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I was fortunate to catch the last day of the exhibition, SELLING the DWELLING, The Books that Built America’s Houses, 1775-2000, at the Grolier Club in New York. Richard Cheek, exhibition curator and author of the accompanying book, is a photographer who records the visual history of America’s architecture as well as a bibliophile.
An elegant rendering by Richard Cameron for a portico at a private residence. Sketches establish the most general appearance and function of a building.
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Several weeks ago, the Waterworks showroom in Greenwich, CT hosted a book signing for Philip James Dodd, the author of The Art of Classical Details: Theory, Design and Craftsmanship. In this beautifully organized and photographed book, Phillip proves that architecture, to be successful, requires not only a knowledge of theory and practice, but also an understanding and appreciation of the craft of building. He features architects and craftsmen who have a love for classical detail. They are students of the classical orders: Tuscan, Doric, Corinthian and Composite. Each order provides a system with its own distinct proportions, details and identity. Without them, classical architecture does not exist nor is it understood.
Doorways of all kinds host lovely knockers to announce visitors. This charming and welcoming doorway is in Bologna.
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Last May I posted my photos of door hardware in Paris. I recently returned from Italy and have more photos to share. Not only is the hardware beautiful, detailed and well crafted–the textures of the doors themselves add to their charm. I was drawn to the patina of rich colored woods and the peeling paint as well as the tarnished brass and corroded iron door knockers and pulls that have softened with age and environmental conditions. Each one reveals something about the style of the building and the taste of the owners. Clearly, they are all “vintage,” but I know nothing of their actual age. Somehow it doesn’t seem to matter.
