Seagram building Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Seagram building - Essay Example The design of the building was given by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe who came to America from Germany (Whiffen and Koeper, 1984). The mythic ideals of German efficiency and clean cut German design are certainly evident from the way the building is structured yet the overall mix of the faà §ade of the building does not make it stick out like a sore thumb amongst the other buildings which surround it. The design also takes its cues from the American architect Philip Johnson who worked on the building from the time it was started in 1954 to the time it was completed in 1958. The building contains 38 floors and the exterior represents a fine example of post modern architecture that focuses on corporate seriousness and hints of gothic styling (Muschamp, 1999). The initial purpose of the building was to serve as corporate headquarters and the primary offices for Seagram’s & Sons but with time other offices and companies have established their bases in the building as well. While it would be interesting to study how the tenants of the building have changed with time, for our purposes, it is perhaps more important to study the architecture and the art of the building. The building faces Park Avenue over a broad plaza of Vermont granite which is lined by water pools on both sides that have ledges of marble that has been given an antique look (Whiffen and Koeper, 1984). The architecture of the tower itself is based on the steel structure that holds the building together with walls of pink-gray glass that give the building a distinctive look. The second element, which helps in creating the now classic look for the building, come from the bronze that has been used to make the various spandrels and I-beams which are visible on the exterior of the building (Muschamp, 1999). Discussing the building in the context of its surroundings Speyer (1968) says that: â€Å"The inescapable drama of