Government Buildings as Time Capsules

I know this is being posted later than my self imposed deadline, but I had a meeting this morning for a job that actually pays money, so that took precedence.

To add to me weekly schedule (tuesday is links and wednesday iphone apps) thursdays will be image post days.

I was walking around near Southwest (Federal Southwest) DC on my way to my meeting this morning and I was totally struck by the fact that as I walked around town I was walking through time. The four photos below show a progresion from the Victorian Eclectic Arts and Industries Building through early International Style FAA building, Brutalism at the DOE entrance to L’Enfant Plaza, and finally historical Post Modernism at the National Museum of African Art in a series of 2 blocks of south west DC. Of course, these buildings are not arranged chronologically on the street, but the feeling is the same. Each is not only typical of the construction and ornament of their respective time periods, but also the treatment of public plazas and spaces.

A view of the Smithsonian Arts and Industries building

The very International Style rear entrance to the Federal Aviation Administration building.

This is a side view of the South Building and end of the North Building of the Department of Energy, which forms the Brutalist entrance to I.M. Pei's L'Enfant Plaza.

This is a view of the National Museum of African Art.

Concrete Column – Image Post

An unfinished concrete column I observed in DC
An unfished poured concrete column – It looks like a hand reaching towards the sky.

Brick Ledge – Image Post

A brick ledge in a cast concrete wall I observed in DC
A brick ledge in a poured concrete wall – It looks like the wall has been shifted inward.