I have been doing a lot of modeling lately. And as those of you who model your own objects know, research is a huge part of modeling.
Currently Im working on a fantasy scene of a 'Roman-Greece' city. The idea is, as Athens is to Athena, my city is after Poseidon. (Poseidos? Don't know what to call the city yet.)
Anyway, while Im modeling buildings and other assets as you would find them in Rome or Athens when they were new, Im also taking from other sources. Including the U.S. capital and D.C. (but making some alterations to remove the 'federalist' aesthetics, and modern widows ect.).
It may surprise you guys (sure as hell did me), but trying to find 3-views and blue prints of the capital building in D.C. is all but impossible (strangely, the white house is easy). However, There are plans for versions of the capital in the Library of Congress that show the first capital, the second (the first was burnt to the ground by the Brits), and variations of the extensions as the capital appears today.
Not that everyone will care about American history, but the imagery is quite enjoyable at least. So I thought I would post some of the things I thought were interesting, since its all I have been thinking on (more or less) for the last while.
One of my favorite images of a candidate for the capital was done by Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson was also the primary planer and Architect of the University of Virginia.
Here is an example of Jeffersons idea of what the primary structure of the Capital Building should have been. Note the very 'Eastern' feel of the design! Its the only example of his work that I found with such a lack of 'Western' influence- (Rome VS Constantinople) (Eastern Empire Vs Western) Though more like Greece.
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I do like this a lot. But Im glad we got what we got instead. Jefferson's design lacked the necessary showmanship a world capital requires IMHO.
Here is an example of someone's idea of what the U.S. capital would look like if a bunch of phallus were added.
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In the end, it was decided that the one large "dome" in the center would suffice, and the image above was largely forgotten.
Who exactly made the decision I did not find. But they have our thanks.
Here is a proposed plan for the original structure
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Rather humble by comparison to what we ended up with, don't you think?
Some (pain in the butt to model) details now
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So I am having a lot of fun with this project. Just wanted to post some stuff from it. THere is a lot of great stuff available to the public at no charge at the Library of Congress, and via its web page. Everyone should add it to their search book in their bookmarks.
Lastly I just have to post an image of my capital after all that above... Grand old girl, ain't she?
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Cheers.
