The Santa Barbara Courthouse - Assignment Example

The Santa Barbara CourthouseThe Santa Barbara Courthouse is a Mission/Spanish Colonial Revival structure that was built in 1926. The Spanish Colonial Revival movement came about in the early 1900s and is a style that closely represents the architectural style that was used by the Spanish when they colonized America. If you one who is familiar with the Spanish Mission style you will find it apparent throughout the structure.One of the reasons I like this style of architecture is that it can be viewed in a historical context and represents a time period and culture from America’s past.

The structure, layout and height of the building also make it very impressive to look at. The courthouse was built out of stone, metal, wood, terra cotta, stucco, glass, and ceramic tile. It is made up of four buildings including an 85 foot clock tower. The structure is quite tall and also covers and entire city block. The main entrance features very wide stairs and a very large half-circle door opening, creating a very majestic and stylish visual spectacle. The entry arches are made of sandstone.

This entry also features a wrought iron Spanish pendant lamp. There is also a sandstone plinth at the bottom of square pilasters that collect rainwater around a 4 inch wide wall that resembles a castle moat. The building also features a rear entry arch as well. The inside of the building is equally as impressive as the outside; perhaps even more impressive. Hand painted ceilings are found throughout the building which includes a mural room as well. The entire floor of the building is composed of hand-made terra cotta tile.

The interior also captures the Mission Colonial Revival style and has a classic castle fortress style appearance. The Santa Barbara Courthouse is described by The Architectural Resources Group as an Andalusian castle style building that has a “romantic fortress aesthetic, complimented by Andalusian massing and asymmetry” (‘Santa Barbara Courthouse’). This is also the sense I first got when looking at both the exterior and interior of the building. The landscaping around the building is also visually appealing and compliments the building as well.

It features several different types of trees, plants, and flowers. A lawn also covers much of the building grounds.The building is visually appealing in a number of different ways and that is why I feel it is a place I would like to be in or around. As mentioned earlier, the architecture of the building also has historical and cultural significance, which is very important when determining the value and appeal of architectural structures. Works Cited"Santa Barbara County Courthouse." Argsf.com. ARG, Inc., 2011. Web. 24 Jul. 2012.