Hearst Castle History and Architecture
After our visit we realized that Hearst Castle architecture was its history. It was in the process of being built and rebuilt from 1920 through until 1947 when William Randolph Hearst left the place for the last time. It was a building dreamt by Hearst as a castle that could be used for him and his friends, who were the movie and incrowd, could play. Also somewhere he could show off his enormous collection of Art work.
Now for architectural style you have to think 'concept' rather than specifics. Internally Hearst had in mind grand Gothic and Renaissance Europe, so the entrance hall was French Renaissance, although it mixed 'chateaux' with 'cathedral' style, even though the grand entrance was Greek style. The room was stuffed with treasures of French art and The Grand Dining Room was Mid European Gothic castle with Monks Stalls round the walls, the drawing room was Moorish Gothic.
However the outside is made to look like an Italian hillside, with a Moorish cathedral at its centre. It has a focal point, which is a piazza just outside the front door (you can’t get a car to it, as the piatza is up some steps). The front facade of the castle is dominated by the entrance, which is adorned by a mixture of 600 year old figures, a 400 year old Madonna and child and 300 year old stone plaques, set in cement stonework. Above is a chinese style teak roof, with the two Moorish towers on the corners. The word Bizarre came readily to mind.
It is however a total experience. Some people would say the style is eclectic, personally I think I wold call the style Macdonalds, it is the fast food of architecture – anything you want you can have, we just stick it on to the concrete walls. The gardens however were lovely, with their beautiful views down to the sea, or across to the mountains.
What a place! Like you said Sally bizarre!
ReplyDeleteStunning photos.