Despite the striking tower (pictured yesterday), my favorite architectural feature of Saint Andrews Catholic Church is this rounded projection which (since I've never been inside) I presume to be at the back of the nave behind the chancel, where the altar might be. (Here's a church diagram.)Sure enough, the Roman church said to have inspired this one has a feature very much like it. Not only does Santa Sabina have the same arched windows, but the stone is also of a similar hue. (Click on the Santa Sabina link to see a photo of the Roman basilica. The photo below is of the Pasadena church.) The Roman basilica, built in 432 AD, has some nice pock marks that ours doesn't have. I'd like to stay around a few hundred years and see ours do some graceful aging.
The only unfortunate thing about the local building I can see, architecturally speaking, is that the rear of it is crowded against the funeral home. You can't get a good look at the back. But I suppose that has a convenience all its own.
9 comments:
I just love that style - we don't see it this far north, and I miss it. Thank you for dishing it up.
What a great building!
Mediterranean style seems to be a good choice for SoCal.
This is a beautiful structure - nicely photographed, Petrea
Exquisite! As US E said, I too "love that style." Interesting to compare the "cousins."
"Take a little trip
"Take a little trip
"Take a little trip and see …"
—oops, sorry. Forgot I was on a blog.
("Low ri-der is a little higher …")
That's an interesting thought you have: What will our fine buildings look like in hundreds of years?
[They should live so long.]
I wonder why that is, USElaine? Was noCal settled that much later? Was taste that much different? Or do you suppose it was just the personal taste of the two guys who designed this building?
You betcha, Laurie. Nice to see excellent architecture every day.
KG, they say our weather is Mediterranean, too, so it's a good fit.
Miss H, we're always threatening to travel together. One of these days...
Coltrane, I should have used the Italian word. It's cugino, I think. Or some such.
Bernie, that song's going to be stuck in my head now.
I hope the good ones do, Dina. No reason why they shouldn't, with our advanced understanding of engineering. But only the good ones, I hope!
what a great post! I love how you show both churches. Thanks for the research. It really is neat how they were so inspired to recreate a similar feel to the church in Rome.It's beautiful.
The northernmost extent of the Spanish missions was down in Sonoma county, so that may have something to do with subsequent style revivals. I realize this is Italian, but we mostly have had wood frame, up until recently.
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