ICA

Sitting on the edge of the historical Boston harbor, the ICA remains very much interacted with the harbor. The view of the harbor from the site is very intriguing. The architect of the ICA building, seems to use this to his advantage. With an outdoor cafe, outdoor auditorium seating, and the large viewing hall on the top floor all facing the harbor, the building seems to frame the harbor creating different views that are continuously changing. Not only does the building capture different views of the harbor, but looking at the building in section one can notice a similarity in shape to the overall site in which it inhabits. It seems as if the harbor actually continues through the building. Whether or not this was the intention of the architect, this is the feeling I experienced when at the site.

Christian Science Center

Walking into the site, I recognized the importance of the center building. Both buildings, to the front and to the side are very orthogonal and because of this, very directional. But looking at the central building and its semi-circular entrance, large dome, and smaller domes sitting on the polygonal wings of the building, a sense of direction did not come to me.

It kept my attention focused solely on that building and how it sits in the site. Looking further at the site and the openness to the side, I felt a sort of direction toward the pool on the side. This focuses most of the attention on the central building and its relationship with large reflecting pool. Another thing I noticed, was that if you stood looking at the corner of the central building where it is open to the front and to the side where the pool is, the pool on the side and the large area of grass almost create an axis of symmetry at that corner.

Back Bay Fens

Back Bay Fens has become an area used to escape the busy city life. Originally designed by Olmstead to relieve the Charles River of over flooding during storms, the topography levels change drastically along the banks of the river. By adding recreational elements such as walking paths, basketball courts, baseball fields, and gardens, the original design for the space mainly goes unnoticed. Surrounding buildings form along the curves of the park, creating a direct relationship between the residents and the park. The buildings also act as some sort of wall or enclosure, framing the Fens within the city of Boston. Although the Fens was originally designed to deal with flood waters, the original design remains masked by its use of recreation and urban escape.

Trinity Church and Hancock Tower - Copley Sq.

Walking into Copley Sq., the first thing I noticed was the reflection on the John Hancock Tower. One would think that the tower would be overpowering and oppressive on a site of such smaller and older buildings. I felt the exact opposite. It seemed to me that because of how reflective the tower is, it almost seemed like it wasn't even there. It's as if you could see right through the tower, looking at the rest of the buildings that fit into the fabric of the city. It almost kept me from looking up at the tower, and in fact, I didn't look up at the tower until I walked around the entire site. The reflections seem to keep your attention down within the square. There is also a section of the tower that does fit into the fabric, that extends out of the diagonal shape. With that section of the tower and the materials chosen for the tower, I feel that the designer was successful in keeping the importance of the site and the focus not on the tower as one may seem.

Boston Public Gardens - Commonwealth Ave.

While being in this space, I got a feeling of separation from the city. The public garden was surrounded by trees and only revealing the city in the far distance. While on the walkway on Commonwealth Ave., the separation seems endless as it goes on farther than I could see down that central axis. Now, to either side of Comm. Ave., there are those row-houses that fit into the fabric of the city. But looking closer, there are certain high points that show some sort of importance to that building and that part of the neighborhood.


Also, although the walkway on Comm. Ave. and the public garden seem separated from each other, looking closer you can see that they actually are connected by the statues that are placed rigidly every so many feet along the central axis. This area in the city of Boston seems like it is a place that everyone really enjoys. With people walking or jogging everywhere, tours going on, and people just relaxing on benches and enjoying the urban escape, the public garden and walkway of Comm. Ave. seems to be an important part of people's everyday lives.

Louisburg Square - Beacon Hill

Louisburg Square is a wealthy neighborhood of Federal-style row houses located on Beacon Hill in Boston, MA. It is currently the site of the most expensive real estate and among the oldest sites in the history of Boston. It was first settled and established by William Blaxton in 1625. It was later named after a battle in 1745 in which Massachusetts Militia men sacked a French fortress on the site.

Louisburg Square, known for its narrow streets, brick sidewalks, and gas-lit lanterns, along with the Italian marble statues of Aristedes and Christopher Columbus, suggests an influence of European culture brought by its first settlers.





The federal-style row houses were all a part of the city fabric. They were all about the same height and width. Each doorway, was celebrated with some sort of architectural detail, bringing some importance to the entrance of the home. The windows grew smaller as they ascended in height, establishing a hierarchy to the floors of the home. Many of the homes had exterior walkways on the upper floors, allowing for people to enjoy the square from a different perspective.

The park in the square, housing the two statues and many trees, provided a good amount of shade to the area. Down below in the streets, the trees make traveling by foot much more enjoyable during the warmer months. The trees also provide shade to the row houses, covering most of the windows with shade for most of the day. In the winter and colder months, the leaves have fallen, allowing sun to heat the houses.