savannah

after a long week of thesis presentations, etc, i escaped down to savannah, ga for a lovely wedding weekend (more on that tomorrow). it was my first trip to this amazing city, and after all the research done in preparation for ontheporch.info, savannah was the perfect destination. it's more than spanish moss and multi-level porches...there is an essence of mystery and intrigue that hangs in the air. walking along wide avenues that connect the multitude of parks and squares, you can almost feel the history.

one building that demands pause is the Scottish Rite Masonic Center on bull street. it rises tall above the rest of the historic downtown and contrasts with the surrounding, traditional architecture. plus, the bright gold and deeply pigmented blue pop against the white, limestone exterior.

begun in 1912 and completed in 1923, the Scottish Rite Masonic Center mixes neoclassical dominance, art deco attitude, and louis sullivan-esque modernism. it represents the emergence of eclecticism...a cultural characteristic that has evolved to become one of savannah's trademarks.

to read more about materials used and the symbolic representation of the architectural details, click here.