The Mormons are coming...

[nanyika]

I don't see a stylistic disconnect between the style of the towers and steeples and the rest of the building. The overall style is fairly consistent with English Georgian architecture of the mid-18th century. The Temple would not have looked out of place stylistically if it had been constructed in 18th-century London. St. Martin's in the Field comes to mind since it employs some similar architectural elements -- but there are other examples of English Georgian architecture that are even closer in style. However, the proportions, shape, and usage of the Temple might have been quite jarring if it had been constructed back then. I don't think anyone would have dared to put a steeple -- let alone two steeples -- on a building that resembles a government building or palace more than a church.

Nevertheless, I don't think that supersupper is necessarily incorrect in calling the style of the building (minus the steeples) "Beaux Art." That architecture style, which was popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, used classical elements in a similar manner, as taught in the academies, but based more on 18th-century French models rather than English.

[Scoats]

I rather like it. It would appear to successfully mix federalist with greek classicism, a strange yet successful mix of 18th and 19th century styles for the 21st century.

The non-matching towers on opposite ends of the building are very unusual. The positioning of the building, showing its side to the major street, is also quite unexpected. It finds a way of being new while reusing the old.

I like modern day buildings as much if not more than most folks. I like the modern Christian Scientist church in downtown Chicago (it’s insane), but I don’t know how well it works in its environment. This Mormon church fits right in while being unique. I rather of like it.

[Phillyurban8]

So what's the deal? I thought there would be a big hole in the ground by now. What's holding up construction??!!

[mixiboi]

Another thread was started, but the long story short: The LDS is very scheduled, and they schedule construction to begin in July 2012 and end in 2014.

http://www.philadelphiaspeaks.com/fo...ead-build.html


The more intresting part is they bought the lot next door too:

the Philadelphia City Council approved a contract between the Church and the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, designating the Church as the developer of the site at 1601 Vine Street—next door to the temple site at 1701 Vine Street. Purchase of the property has been finalized, which is intended to be used for a mixed-use development.

[Phillyurban8]

Still no construction. Surely they don't want to be pouring concrete during freezing temps!

[OffenseTaken]

Still no construction. Surely they don't want to be pouring concrete during freezing temps!

The latest update, per http://www.philadelphiaspeaks.com/fo...ml#post516612:

Architects now expect excavation for the 53,000-square-foot, $70 million temple to start in early fall and construction in the spring, with two years to completion.

"There should be a big hole in the ground by Oct. 1," said Michael Kihn, a principal at the Philadelphia office of Perkins & Will, an architecture firm based in Chicago.

This is why multiple threads on the same subject suck.

[mixiboi]

The latest update, per http://www.philadelphiaspeaks.com/fo...ml#post516612:



This is why multiple threads on the same subject suck.

IT happens, nobody wants to search through thousand of threads...

[eldondre]

saw them digging a whole this morning

[Gladys]

To politely throw Romney in when he loses?

[MNG1324]

Crate romney to the top of a car and then throw him in the hole.

[seand]

“[Mitt] loved it,” Ann Romney said. “He would see that crate and, you know, he would, like, go crazy because he was going with us on vacation. It was to me a kinder thing to bring him along than to leave him in the [campaign bus] for two weeks.”

Adding to the left’s narrative that the family had little compassion for [Mitt] is a detail from the 1983 trip that Ann Romney confirmed to Sawyer. [Mitt] became sick, defecating all over [himself] and the windshield of the car, leading [Ann] to hose them both off before they continued on the drive to Canada.

“Once, he — we traveled all the time — and he ate the turkey on the counter. I mean, he had the runs,” Ann Romney said, laughing as she explained how [Mitt] got diarrhea.

Dog Seamus ‘Loved’ Trips Atop Family Car, Says Ann Romney - ABC News
Wow a few careful substitutions really changes the picture.

[mixiboi]

The design for the new Philadelphia Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on the 1700 block of Vine Street received final approval from the Art Commission Wednesday, even though at the last moment two commissioners dissented.

Art Commission grants final approval to Mormon Temple | PlanPhilly: Planning Philadelphia's Future

[OffenseTaken]

The design for the new Philadelphia Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on the 1700 block of Vine Street received final approval from the Art Commission Wednesday, even though at the last moment two commissioners dissented.

Art Commission grants final approval to Mormon Temple | PlanPhilly: Planning Philadelphia's Future

It's remarkable that the designer of the President's House on Independence Mall is criticizing other designs for not being subtle enough for him.

Commission Chair Sean Buffington asked if anyone supported Kelly's comments, but no one responded.

Yeah, I wouldn't either.

[Phillyurban8]

It will be a fine addition to Philadelphia. I wish I could say the same about the Convention Center addition, the new Hilton, the Beaumont, the President's House, etc, etc, etc.