RenoVous

  The Golden Gate Bridge opened to the public on this day, 1937. It was Pedestrian Day, an opportunity for everyone to enjoy before the cars took over the next day. For the time, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world, spanning 4,200 feet across the bay. Construction began in 1933, in the depths of the Great Depression.  Multiple counties in the area took out a large bond for funding, which would be paid back through bridge tolls.  Members of the Golden Gate Bridge and Highway District even put their homes up as collateral. The bond was repaid by July 1971. The project was led by engineer, Joseph Strauss, and consulting engineer, Leon Moiseff, along with the architect, Irving Morrow.  It was Morrow who selected the color, "International Orange." Upon completion, it was seen as a symbol of progress during a time of economic crisis. And today, it is one of the one the most recognizable architectural structures in the world.

 The Santa Cruz Surfing Museum! It's the only lighthouse I've actually been to, and it has a nice little collection of history.  It overlooks the renowned "Steamer Lane," popular for surfing. Surfing was brought to Santa Cruz by Hawaiian princes in the summer of 1885.  They were attending military school in San Mateo, but spent time off in the water riding waves. *** I have another lighthouse on our list though, it's a hostel in Pescadero. Pigeon Point. They advertise a cliffside hot tub, tide pools, harbor seals, and are recognized as a dark sky preserve. *** The first lighthouse in the United States is the Boston Light. First lit on September 14, 1716. The original was destroyed in the Revolutionary War, but was rebuilt in 1783.

  The Tokyo Sky Tree is a broadcasting and observation tower, and is the tallest freestanding tower in the world. (Not to be confused with the tallest building, of which it would rank #3 at 2,080 feet). Prior to its completion, the Tokyo Tower stood tallest in Japan at 1,092 feet.  A radio tower, it was completed in 1958 as a symbol of post war recovery.  It was inspired by the Eiffel Tower. At night, the Sky Tree alternates between blue chic ( Iki)  and purple elegance ( Miyabi). The height, being 634 in meters, represents mu sa shi, an old name for the region where the tower stands. The Tembo Deck and Galleria are the viewing areas, from floor 340 up to 450.  Sorokara Point is the highest point, with a high resolution digital telescope available. Glass floor at 340. I'll be off tomorrow for the holiday, have a safe and fun weekend!!

  On this day in 1933, architect/engineer Buckminster Fuller, unveiled his Dymaxion Car #1. A made-up word combining dynamic, maximum and ion, it was the first three-wheeled, multi-directional vehicle.  Fuller lived his life with the intent of experimenting and contributing to "changing the world and benefiting all humanity." The sketches began in 1927 and included wings that could inflate.  Production began in early 1933, using a steel chassis and a body made of ash wood, covered with an aluminum skin and topped with a painted canvas roof.  It was designed to reach a speed of 120mph and average 28 miles per gallon. Fuller sold the car to Gulf Oil, and it was put on display at the Century of Progress expo in Chicago. However, in October professional driver Francis Turner was killed when the Dymaxion turned over during a demonstration.  The vehicle was cleared, but investors were concerned. Fuller also created a Dymaxion house, which used tension suspension from ...

  On this day in 1859, the world famous Big Ben rings out for the first time. In 1834, a fire destroyed much of the Palace of Westminster, and the clock was chosen as part of the redesign.  Royal astronomer, Sir George Airy, wanted pinpoint accuracy.  He recruited Edmund Beckett Denison, an expert in horology. The clock tower was designed by Augustus Pugin, in neo-Gothic style.  He was also asked to design the interiors of the new palace, which included carved panelling, wallpaper, painted and gilded ceilings, encaustic floor tiles, and a range of furniture such as this sideboard. In 1987, the tower was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. In 2012, for the Diamond Jubilee, it was renamed the Elizabeth Tower.

  On this day in 1913, Grand Central Terminal opened in New York City. Construction began in 1903 on the site of an older stream train station built in 1879. Planning began with engineer William Wilgus and railroad tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt.  It was designed and built by Reed & Stem, whose firm has worked on more than 100 stations, including King Street Station in Seattle. Despite initial success, disrepair led to calls for tearing it down by 1945.  The famed green ceiling had been blackened by cigarette smoke, but the destruction of Penn Station in 1963 sparked a movement to preserve older buildings. It wasn't until 1975 that many New Yorkers, including Jackie Kennedy Onassis, formed the Committee to Save Grand Central.  A $100M restoration project began in 1980. We were able to visit the station on our trip in 2013, and we were later told about the whispering gallery. These arches create the perfect acoustics for corner to corner whispering, which can be hear...

