Photo Essay 2

A Photo Essay
Prepared by Renatha Vernon for the Academy of Art

Preface...............................................................
3
The Alhambra.....................................................
4
Parthenon...........................................................
6
Pantheon............................................................
8
Villa Savoye ..................................................... 10
Guggenheim Museum......................................
12
The Colosseum ................................................ 14
Il Duomo...........................................................
16
The Glass House ............................................. 18
Fallingwater......................................................
20

Preface
This photo essay was created to fulfill the requisite for application to the online Masters of Architecture at
Academy of Art in San Francisco. The essay is comprised of nine buildings chosen by me, the prospective
student, according to the essay guidelines. The photographs used have been mostly purchased stock
photography websites., some have captured in my personal travels. The cover photo is one of my own
photographs. I have permission for using all photographs used..
I personally wrote all essays and captions based on my own knowledge, personal experience with the buildings,
and some light research to remind myself of what I had studied previously in my Bachelor’s of Interior Design. I
have taken the liberty to write in a casual yet professional style found today in many travel blogs and magazines.
I hope you will enjoy my essay, and I look forward to studying at the Academy.
Sincerely,
Renatha Vernon

Building One
The Alhambra
by emir Mohammed ben Al-Ahmar
The air was crisp in the early morning, yet the sun; just above the horizon, promised to shine in all its glory ushering in
Spring time. On one of the undulating Andalusian hills, there sat perched a mighty fortress overlooking the town of
Granada. Strong. Imposing. Guarded. The Alhambra.

First built circa 889, it was a modest upgrade to Roman ruins found atop its hill. As with typical medieval towns, it
was nothing more than a small fort protecting its residents from invaders. For a few centuries, it was the home of
Muslim emirs during the Moorish reign in Spain, and at its golden age it was added on to become the palace of a
sultan. But as the Christian armies recovered Spain to Christianity, it became the palace of the monarchy of
Spain, who I dare say desecrated a flawless example of Moorish design and devotion by adding on Period
architecture over the centuries to an already stunning structure. However, to be fair to all who have laid a stone,
azulejo, or plaster on the Alhambra its intricateness makes it, to me, one of the most beautiful buildings in the
world. It represents centuries of history, religion, religious wars, governmental revolutions, culture and
architecture. Experts agree that it stands as one of the best examples of historical Muslim architecture in the
world. It was here in this cool breezy palace, while meandering through its fragrant gardens that I realized how
much I actually venerated history and moreover historical architecture. Where prior to this experience, I enjoyed
studying the abridged history of architecture and design while in college, it was then that I truly fell in love with
the richness of history. It was there that I realized a personal thirst and quest for knowledge of the intricate details
of History, details especially pertaining to her most beautiful twin daughters: Art and Architecture.

Building Two
Parthenon
by Phidias et al.
The day was looking ominous. There was a tinge of frost in the air. In preparation for the hike up the Acropolis, we chose
to delve into the museum below the rock mesa, which offered warmth and a fountain of knowledge. Little did we know
our children would have a museum adventure they would never forget.

Oh those Greeks, they were amazing. They could possibly be the most gifted civilization in the world, if one were
to count all the ways the Greeks have influenced modern society. I won’t venture to do so, but I will share why I
love the Parthenon. Truly, the Parthenon feels more like myth than fact as I write. Blame the world wars for that.
The newer temple was built in later part of the Fourth Century B.C. to replace an older temple dedicated to
Athena which was destroyed in, you guessed, a war. History has a tendency to repeat itself. Nevertheless, its
splendor has been seared into the annals of history forever because of its simple design, perfect mathematical
proportions and dimensions as well as its special visual effects. Parts of its pediments are found in the museum
down the hill and tell beautiful tales of Greek mythology. The Romans who probably like to think they invented
anything worthwhile in history, have even drummed up or drawn up and built many akin reiterations of those
historical colonnades, entablatures, friezes and pediments. One example is coming up next. Today the
Parthenon is unfortunately in shambles. The Greek state hopes to one day revitalize all of their nation's
architectural relics, and boy do I hope they accomplish this fete. Perhaps if Greece succeeds in fixing their ruins,
we will one day look back and think—with the same mind boggling wonder that we use to study the mathematical
theories of the Parthenon—how were they able to pull off such an impossible task? Luckily for us there are
wonderful and still mostly intact relics of the Greek golden age in other places and one of them is found south of
Rome, Italy. Paestum, holds three temples of about the same size as the Parthenon right next to each other. If a
trip to Italy is not feasible, there is always Nashville, Tennessee. A smaller replica of the Parthenon with the
statue of the Athena Parthenos is found in the city of country music.

Building Three
Pantheon
by Hadrian
September surprised us with a few rain showers. No matter, we were not the only tourists in Rome. Maybe we were the
only lost ones amidst all the wet cobblestone streets. If you’ve never been to the Pantheon, you will find it where many
narrow streets dead end from all directions onto a pleasant and food filled piazza.

