This is a zoning map of the city of Proctor. The red areas denote commercial lots- obviously, this is an incredibly small town, despite its renown as the marble capital of the world. Though the project specified a specific site, we've since been given leeway about site selection. I will choose a larger city to facilitate a larger, more ornate building. Right now, I have my eye on Quebec city.
An aerial view of the city of Proctor. It has some nice plots of land, but its population is less than 2000 inhabitants. Any Mason lodge built her would be little more than a one room building.
This is the marble quarry in Proctor. You can see the tiers of marble cuts in the side of the rock face. Marble is taken out of the ground in large stratifications, which are then cut into smaller (though still quite large) blocks. These large blocks are removed with machinery to various finishing sites.
These are the three main marbles of Proctor, Vermont. Although I love the serpentine patterns of the Vermont Verde Antique Green marble, I think the contrast between the black and white marble would be the most dramatic on the outside of a building.
This is an example of how beautiful marble can be on the exterior of a building. This is marble cladding- it is not structural, its just attached to the side of the building in thin sheets.
Building with stone does not limit you to orthogonal shapes! This is the Baha'i Temple in New Delhi, India. Its Lotus form is created with white marble cladding.
This is a case study of Ladd Hall. Note the hierarchy of architectonics. I like to think of the hierarchy as a vertical pattern that becomes less substantial the higher you go. With a more substantial base, the building appears more grounded. This vertical hierarchy is repeated horizontally. Rules about windows and other elements are put in place to create consistency and harmony. Deviating from this pattern can create unique features, however. The diagonal pilasters that frame the central part of this facade are a good example of this. They are also a good example of the diminishment of architectonic elements the higher you go- notice the "layer cake" effect.
Masonry is ripe for expressive possibilities. This stone carving embodies the traditional gargoyle of gothic cathedrals: the pinnacle of masonry construction. This stone carving also expresses the function of the building in an artistic way. Ladd hall is the old chemistry building. This dwarf is holding a mortar and pestle- an allusion to the processes of chemistry. Its an appropriate expression- a dwarf in a lab coat holding a laptop would upset the socially learned vocabulary of masonry construction that makes masonry buildings look and feel "old" or "old world".
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