Quirky Corner

Watch Your Step

Oakwood is another historic residential area that I enjoy exploring.  The houses here are well maintained compared to those off Blount Street. Historic Oakwood is located further away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Raleigh. It’s a place for a quaint stroll or bike ride and not to mention walking distance from Krispy Kreme. This particular home, located on a corner, was built in 1882 for Carey J. Hunter. The orientation of the home, facing the corner of the road instead of aligning parallel to the street, immediately drew me to the house.  A distinguished octagon-shaped tower with pointed roof immediately creates a hierarchy in the house. The tower seems to emerge from the second level, rising over there rest of the roof and giving a castle-like feel to the façade. 

Window Gallery

In addition to the tower, another distinguishing feature of the house is the variety of windows. Small oval windows, rectangular, square, and circular windows are carved out of the exterior walls of the second level. They appear as though they are jewels on a crown, adorning the walls.   A square stained glass window makes the transition from the tall tower to the back of the home with the pitched roof.   The shape of the square is then repeated in the petal windows beneath the pitched roof.  These small windows flank a false door that appears to be going out to the second floor balcony, emphasizing the imaginative quality of the home.  

Patriotic Porch

The main level of the house is dominated by the porch which embraces three sides of the house.  Double columns support the heavy cornice of the porch creating the illusion of structural strength and stability.  The ridging in the columns increases the verticality of the façade, however, this verticality is then balanced with the low porch railing.  Dark brick acts as the pedestal to the house as well as the wall to the street and side walk, making the house more private and secluded from the public realm.

Whimsical Wooden Threshold

Though the windows play key roles in the home’s ornamentation, the door takes center stage. The deep toned wood of the door contrasts with the ivory siding that covers the rest of the home.  Delicate carvings of swags and serpentine curves references to the design elements of the glass above it.  

From the top of fairytale-like tower to the eclectic collection of windows of the façade and finally the sturdy door that seals the interior, this corner provides an imaginative touch to Raleigh's Historic Oakwood. 

500 Blount Street

The Fallen Zero

I decided to take a walk throughout downtown Raleigh since the winter weather is melting away and the days are lasting longer. My favorite part of downtown is the series of historic houses located along Blount Street.   Once the place of admired residential architecture is now a series of blurs to the cars that zip past them on the way to a hip bar or restaurant further down the road.  However, this residential area is a place to enjoy leisurely because of its overflowing whimsical character that shines through a coat of chipping paint.

Approach from Blount Street

My post, today, focuses on a charming, white house located in the corner of Polk St and Blount. These old bones date back to 1875 and were built for Senator August Merrimon in a Victorian Italianate style.   The delicate details in the facade are what attracted me to the structure. A curved pattern seems to be lightly hanging between the supporting members of the porch, emphasizing horizontality.   It's trabeated porches creates a sense of depth and allows for a place to rest during a hot North Carolina summer day.  The use of two porches within the home creates a dynamic composition on each side of the structure.  A deep cornice crowns the tops of the porches, making the architecture weighty and grounding down the lower level.  Despite it's delicate ornamentations, 500 Blount street also has strong tectonic qualities.  

Side Porch Bolt Detail

The architect does not hide the structural components of the house.  Large bolts, gears, and rivets are evidence of the construction techniques.  This architecture is not ashamed to conceal the structural parts, it in fact incorporates it into the ornamentation of the porch.  Making it a part of the house's architectural aesthetic.  

Laying the First Brick

Middleton Inn, WG Clark Architects

Starting something new is the sometimes the hardest and most exciting part of life. Whether it be starting a new job, a new relationship, or even a new blog, laying that first brick can be a challenge.  I am Kristin. I am a sophomore in Architecture at NCSU and I am about to take on a new journey, a design journey.  A journey that involves a study of the architecture, fashion, and art throughout my life. With this first blog post I will record my thoughts and analysis of design that are along the sleepy sidewalks of downtown Raleigh all the way up to the top of the Duomo in Florence.  So here goes nothing...