Pantheon; Greek for ‘many gods’. The Romans borrowed a lot of from the Greeks. It wasn’t just architecture.
They even worshipped the same gods, they just changed their names. The Pantheon is currently just another
Christian cathedral in Rome. However, it was originally built as a temple to the ancient Roman Gods in a another
location in Rome. It burned down, and the one we visit today was said to have been designed by Emperor
Hadrian, although there have been many others who have left the touch in the building as parts of it were built
along the ages. Hadrian was known to be have not only an interest in architecture but to also to have studied the
Greeks. Maybe Hadrian was particularly credited for the Patheon’s façade. In my opinion, the most impressive
aspect of the building is that it has withstood the test of time and wars, maybe some earthquakes , and that
gigantic dome is still intact. The dome is built from extremely heavy materials, concrete and metal enforcements
to be precise, so it is very surprising that it hasn’t been compromised. Furthermore, it stands as proof of how
much Greek architecture influenced the grand Roman empire, and has continued to influence us to this day.

Building Four
Villa Savoye
by Le Corbusier
In her dream, she lived in Villa Savoye on the outskirts of Paris. She drove a baby blue Cinquecento with a retractable
roof. She calmly awaited Spring so she could plant her herbs and flowers on the second floor plants boxes, the smell of
those plants mingling together in the heat of the summer sun as she lounged in her favorite Pony Chaise given to her by
the famous architect who built the house for her, as house warming gift.

Picture a white hollow cube on stilts for a house. Maybe a beachside ultra modern home in Florida? Not quite. A
1930’s ultra modern house in the country near Paris, France. The house, designed by Le Corbusier who was
famous in the International style is a perfect example of said architectural movement. After centuries of fluff and
embelishments, the International styled along with its predecessor the Bauhaus movement, brought a fresh look
to art, architecture and design. Boy am I grateful for it! Perhaps inspired by the industrial revolution, it introduced
clean, rectilinear design and simplicity that was long overdue. Besides the clean white canvas that the exterior
represents, the open concept plan of Villa Savoye with all its natural light due to its long panes of glass, ushers in
a new experience within living environments. It brought the outside, and simplified the living space and
necessary objects and appliances. Furthermore, another key feature is the roof top garden and second story
courtyard. This idea has no doubt been used as inspiration for modern homes and apartments of today where
land is hard to find. The idea of a garden inside or above ground is ingenious. I hope to include a lot of these
ideas in my future projects.

Building Five
Guggenheim Museum
by Frank Gehry
As the story goes, Bilbao was a post industrial nightmare. Its main river polluted and lifeless, its streets dirty and
corrupted. Someone must have a visionary dream to build a structure that could transform a dilapidated city into a fresh
and clean new metropolis. This fairy tale in the end came true.

I will never forget sitting in History of Modern Design and Architecture when a slide of the Guggenheim Museum
was put up on the screen. It was love at first sight. Never in my sweetest dreams had I seen such a beautiful
structure; silvery, scaly, bold, fluid, sharp. What was I looking at? That was when I fell in love with Frank Gehry’s
projects. The funny thing is, I didn’t quite care for Deconstructivism that much while studying design. For one
reason or another, I didn’t connect Frank Gehry go the architectural style he belongs to. Yet, like a lover who is
blind, there was nothing that Frank Gehry designed that I didn’t like. What I love about Bilbao’s Guggenheim is
its changing chiaroscuro effect. The sun playfully casts light and shadows over its lines and curves throughout
the entire day. Moreover, I had never considered such a shimmery material as titanium on a building. Looking
back, I think the titanium was what I fell in love with. The materials like glass and stone were also used to
complement the metal. But to me the beauty of the building is in the shape and material juxtaposed to the quiet
river that runs in front of it. Turns out the fairy tale of Bilbao came alive, river included. The fairy tale was that
Bilbao wasn’t prospering, its river was filthy with pollution, and the city desperately needed a pick me up. After
Gehry’s Guggenheim, the city emerged, its people started to believe in it again, and even there river got cleaned
up. And hopefully they are living happily ever after. Now I can’t wait for my dream to come true to go meet the
Guggenheim in person soon.

Building Six
The Colosseum
by Emperor Vespasian
Gouged and bloody, the gladiator managed to kill its last opponent. The populous Colosseum vibrates as the crowd
cheers him on. Water fills the arena, time for an underwater show. Will he survive his new fighting challenge?

Our guide is a typical Italian Casanova. Donning jeans, a wool jacket and a scarf, he beckoned us to follow him
into the Colosseum. To enter the Colosseum is to enter another world. A world not distant from our modern
society. You see, it takes about 30 minutes to realize that the Romans had the same cultural wonders and
pitfalls, the same social stratification, the same “Pay to play” politics that some in our society enjoys. It is noticed
quickly once the tour guide points to the nose bleed seats. Perhaps we have only progressed a tiny bit as we no
longer sit and watch real people be eaten live by wild animals. We now look for those films to hit the theater
justifying that a movie is not real. The intriguing part of the colosseum are precisely how much the ancient giant
resembles our modern football stadiums. The rich sat closer to the “stage”, the poor sat up in the high seats.
Between the seating levels there were bathrooms, and concessions. And what of the arena? Oh, the arena. The
stage topped with sand for the fights, unearthed for plays, filled with water for even more dramatic effect. Its
basements held props, animals, slaves and gladiators. It sure reminds me of Broadway. The most interesting
part of history to me is the influence of other periods in our own ‘modern' lives. We sure do thing highly of
ourselves, but I do wonder if the Romans weren’t smarter than us these days.

