The history of human society is often been seen reflected on the buildings that have been built during the period of time. During most of the biggest empire and societies of all times, such as the roman empire, the Mongol empire or the different Chinese dynasties, their legacies have been always been appreciated on the structures they built. Now day buildings stand for many reason and purposes, but we will analyze two relevant buildings here in New York under the certain criteria; uniqueness, historical value and design concept. In the following paragraphs we will analyze St.John the Divine and the new PATH station "Oculus" under this criteria.
Uniqueness is a quality most of architects persuade during their career, especially those who are driven by fame, but nonetheless it is not easy to create or design something that has never been seen before. Saint John the Divine for example, with walls carrying history with details, gifts, representatives of their own relative Christian epochs, and stained glass which illuminates each corner of the place. Santiago Calatrava's "Oculus" for example, located within the World Trade Center of New York with it's never before seen iron steel structure and glass spine must certainly ring a bell while talking about uniqueness. Also,This temple also claims to have the biggest stained Rose window in the United States of America, winch at the same time form part of one of the five biggest in the World. Another quality of this terminal which makes it so unique, is the fact it is the most expensive terminal in the world, because over $ 4 billions where spent in order to complete this marble in Architecture .Nevertheless, the uniqueness of this building is just as great as it's historical value.
The historical value of St. John the divine it does not only derives from the years this temple has stood against the pass of the years, but also the history that has been written within it's walls. Famous artists and public figures have visited, preform and even been mourned in this place, including, the Dalai Lama, Duke Ellington and Nikolai Tesla respectively. In the other hand “Oculus”was built on the same location where it used to be the old Path station, which was destroyed after the terrorist attacks on the twin towers. In addition, on the south part of the Cathedral's property it lays the structure of what it used to be " The Lake and Watts Orphan Asylum", which has been there since 1843. This terminal stands as a remainder of the capacity of society of raising from a terrible events and move on, looking for a better future and making a better future Besides the historical value of this marble of Architecture an interesting quality of this building lays on its design concepts.
Design concepts of a structures which has been envisioned and developed within so many styles as this one requires an especial devotion to be appreciated to it's fullest. On 1891 after a three year design contest and 60 proposals, the design of the Cathedral was won by George Heins & Christopher Grant LaFarge following design concepts of the Gothic, Byzantine and Romanesque styles.According the architect, the inspiration for this design was based on the idea of a dove being released from a child's hand. Also, later on 1992 Santiago Calatrava envisioned the cathedral with a green house like structure serving as the North-South transepts and a glass arboretum atop of the nave as a response to a design competition that was held to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the building, which he won but never was able developed. The importance of the “Oculus”design concept and it's output it doesn't only relies on the aesthetic marbles which were achieved by this building, but on the idea that underlines it by shouting to everyone that no matter what society will set free and move on.
After closely analyzing these buildings under the criteria of uniqueness, historical value and concept, these buildings have shown their real color. Both St.John the Divine and the new PATH station "Oculus" have made history and will always be a land mark for all the events that had happened at these places. Each of them is unique on their own and stand for very different context, but both provide a unique concept or ideas of what their essence is. It is relevant to see buildings for what they stand for and as the reflection of the times, struggles and realities society was facing while these were been built.
St. John the divine
Simplyfy !! get ride of so many verbs and unnecessary flowers, be very precisy an try to e as accurate as posible
World's Trade Center PATH (Oculus)
Uniqueness is a quality most of architects persuade during their career, especially those who are driven by fame, but nonetheless it is not easy to create or design something that has never been seen before. Saint John the Divine for example, with walls carrying history with details, gifts, representatives of their own relative Christian epochs, and stained glass which illuminates each corner of the place. Santiago Calatrava's "Oculus" for example, located within the World Trade Center of New York with it's never before seen iron steel structure and glass spine must certainly ring a bell while talking about uniqueness. Also,This temple also claims to have the biggest stained Rose window in the United States of America, winch at the same time form part of one of the five biggest in the World. Another quality of this terminal which makes it so unique, is the fact it is the most expensive terminal in the world, because over $ 4 billions where spent in order to complete this marble in Architecture .Nevertheless, the uniqueness of this building is just as great as it's historical value.
The historical value of St. John the divine it does not only derives from the years this temple has stood against the pass of the years, but also the history that has been written within it's walls. Famous artists and public figures have visited, preform and even been mourned in this place, including, the Dalai Lama, Duke Ellington and Nikolai Tesla respectively. In the other hand “Oculus”was built on the same location where it used to be the old Path station, which was destroyed after the terrorist attacks on the twin towers. In addition, on the south part of the Cathedral's property it lays the structure of what it used to be " The Lake and Watts Orphan Asylum", which has been there since 1843. This terminal stands as a remainder of the capacity of society of raising from a terrible events and move on, looking for a better future and making a better future Besides the historical value of this marble of Architecture an interesting quality of this building lays on its design concepts.
Design concepts of a structures which has been envisioned and developed within so many styles as this one requires an especial devotion to be appreciated to it's fullest. On 1891 after a three year design contest and 60 proposals, the design of the Cathedral was won by George Heins & Christopher Grant LaFarge following design concepts of the Gothic, Byzantine and Romanesque styles.According the architect, the inspiration for this design was based on the idea of a dove being released from a child's hand. Also, later on 1992 Santiago Calatrava envisioned the cathedral with a green house like structure serving as the North-South transepts and a glass arboretum atop of the nave as a response to a design competition that was held to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the building, which he won but never was able developed. The importance of the “Oculus”design concept and it's output it doesn't only relies on the aesthetic marbles which were achieved by this building, but on the idea that underlines it by shouting to everyone that no matter what society will set free and move on.
After closely analyzing these buildings under the criteria of uniqueness, historical value and concept, these buildings have shown their real color. Both St.John the Divine and the new PATH station "Oculus" have made history and will always be a land mark for all the events that had happened at these places. Each of them is unique on their own and stand for very different context, but both provide a unique concept or ideas of what their essence is. It is relevant to see buildings for what they stand for and as the reflection of the times, struggles and realities society was facing while these were been built.
St. John the divine
Simplyfy !! get ride of so many verbs and unnecessary flowers, be very precisy an try to e as accurate as posible
World's Trade Center PATH (Oculus)