  Welcome to the Quinta Da Regaleira in Sintra, Portugal. In 1904, Antonio Augusto Carvalho Monteiro enlisted Italian architect, Luigi Manini, to build his "Palace of Mystery." A Masonic Initiation Well, meant to symbolize death and rebirth of the initiate. Gazebo on the Lower Gate Bridge. The property contains a ten-acre park along with waterways, grottoes, and fountains as well as stucco statues and ornate benches. The Fount of Abundance In 1995 it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

  On this day in 1883, after 14 years of construction, the Brooklyn Bridge was opened to the public. Designed by John Roebling, it was the largest suspension bridge built at the time. He was born in Germany in 1806, and was a pioneer in the design of steel suspension bridges.  After immigrating to Pennsylvania at the age of 25, he eventually found work as a civil engineer and established a successful wire-cable factory. His major technological breakthrough was a web truss added to either side of the roadway which greatly stabilized the structure.  Before Brooklyn, he bridged the Niagara Gorge and the Ohio River. Roebling was not able to see his work completed.  Before construction began, he was taking a few final compass readings of the East River when a boat smashed his toes.  Three weeks later he died of tetanus.  His son Washington had assisted in the design and took over as Chief Engineer. He was among more than 100 workers who suffered from compression...

  The Cathedral of Pisa, and its most famous leaning bell tower. On this day in 2001, the site reopened after 11 years of expert work to fortify the tower without eliminating its lean. Original construction took place in the 12th century, during which the foundation began to sink into the soft, marshy ground.  The builders tried to compensate by making the top stories slightly taller on one side, but the extra masonry only caused additional sink.  It was completed in 1360, and was considered a miracle to remain standing. By 1990, the tower was nearly 15 feet off the perpendicular, and archeologists feared it would collapse.  In 1994, it nearly toppled.  But engineers were able to reduce the lean by removing earth from underneath the foundations.  Upon its reopening, they predicted it would be 300 years before the tower returned to the 1990 position. Nearly 5 million visitors a year climb the 293 steps, where they can look out over the Campo dei Miracoli, or...

  One of the most famous pieces of architecture in all the world opened on this day in 1973. Construction took 15 years and the build was funded by profits of the Opera House Lotteries. The first performance was of Sergei Prokofiev's  War of Peace. It was designed by Jørn Utzon of Denmark. The Utzon Center in Aalborg also utilizes interesting shapes. Unlike his home, which is quite linear in comparison. His vacation home though, on the Spanish island of Mallorca, is a bit more exciting. Can Feliz History The Architect

Today is the birthday of William Van Alen, "the genius behind the construction of the Chrysler Building." He was in competition at the time for the tallest building with his former business partner, Craig Severence, whose Bank of Manhattan Trust building had been the winner until the final spire was complete on Chrysler. These buildings aren't even on the list of 25 tallest anymore, but One World Trade Center, also in NYC, is #6. #3 on the list is the tallest building with a clock face, and it resides in Saudi Arabia. The Makkah Royal Clock Tower The tallest skyscraper in the world, at 2,717 feet, is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. I especially like gothic architecture.  Once upon a time, the Cologne Cathedral was the tallest building in the world, at 515 feet. The Tribune Tower in Chicago is considered neo-gothic. Share a favorite of your own! Days of the Year

By the end of World War II, the African American population in Las Vegas reached over 3,000 and they were segregated to the Westside.  As the population grew, more and better homes were needed. In 1949, a housing project was started and became the first subdivision in Nevada constructed by a black architect.  His name was Paul Revere Williams.  He was the first African American architect licensed in the state of California. Berkley Square was named after Thomas L. Berkley, the primary financier of the project.  Several streets are named after others who contributed to the project.  The neighborhood consists of 148 one story ranch style homes and many are still owned by families of the original buyers. The Nevada Preservation Foundation has established a walking tour, detailing the people who once lived in the homes, such as Ruth d'Hondt.  Ruth ended up moving into the house next door to where she grew up in the neighborhood.  She w...