![]() Ironically, the sightline the architects so carefully avoided was erased thirty years later.Īnd this brings up the last reason it’s so mysterious: the architects went out of their way to hide the difference between the corners. You can’t see it now, because urban renewal replaced that section of Virginia Avenue with bas-relief urbanism and highway ramps. Pierre L’Enfant’s Virginia Avenue slightly clips the block. The South Building in and its context in 1941. But, if you look at an older satellite photo, the reason becomes obvious. Looking at a satellite photo provides no clues. The architect, Louis Simon, wouldn’t have built the setback if he didn’t have to. On Independence Avenue, its facade runs for 900 feet of beige brick and green-painted steel. ![]() When completed in 1936, it was the largest office building in the world. With long, thin wings connected at the perimeter, the South Building was as efficient as an office building could be before air conditioning. Unlike Federal Triangle, or Southwest’s modernist buildings, its walls run right up to the property line. This building was an exercise in making efficient use of the land. Of course, that doesn’t square with the history. The south entrance to the Smithsonian metro stop fits so cozily into the corner, it almost looks as if the notch was built just for it. ![]() The South Building‘s façade stands about 30 feet back from Independence Avenue. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |