I remembered this post when I stumbled upon this daguerreotype of the US Capitol Building in 1846. Note the original design had a big honking green copper dome that was replaced because the expansion of the Capitol beyond its original dimensions caused the old dome to look weird.
And this reminded me that there are, apparently, a couple of original "Federal City" era buildings that were quite colorful in one way or another, but which we've pared down over time to just the marble façades. For example the White House for many years had a collection of seasonal awnings that shaded the south portico, but which have fallen out of favor, as have awnings in general. Perhaps as we try to make buildings more energy-efficient, the colorful awnings will regain favor on the White House and elsewhere.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2008-06-07 06:46 pm (UTC)And this reminded me that there are, apparently, a couple of original "Federal City" era buildings that were quite colorful in one way or another, but which we've pared down over time to just the marble façades. For example the White House for many years had a collection of seasonal awnings that shaded the south portico, but which have fallen out of favor, as have awnings in general. Perhaps as we try to make buildings more energy-efficient, the colorful awnings will regain favor on the White House and elsewhere.