Commonwealth Ave.

Commonwealth Avenue is located right next to the Boston commons and runs parallel to Newbury Street. The first thing I noticed about this particular area was the symmetry - there is an obvious axis of dividing the area into two symmetrical halves. the whole area is surrounded by trees spaced evenly apart, forming a distinct perimeter around the central green space. The symmetry of this space is also well complimented by the duality of two statues facing each other from each end of the green space. There is a distinct space or room that is created by the buildings on each side of commonwealth avenue and the stark figures of the enormous statues. However, this room seems a bit off scale when comparing the size of one corner building to the size of the opposing corner building.

As you can see from this sketch, the building on the left side is 15 stories tall, while the building on the right side is only 5 stories tall. Since many buildings around the area aren't much taller (if at all) than the 5 story building pictured on the right side of the sketch, the 15 story building definitely seems out of place. However, there seems to be a device that was devised to compensate for this inbalance. The Trees planted in the central green space seem to grow taller as one looks from the right to the left. Although the tree closest to the taller building doesn't come close to reaching 15 stories, the gradual rise in the canopy line does help to balance out the contrast between the left and right sides of commonwealth avenue.

(here we see an oblique view of the 15 story building rising far above the nearby buildings)

The corner building opposite the high-rise blends much better into the surroundings. Only 5 stories tall and built with classical influences, this structure is much more pleasing to the eye, and feels much more comfortable in scale. renaissance influence is clearly seen in the upper story windows, which are capped with alternating traingular and arched pediments. The classical style is also boldly used in the entrance, which is flanked by large sets of corinthian columns and pilasters. A bit of baroque-style influence can also be seen in the way the entrance is pulled out from the rest of the building. The front facade works its way outwards towards the street in a crescendo and climaxes with the main entryway jutting out several feet, making its presence clearly known in the Arlington street-side elevation. The stone construction of the building also begins to hint at the time period of construction, and also gives the building a sense of importance. The Ivy growing up the sides of the building facing the green space also make for a nice aesthetic and allows the building to blend well with the surrounding green space and public garden.Overall, this entire area serves as a pleasent public space in the middle of Boston, and is also conveniently close to famous Newbury Street. The architectural aesthetics of the area along with the vivid green of the Boston commons and public garden make this area beautiful on any day.