Category: DC

Mies van der Rohe’s only building in Washington,D.C.

Late in his career, Mies was commissioned to design the main D.C. public library, named in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.  In contrast to Mies’s better known projects such as the Seagrams Building, a moderately tall skyscraper in New York City, and 860-880 Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, upscale housing towers, the library is only four stories above ground.  But all three projects display Mies’s trademark emphasis on a highly visible gridded facade.  In Seagrams and MLK Library the facades had a strong vertical emphasis created by steel i-beams welded on to the frame.

Mies, who was awarded the AIA Gold Medal and Royal Gold Medal, among numerous other recognitions as a leading Modernist architect, designed the building from 1965-1966, ground broken July 1968, and the library opened either August or September 1972. (Various sources site different key dates for this building.)

The building very recently closed for renovation (including roof garden and floor plans) and will only reopen in 2020.  Washingtonia Collection is at the DC Historical Society’s space at the Carnegie Library.

The architect for the renovation is Martinez and Johnson.  The architectural historian is Traceries.

Top photo shows G Street (main facade at left) and 9th Street side.  Bottom photo showing I beams detail on 9th Street.  photos copyrighted by Bill Lebovich, 2017MLK Library06072017 (2).jpgIMG_3377.jpg

My lecture on architectural photography this Saturday

SAT, MAY 21 AT 10:00 AM, WASHINGTON, DC
Insights Into Architectural Photography Workshop
By: The Historical Society of Washington, D.C.
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$20 – $30 GET TICKETS
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Insights Into Architectural Photography Workshop
Sat, May 21, 2016 at 10:00 AM – Washington, DC

$20 – $30 GET TICKETS
Event Information
Event Description
Join the Historical Society of Washington, D.C. and architectural historian and large format photographer Bill Lebovich for tips of the trade for creating stunning architectural photography. Building on his extensive experience with HABS/HAER photographic documentation projects, this two-hour workshop will offer points of interest to both experienced and novice photographers looking to capture Washington, D.C.’s built environment.
Using examples from the extensive collections of the Historical Society of Washington, D.C., Library & Collections Director Anne McDonough will offer tips on how to organize digital photography files and suggestions on compiling the documentation necessary to make your contemporary photography work a possible resource for your descendants, future historians, and repositories such as the Historical Society.
Advance registration and ticket purchase recommended. Onsite registration is subject to availability.
This workshop is part of the Street Photography Series, a slate of instructional workshops and historic walking tours covering all eight of D.C.’s wards. This series is designed to encourage active documentation of contemporary Washington, D.C. with a historical context, and culminates with the Spring 2017 For the Record exhibition at the Historical Society of Washington, D.C.
WHEN
Saturday, May 21, 2016 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM (EDT) – Add to Calendar
WHERE
The Historical Society of Washington, D.C. – 801 K Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20001 – View Map
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Washington, DC Events Class Hobbies
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Montrose Park

Montrose Park is an eleven acre park in Georgetown at R and 31st Streets,NW,which is part of Rock Creek Park.  Sarah Louise Rittenhouse,who lived in Georgetown, gave the money to acquire the land to assure that it remained open land, rather than be developed.

Montrose Park,the adjacent Dumbarton Oak Park, and Rock Creek Park are units of the National Park Service.IMG_1522 (1).jpgIMG_1522.jpg

 

Atlas Obscura Tour

I had the pleasure of giving my tour of Capitol stones today to a very DSCN2675.jpgnice group of people.                                                                            (c)Bill Lebovich,2016