Downtown Sunday Thaw

FDIsee

View from Penn Valley Park of the "new" FDIC Building.

Waffling on This One

I can't decide whether I love or don't love this building.... thus the "waffle" aspect... of course it does sorta look like an upended waffle. It's the West Edge development at 48th and Roanoke designed by architect Moshe Safdie.. who's also the designer of the Kauffman Center for the Performing arts. While certainly an intriguing edifice from a design standpoint, it is very large for where it is located and dwarfs its surroundings. One day I like it and the next day I don't like it.

Skyline Spring

Taken from the westside looking east standing on the Jefferson Street Bridge.

Marble, Mahogany , Tile and Light

It takes conviction to save an historic structure rather than level it and thank goodness there was plenty of that on hand when the Scarritt Building and Arcade were renovated a few years back.  Built in 1908 the buildings, 819 Walnut, were designed by Root and Siemens and were inspired by Louis Sullivan in both formation and detail.  The pictures above show the exterior of the Arcade structure which fronts on Walnut.  The taller building on the east opens onto Grand.  Inside the Arcade is open from the first floor to the skylight five floors above with offices ringing the airy space. The detail work in the plaster and tile is just incredible.  The Grand Ballroom is located on the Grand Avenue side.  One picture shows the lobby of the Ballroom and the other  the space prepared for a wedding last weekend.   Many thanks to Dawna and Shilah for letting me photograph their building!!

God and Man

Looking east from Quality Hill.

Tara, Not So Firma

Yesterday while in Grandview on business I ran across this old house and out buildings.  Brad Finch, who does architectural photography for National Register Nominations and such, thinks the main part of the house could date from the 1870s.  It's located just a stones throw from 291 South and 150 Highway.  It is setback quite a ways from the road.    You can see additional photos of it and the other buildings here:  http://web.mac.com/dremley/Site/Abandoned_House.html

Architectural Sojourn

Rambled through downtown KC today just on a lark.   Nice light.  A mix of architecture from the very traditional facade of Old St. Patrick's at 8th and Cherry nestled in amongst it's modern neighbors to the ultra modern skin of the Sprint Center and H & R Block Building.   I like both.  A complete renovation of Old St. Patrick's was just completed in the fall of last year.  Kudos to those whose preserve rather than level.