The City of Domes : a walk with an architect about the courts and palaces of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, with a discussion of its architecture, its sculpture, its mural decorations, its coloring and its lighting, preceded by a history of its growthBarry, John D. (John Daniel)
History
The City of Domes : a walk with an architect about the courts and palaces of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, with a discussion of its architecture, its sculpture, its mural decorations, its coloring and its lighting, preceded by a history of its growth
Barry, John D. (John Daniel)
Panama-Pacific International Exposition (1915 : San Francisco, Calif.)
View of Italian Towers at sides of Court of Flowers, from north court,
red glow and green columns of towers on either side of Mullgardt tower,
vivid contrast.
To Court of the Universe, through Florentine Court.
Florentine Court
Florentine Court; only illumination, single lamp standards; contrast
with intense light in Court of Universe, beyond.
Fine shadow effects against walls; vertical shadows of columns in arches
contrasted with shadows of trees and shrubbery.
Court of the Universe
Arch of Rising Sun; light through latticed windows in arch to give faint
spots of luminous color.
Illumination of main and side arches; curvature preserved and details
thrown into relief by lights of different strengths and colors;
concealed red light on one side and pale lemon light on other side
thrown on arch. All main arches similarly accentuated.
Urns in side arches, effect heightened by lights thrown from sides,
bring out lines; red on one side, on the other pale green.
Colonnade, illuminated by three translucent shell cups sunk into central
groove of each column at rear; spear of light from each shell up the
grooves or fluting; pleasant glow through shells from below. Effect of
melted gold, suggesting the tongues of fire mentioned in the Scriptures.
Sculptural groups on Arches of Rising and Setting Sun, flooded with
light from searchlights, creating black shadows, in turn illuminated by
purple lights on top of arch. Figures thrown into relief.
Tower of Jewels, gradual illumination; early evening, faintly lighted;
later, when searchlights are turned on, tower dominates southern wall;
blaze of white light; jewels sparkle like diamonds; turquoise columns,
faintly colored in bright light; statues, orange color.
Star figures around court above colonnades, jewelled; each has forty-two
stones, illuminated by small searchlights on opposite side of court.
Early evening, pretty effect; little jets of light from figures shoot
across the court in clearly defined rays. Later, flood of lights from
columns in court above the small rays.
Fountains of Rising and Setting Sun; columns, said to be strongest light
sources ever created; aggregate 500,000 candlepower sufficient to
illuminate 500,000 square feet of surface; fluting of columns glazed with
special diffusion glass. For elimination of shadows caused by structure,
there is diffusive glass inside. The glare from the light source is not
excessive; brilliancy low; daring illumination of entire court.
Lights under water in pools of fountains; source and reflection
concealed; yellow light diffused over surface.
Figures on pedestals of balustrades mark boundary of Sunken Garden; not
for illumination, but for ornament merely.
Domes of corner pavilions, north of Tower of Jewels, fine contrasts in
interior; delicate blue ceiling; orange at sides.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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