Archive for January 2012
Living Architecture: The Watchtower, Desert View, Grand Canyon
I recently returned from the Grand Canyon. The highlight of the trip was our final stop eastbound as we made our way towards Sedona. Desert View’s Watchtower, designed by Mary Colter and completed in 1933, illustrates features of a living architecture worth sharing.
First, the stone that makes up the building’s skin is native to the area. Ms. Colter personally supervised the construction, staying on site and overseeing the placement of virtually every bit of exterior stonework. As a result, there’s a sense of care, and in some places, whimsy, in the delightful presence of the building.
So, a picture to whet the appetite:
Watchtower at Desert View
This is a building that is truly timeless. Were our civilization to disappear, future archaeologists would be confounded as they studied this structure because, within, the body of the tower is supported by a steel frame whereas the exterior appears to have been built by native peoples.
Information Placard
Interestingly in some areas the building appears as if it was a ruin adapted and reused for modern purposes.
Base Below the Main Tower
Living architecture embraces beauty and delights the eye, heart and soul.
Watchtower Detail
An interior photograph of the ceiling geometry using native wood and traditional framing practices.
Ceiling Detail; One Story Gift Shop Adjoining the Tower
I wish we could have spent more of the day here. Arriving in afternoon allowed good photographs of only the west and south sides of the building. I can report the remainder is as wonderful as what you see here.
In summary, creating a Living Architecture responds to the site, uses native materials, creates beauty and enlivens the spirit. The preceding list is by no means inclusive, but only a starting point for a long and, hopefully, interesting trip.
