Inside the Department of Justice with the ICAA

Last week I had the pleasure of setting up an exclusive inside look at the Department of Justice for the ICAA. It definitely did not disappoint and now I get to take all of you inside as well!

Passing along the national mall one sees massive classical buildings which house different branches of our government but do you ever wonder what they look like inside?

Inside the Department of Justice, known as the Robert F Kennedy Building, one is surprised to find an amazing art deco interior behind a rather staid classical facade dating to 1934. Some of the aluminum details on the exterior however give hints at what is to come.

Our tour started on the 3rd floor elevator vestibule. This is really the main level where the important offices are located as well as the law library used by the large staff of lawyers.

The multi-colored aluminum-leafed barrel-vaulted ceiling tops an astounding streamlined classical room filled with art.  12 panels in the frieze by Henry Kreis from 1933 depict the 12 regions of the country.

One end of the hall has limestone statues by C. Paul Jennewein and Roger Morigi depicting the 4 elements (earth, air, water, and fire).

 Even the aluminum elevator doors are works of art.

 Not to mention the coordinating radiator cover!

The wood paneled library features 20 unusual murals depicting the 'Search for Truth' in the frieze by Maurice Sterne which weren't completed until 1941.

 My favorite thing in the library were the 2 aluminum lamps flanking the reference desk.

 The 4 seasons are depicted on the sides of the lamp - this sheaf of white and sickle for autumn.

 Many of the columns and pilasters feature this superb marquetry woodwork.

Librarian offices in the rear on a metal mezzanine show the namesake of the building, Robert F Kennedy.  The original painting decorates the hallway outside of the Attorney General's office.

 Here is the original painting from 1975 by Aaron Shikler.

 The hallways are simpler but still pack a lot of style.

 The aluminum light fixtures throughout the building are all different and each one a work of art.

 Aluminum leafed medallions are above each limestone door surround.

 Even the doors are beautiful!

 The ends of the hallways have the important office suites of the Attorney and assistant Attorney Generals.

The typical offices are quite large with beautiful plaster mouldings (with rather ugly curtains) and tall ceilings important with the extreme summer heat of Washington.

 Heading downstairs to themain level lets you appreciate the details found in the murals.

 Like these chickens!

 The vestibule on the main piano nobile level leads into the Great Hall and features the same stunning detail found throughout.

 The aluminum guardrails feature the Lotus blossom.

 One of many murals even featured architects at work so I had to take a quick snapshot.

 Four large cast aluminum urns on limestone plinths by C. Paul Jennewein depict Fortitude, Prudence, Temperance, and Justice.

 I just love these 30s light fixtures and the stepped crown moulding.

 The most famous room in the building is the Great Hall where press conferences are held.

Flanking each side of the stage are enormous 12 1/2 feet tall cast aluminum statues depicting The Spirit of Justice and The Majesty of Law also by C. Paul Jennewein.

 This should look familiar to most people!

Oddly enough lining the Great Hall are bank teller windows.  Originally employees were paid in cash on a weekly basis. Each Friday afternoon they could gather their weekly pay on the way out the door.

 I love the stone radiator covers which look like classical Roman furniture.

 The hallway walls are clad in limestone and the ceilings feature beautiful polychrome and aluminum decoration; And lots of trash cans for whatever reason!

 The main stair leads down to the ground level; more lotus blossoms on the guardrail.

18 panels surround the stairs by the artist Boardman Robinson and depict the great codifiers of the law.

 These large murals are on canvas and cover over 1,025SF of wall space. In 1935 he was paid $20,000 for these.

 The marvelous detailing continues in the vestibule with these lotus leaf grilles hiding the radiators.

 My favorite 'room' of the building however is probably the main central courtyard.

Large cherry trees were sadly removed a few years ago because they were causing damage to the parking garage below -but it's still a marvelous space.

The courtyard was little used until the 1960s when Robert Kennedy had lawn furniture installed; Aluminum naturally.

 38 aluminum light fixtures surround the courtyard as well flank as the exterior entrances and stand 7 1/2 feet tall!

I can't stress how large this interior space is; check out the scale of our tour group above for reference.

