central design component of the building. An interesting note is the similarity in form to the Villa Barberi, with a large central mass flanked by symmetrical wings – certainly, Gould seems to have taken some inspiration, consciously or not, from Palladio’s work.
5
Volunteer Park Water Tower
The water tower in Volunteer Park was constructed in 1906 to supply drink water to the growing city of Seattle. It is constructed on the highest point of Capitol Hill and is set on an earthen pedestal to raise it further. Made of brick, it is cylindrical in shape, and now features an observation deck at the top. My first attempts at sketching it, on the left, simply try to capture the cylindrical form with the conical top. My final attempt, on the right, puts it in context on the earthen berm, and shows the scattered windows on the top level.
6
Craftsman House, Seattle This is a craftsman style house on Capitol Hill, in Seattle. As this is a random house I walked by, I know nothing of its history. Generally, though, craftsman houses in the neighborhood were built from the early 20th century onwards, in part due to the abundant lumber stocks. I have tried to capture the frequent use of trim to add variation to the faรงade, as well as the slightly annoying lack of symmetry in the placement and design of windows. For example, the bay window on the left of the second story is not centered vertically, the small window the center is actually off center, and the window the right does not match the bay window in shape, size, or orientation. Similarly, the windows on the left of the first floor are flush with the upper trim, rather than being centered vertically, making the house feel smushed.
7
Gymnasium, Bertschi School, Seattle
This is the gymnasium at Bertschi School in Seattle, on Capitol Hill. Completed in 2007, this LEED Gold certified building was constructed with steel, concrete, and laminated timber, of which 10% came from reclaimed or recycled materials. Solar panels provide for the energy cost, and the building is naturally illuminated and ventilated. The front faรงade of the building features a large concrete arch, with windows inset in it, with flanking walls constructed out of wood paneling, and a large overhanging roof. Like the Villa Barberi and the Seattle Asian Art Museum, it features a large central mass with flanking wings, though the scales are very different on the gymnasium.
8
Healy Chapel and Theater, Seattle Preparatory School
Completed in 2007, and designed by the Mithun architectural group, the theater and chapel at Seattle Prepretory School features both a liturgical and performing arts space. It is constructed largely out of concrete, though the long faรงade features a wall covered in ivy. My sketches have tried to capture the boxiness of the building, and focus on the building masses, rather than the (lack of ) decoration.
9
Paccar Commons, Seattle Prepratory School
This building, a commons area for the school, features a faรงade made up of glass panels and stonework. In these sketches, I attempt to detail the interplay of materials on the faรงade and the contrast between the flat glass panels and rusticated stonework. Additionaly, the jutting angle of the stonework on the left side contasts with the straight lines of the glass panels and is remniscent of the buttresses seen in Italy. The roof overhangs the faรงade, adding additional texture and massing detail.