The Opinionated Charles Eastlake and More Progress

Our favorite construction site was beautiful this morning.

These workmen on the northwest tower caught my attention.

Two men worked hard to repair the arch over this window.

The brick on this arch at ground level below them has been the recipient of some attention, too.

This pointed arch in-between reminds me of Charles Eastlake, who appreciated the Gothic pointed arch.  I have been reading his book, Hints on Household Taste.  Our friend Mr. Eastlake felt strongly about design and construction and was not the least bit hesitant in stating his opinions.  In that respect, this book is a wonderful read.

Mr. Eastlake preferred the Cromwell chair, believing it to be both functional and appealing to the eye.

He designed this bookcase which demonstrates some of his ideas.  First, the hinges are not wrought iron, in case you were imagining that.  They are brass.  Mr. Eastlake felt that wrought iron used in decoration was "detestable in the eyes of a true artist."  In order to make the case more functional, the books are not protected with glass doors.  He did not approve of urns at the top of cases for decoration, as "Urns are meaningless things in these days of Christina burial."  But he did use a gable as a decorative feature, and of course we can all approve of that.

Mr. Eastlake would definitely approve of the progress on the north gable.  After the 2010 fire, the gable here was completely destroyed.

Architectural features such as this brick dentil are being restored all around the building.

Work on the east gable is also progressing, although it was impossible this morning for my camera to see it.  These two men tested this new lift, which went up and down in my line of sight as I tried to peek in the former east entrance.

Just six months ago the east side had not yet been returned to ground level.

I zoomed in to get a better look inside.  Ducts?

Two instruction rooms will be at ground level on this side.  Patrons will walk up staircases in the towers to an additional instruction room on the second floor.

A lot of work is happening inside, but out of sight shouldn't be out of mind.  The center window on the lower west wall has now been opened.  I tried to look inside here, too.

More ductwork?  The plans at Provo City show art glass in all six windows on this west gable wall.  Maybe the ductwork is just parked here for now.

My camera zoomed in on the brickwork on another pointed arch.  The rubble we are seeing in the niche is structural rebar and shotcrete coming through from the inside.  This will disappear as the restoration progresses.

This large pointed arch on the west wall will belong to a beautiful sealing room with a gothic double-vaulted ceiling.  Mr. Eastlake liked all things gothic, and he felt this style of architecture appropriate for all structures, not just churches.  He wryly commented that gothic architecture was so often associated with religious buildings because they were the only British buildings built well enough to withstand the centuries.

Notice more dentils which have been repaired on this side.

The new steeple cast a large shadow in the morning sun.

Other interior work includes insulation, which has been ongoing for weeks.  Dry wall is up, and workmen have told me it's now possible to get lost.  Ceilings are high; I'm told even at this stage the inside is beautiful.

Mr. Red Ladder wanted to point out more dentils on the south side.  You might notice that work is beginning on the forms for the heat tubes which go under the edge of the slate roof.

Much of the work on the south side is exterior, so it's fun to spend time here watching.

The formwork is massive and keeps growing.

I have to pay attention if I want to stand on the opposite side now because the edge of the forms moves from week to week.  The morning was so beautiful that even the workmen looked up to comment on it.

The forms above the garage have now blocked much of the natural light which used to enter here.

However, I spied some temporary construction.  Offices currently housed in trailers on the north lot will move down here where it will be blissful this summer.

Turbines have been delivered, but not yet placed.  They will pull air through the underground areas so we can breathe easily.

The artist's rendering of the pavilion shows the structure from the west.

I captured it from several angles this morning:  This view is from the east.

Charles Eastlake strongly favored Victorian design; he would have appreciated the pavilion.

The interior ceiling will have bead-board with exposed trusses, definitely appearing functional enough for Mr. Eastlake's tastes.  And ours.

A Victorian fountain will be between the pavilion and the south entrance.

The fountain is in stasis mode until more concrete is poured.  Green rebar marks the spot.

A corresponding architectural feature is on the north side, this enormous planter, which has now been poured.

This view from the construction cam shows the planter.  The pavilion on the south is also visible.  Notice the new tent at the base of the northwest tower.

Glass over the bride's skylight was added last week.  It will be cleaned up a bit, I'm sure, but this is how it will look.

Six weeks ago my camera captured this contraption next to the skylight.  It looks like an upside down table.  The legs are now secured inside the concrete walls of the skylight.  The "table top" will hold the art glass.  I'm not a bride, but I'll definitely take a peek.  Our mayor is openly saying the temple will be completed next year and I'm going to hold him to it.

The tent over the skylight area will protect the new glass from anything hazardous.  Stray bricks, cleaning solution for the walls, even bird attacks.

Faithful cam watchers have seen slate going up on the west side of the north gable.

It's on the east side of the gable, too, and spreading.

Green rebar has now spread to the far end of the south lot.  Pillars are already growing out of the rebar.  We should see another pour here soon.

The work marches on.

And in case someone needs to leave for a minute, they can now escape.

But who would want to leave?