Palace of Fine Arts

The Palace of Fine Arts in the Marina District in San Francisco, California is a building that was originally built for the Panama - Pacific International Exposition of 1915. The central part contains a dome that matches the style of Greek and Roman temples.

History

The building was designed by Bernard Maybeck, a famous architect of the Arts and Crafts Movement. Clearly the influences of Roman and Greek architecture can be seen, especially the dome in the middle of the complex is reminiscent of temples in Greece or Italy.

The many sculptures decorated with friezes on the topics " contemplation " and " meditation " were created by Ulric Ellerhusen. The Palace of Fine Arts is next to the Japanese tea house to the two buildings that were not demolished as only after the exhibition. The original intention was that of perishable material ( a kind of artificial stone ) created Palace to leave so that he himself fall apart because every great city need her ruins. Because the residents of San Francisco wanted to get the new landmark, has been collected in the 30s money to renovate the building gently. When the building then in the 1960s was actually disintegrating, so that a repair was not possible, the palace was rebuilt with the help of the city and from donors with resistant building materials.

1990, a night lighting was established through the initiative of neighbors and things, but the building was in a very bad condition. Seismic activity, water and bacteria had attacked the ornaments, and the disintegration threatened. 2003 was therefore launched a campaign to fund an extensive renovation. With the money the seismic safety should be improved, repaired structural damage, improve water quality of the pond and plants and water birds are located. During the renovation of the pond is largely complete, all work on the rotunda still in progress (as of summer 2009).

The exhibition hall, which housed Impressionist paintings during the exhibition was, until January, 2013, used by the Exploratorium, a hands-on museum.

The rotunda dome is a popular place for weddings.

Gallery

And 2006 ...

Colonnades

Interior

Importance for modern culture

The palace, especially the dome and the lake in front of it were often used in films. Among Vertigo - From the land of the dead by Alfred Hitchcock, The Rock - rock the decision by Michael Bay and escape into the future by Nicholas Meyer.

The Palace of Fine Arts is part of the 49 - Mile Scenic Drive.