Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

jesuswipesagain t1_jbtybbh wrote

I've always thought the marble was super tacky and overly gaudy.

I'm NOT saying public buildings should be bland. IMO, public works should be beautiful yet also feel accessible to the common person. I also understand that's an impossible goal based on the subjectivity of beauty.

The marble looks great in a vacuum, but it's association with upper class wealth is a poor choice for government buildings. At least in my layman's design philosophy.

The building is still super impressive. Cool pic!

0

LoudLemming t1_jbu2mhj wrote

It's all Washington stone - it's of this place.

I don't disagree with the aethetics but it's a narrow view.

3

jesuswipesagain t1_jbu6un3 wrote

Ohh that's an interesting tidbit, thanks!

Idk how much it changes my thoughts about highly ornate design elements on public buildings though.

Not sure what narrow means here, but I do understand it's not the materials fault for being naturally intricate and that my feelings are a symptom of my experiences and environment.

I wouldn't advocate for a redesign.

2

Swanny82 t1_jbvcii2 wrote

Do you mean all the marble is from Washington? That’s not correct, we were just there and did the 3 hour tour. Almost all the different areas are made from marble from different areas. Some from Alaska, some from France and Greece I think it’s from all over the world. And they have like 489 Tiffany lamps from the Tiffany lamp company that went out of business in the Great Depression. The finished the capital building in 1928 I think, a year before the depression, otherwise they would never have been able to build it as grandly as it is.

2