Copley Square

For many, copley square is a place that sticks out in memory. It is a fine testemony to the architectural mastery of the time period in which it was originally constructed, yet still resounds today with a serene, yet accomplished modern touch. The area of the square that i will be analyzing today is located just between Trinity Church and the John Hancock building. The two structures reside mere metres away from one another, yet represent such a gargantuan distance in human history and technology. Obviously, these two structures differ from one another on a vast scale. Not only were the buildings constructed literally centuries apart, but their concepts and architectural devices contrast one another so completely, that they actually seem quite complementary. Trinity Church has been a place of worship for Boston residents for a long time, and it still acts as one of the most revered religious buildings in the area.
It exhibits fine gothic and classical influence without becoming so large in scale. The stone construction obviously gives the structure a heavy appearance, yet it fits nicely within the context of the surrounding buildings - especially the Boston Public Library, which faces it from directly across the central plaza.

However, the John Hancock building seems - at first glance - to be so completely out of place when juxtaposed to Trinity Church. Not only are the construction types different, but the scale of the towering skyscraper dwarfs that of Trinity. The Hancock building also comprises very little ornamentation, and uses a repetetive pattern of window connections and mullions to create a grid-like facade of steel and glass. Whereas Trinity Church exhibits fine stone-work and craftsmanship, as well as highly ornate decoration. However, when examined a bit more closely, it immediately becomes clear that the towering obelisque of glass and steel actually fits quite nicely within the context of Trinity. The glass of the structure reflects the environment around it to a point where it nearly disappears, and also provokes viewers into contemplating the surrounding area from a different point of view. The grid-like facade of the tower also acts as a device that scales and frames the surrounding context, making it easier for close observation.
The "room" that is created between Trinity Church and the Hancock building is small on the ground plane (it extends only as far as the blocks on which the buildings are constructed) yet extends infinitely in the vertical direction. The tower of glass and steel, which opposes Trinity Church, actually seems to complement the verticality of the church spires across the street (whose purpose was to bring the structure closer to the heavens). As one looks upward to the top of the Hancock building, their eyes are drawn ever upward, as the edges of the tower point vertically to some unseen vanishing point far up above in the heavens. In conclusion, this area of Copley plaza serves as a great melding point for both the religious and economic governances of human culture, as well as displaying the accomplishments of detailed craftsmanship and mass production. And even though the scale of the two dominant buildings on site may be largely unbalanced, the Hancock building compensates for this by elegantly reflecting the surrounding environment, as well as contributing a modern touch to an area that is nearly completely renaissance.