Unfortunately one of the most fun details of the building isn't visible from the ground;  The roof tiles are multicolored terra cotta and include 1,100 polychromed antifixae which act as snowguards. This one above is on view in the library which was removed and replaced during a recent renovation.

 The original aluminum sash windows are a beautiful detail.

If you're in the DC area please make sure to check out our events page on our ICAA website HERE.

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Cranbrook Academy of Art tour

Cranbrook Academy was the brainchild of philanthropist (and newspaper man) George Booth. Sited on his property in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, in the suburbs of Detroit the 319 acre lot has been filled over the years with an art academy, a boys school, a girls school, art laboratories, a world class science and history museum, as well as an art museum.

Booth brought on renowned Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen to help him not only develop the campus architecturally but the mission of the multi-faceted academy with a seemingly endless budget. See my previous tour of Saarinen's house on campus HERE.

Sculptures by Carl Milles dot the lush gardens and many water features. Milles had moved from Sweden in 1931 to be sculptor-in-residence at Cranbrook and remained until returning to Sweden in 1951.

The campus came at an intriguing time in architectural history. It started as rather arts and crafts in the 1920s, played with Art Deco in the 30s, and the later buildings from the 40s and 50s are a precursor of the International movement.

Artists are still in residence in the Saarinen properties.

Fragments of antique sculpture are embedded into the brickwork on the older buildings.

The different areas of the campus each have defined portals or gateways like this arch into the boys and girls schools (a middle school run by Episcopal diocese).  The inscription wisely reads "A life without beauty is only half lived".

No 2 details are alike.  Have you seen such interesting Ionic capitals before; the art-deco influence at work.

Notice that each bracketed capital is completely different!

I loved this cloistered garden off the infirmary.

The ironwork found throughout the campus on multiple gates and fences are incredible.

While there are many disparate styles and ages to the buildings they all work together.

Around each corner is a surprise: a sculpture or fountain.

The Boys and Girl's campus have this lovely stone pergola.  Imagine it with roses or wisteria!

As you can see in my snapshots we had unusual weather ranging between hail, flurries, and sunshine.

The tower seen above was really intriguing and could be seen throughout the campus but I don't know what purpose it served.

The building on the right which looks like a chapel had these intriguing paneled stone entries.

Another beautiful sculpture and water feature.

Many of the buildings are connected with covered walkways. This one was intriguing with little domes inserted into the poured concrete surface.

More amazing ironwork.  Everything was done on site by artisans living on campus.

These doors led to what appeared to be a chapel but is actually the dining hall. Check out those lamp posts!

Place of worship of food.

This shot above sort of connects all of the previous pictures of the kid's campus area so you can get a sense of how they relate to one another.

Another 'entrance' from what was originally intended to be the public entrance (but was never used) is this lovely telescoping arched breezeway which leads to the arts academy.

The telescoping of the breezeway makes it look much deeper than it actually is by forcing the perspective. The brickwork is really lovely, a sort of herringbone ceiling pattern.

And like I said the details are everywhere.  A pair of centaurs led down to somewhat forgotten water garden.

These were intended to be the main gates at the public entrance leading to the museums but proved too difficult to monitor people coming and going off campus.

This 2nd century roman capital lies in a courtyard where Ray and Charles Eames had their workshop designing much of their famous furniture we all enjoy today.

The art museum was hosting a graduate exhibit with some really interesting projects. I was all eyes for the architecture however and loved these travertine stairs -notice the integrated handrail detail.

I did love this student project.  The tent was painted with scenes of the forest and a speaker played sounds of crickets.

Another project by an architecture student was an outdoor pavilion with intriguing plays of light and color through a skylight playing on sheer curtains.

Another great detail in the basement of the art museum was this curved metal barn door; not from Saarinen I don't believe but a modern addition.

Antique stained glass in the lobby had wonderful views of the garden.

The site is constantly changing.  It's a living, breathing arts campus and not stuck in time.  Buildings have modern but sympathetic additions and modern sculpture dots the landscape along with the original artwork.

This addition behind the museum was particularly successful I thought in being of today but melding nicely with the old.

And not to fear, the modern buildings also have thoughtful details like this rainchain instead of a downspout.  Notice the lovely patinated copper gutter.
If you're ever in the Detroit area I highly recommend a visit to the Cranbrook  Academy of Art, you won't regret it!

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