Beauty in Brutalism

Beauty in Brutalism. Washington, D.C., U.S.A. August 2017.

Washington, D.C., USA. August 2017.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is one of the more interesting brutalist buildings in D.C. Modernist Marcel Breuer designed the building and included two of his style signatures: the concrete curve and the deep-set rectilinear windows. The "curvilinear" shape of this 10-floor building was designed to ensure the maximum amount of light to shine into the offices while the seemingly endless grid of windows reminds you just how immense the concrete structure is. I am not typically drawn to brutalism, but HUD is striking to me because it integrates these two opposing design aspects. 

Freshly Minted

Freshly Minted. Washington, D.C., U.S.A. July 2016.

I used to race through the Main Hall of Union Station to catch the Amtrak, however since the recently completed renovation I have taken a bit more time walking through to enjoy the transit hub. For the first time in 50 years, the Main Hall is clear of any obstructions. The renovations were prompted four years ago when an earthquake shook D.C. and damaged parts of the Station. Stakeholders used the opportunity to rethink the atrium of the hall e.g. remove the monstrosity of a cafe that used to sit in the middle of this beautiful space. Now visitors can appreciate the beautiful Beaux Arts hall the way that brilliant architect/urban planner Daniel Burnham created and designed it.  

Moment of Zen

Moment of Zen. Washington, D.C., USA. September 2016. 

If you are a looking for a quiet hiding spot on D.C.'s National Mall, you will find it in one of the two garden courts at the Smithsonian's National Gallery of Art West Building. As a D.C. resident, this is a free and accessible retreat that I do not take advantage of enough.

The Hirshhorn has a panoramic room on their top floor, the National Portrait Gallery has a glass ceiling courtyard created by Foster+Partners, and the National Gallery of Art has this neo-classical garden. This photo was taken on a Sunday afternoon and while the gallery was bustling, the garden was perfectly still. 

So, "Here it is, your moment of zen."*

*Thank you Jon Stewart

Sunrise, Sunset

Sunrise, Sunset. October 2014. Washington, D.C., U.S.A. 

Tomorrow I begin a new adventure in Milan, Italy. Since I will be leaving this fine city for seven months, I thought this image would be an appropriate one for the day. All D.C. residents have an epic skyline photo featuring the Washington Monument and this is mine. By the time I return here, it will be around the time this photo was taken. A few people have asked if this image is significantly edited, I assure you it is not. I boosted the saturation up slightly to reflect how the sunset looked in person; it was really that beautiful. I will miss seeing this view, but more importantly, I will miss my friends who have been amazing pillars of encouragement along the way.