Building Seven
Il Duomo
by Filippo Brunelleschi
It was a hot day in Florence. A mother and her two children wander the streets from the Santa Maria Novella Station in
search of their month long accommodations. One turn the right way, and they are faced with the green and white marble
of Santa Maria Del Fiore cathedral and Brunelleschi’s Duomo. Tears of joy and gratitude filled her eyes. “Gelatto,
children?”

From a top the many hills that sound Florence one can see Il Duomo floating above the cityscape. It’s been
almost a year since my two oldest children and I embarked on a 6 week long trip to Italy to take Italian classes in
Florence. I still get emotional thinking about that experience of walking the streets of the Renaissance city with
my children. You see, I’m a person who likes to connect the dots. My name, a name with latin roots, shares the
same root as the term Renaissance. Renata=Renainssance=Rebirth. I had been to Florence another three times
before. But there was something about sharing that city and my love for all things “rebirth" for an entire month
with my children that was priceless. In fact, the littles ones had been there before too, and we even took them up
the 480+ steps to the catwalk around the dome. The dome is an architectural fete of its time, no doubt. It is the
first herculean dome of its kind; built with wood beams and terra cotta tiles, instead of stone and concrete. Its
interior frescoes are also a sight to behold and contemplate upon. And to think the Brunelleschi was competing
against his life-time rival to build the dome is also part of the marvel of the dome. As the story goes, even though
Brunelleschi won the commission, Giotto had to collaborate. Although there’s no real evidence, the Florentine
say that Brunelleschi pulled a trick on Giotto, leaving Giotto temporarily in charge. However he was stuck and
didn’t know how to proceed. Brunelleschi then came back to win the day and finish the construction of the dome
without a collaborator to take part of the credit. To me, the Duomo has become a symbol of human’s ingenuity,
creativity and perseverance in the face of the impossible. (Photo credit: Renatha Vernon 2016)

Building Eight
The Glass House
by Philip Johnson
Seeing all seasons from all angles, watching the sun rise and the sun set from the same chair all day, smell in the foliage
all around you, feel the chill of the crisp nights and early mornings. Those are the experiences one could have if one
owned a glass house in the woods.

Philip Johnson has a great idea; to explore what an all glass house would be like. But for those not so
comfortable with the idea, he built its opposite. The brick house providing the need for privacy is a few yards from
it. What I absolutely love and have dreamed about the Glass House is how open to nature it is. I have never
been there, but I can imagine watching the light dance through the glass making different shadows throughout
the day. The clean lines, the earthy materials all prevent it from being stark, not to mention all the green
surrounding it. Another feature I love about the house, is what is inside the house. Philip Johnson, the house’s
architect, was a friend of my favorite other artist Mies Van Der Rohe, who designed the Barcelona chair, and the
Daybed named after himsefl. It is my dream to one day furnish my own house with wonderful modern classics
such as those. Lastly, another feature that is clearly displayed yet, subtly forgotten is how little is inside the Glass
House. It is a minimalist haven! There’s something about living with as little as possible that draws me in. In fact
in this day and age of materialism and consumerism, minimalism is a breath of fresh air and something I’m very
interested in studying and designing for the masses.

Building Nine
Fallingwater
by Frank Lloyd Wright
Oh to wake up to the soft rushing sound of water through your bedroom window. To feel secluded and drawn into the
wild, to not notice days going by. That must be what if feels like to be at Falling Water.

Anyone who is studies architecture and design has heard of the Frank Lloyd Wright, and his stubborn ego.
Thank goodness for that stubbornness! Look at what he has accomplished, designed and built. Fallingwater is
a home like no other. Yes, there have been settling issues and what not, but the home has become a master
piece of architectural design. It is warm and cozy, despite all that water flowing right through its basement.
One of the features I love about Fallingwater is the use of horizontal lines that flow from the exterior into the
interior. It gives us a sense of calm. In my opinion it ties the house to nature and yet serves as a contrast to all
the tall trees outside. Another feature I appreciate is Wright’s use of built in furniture. At one point in my life, I
lived in a house that had built in concrete benches in the foyer. I was little so I thought it was odd, and cold.
However now, having moved so many times, I think the idea of built-in furniture is splendid. Wright, was right
on point. Not all pieces created for Fallingwater are built-in, however this concept became one of his
signatures. Really one buys furniture to complement a home, and when a move is in order, the furniture
moved rarely fits the next abode as it should. Is there a niche in creating more homes with built-in furniture
pieces for the minimalist or the pragmatic? I’d like start that conversation going.