This picture captures the hidden domain that exists between the front and back hallways of Mary Markley Hall. I took this picture through the dining hall window, which is a rare location that gives insight to both sides at once. The exterior of the hallways are constructed of brick and cement, creating a hard, rigid perception of this building. However, the existence of the division between the two sides of the building creates a light feeling for the building, provoking the viewer to question how such thin hallways can sit so easily on the earth. In addition to this, the building is constructed on a hill. This creates a very calming effect on the viewer because the building blends into the earth. The courtyard between the two sides of Mary Markley is similar to the front lawn that Lance discusses; he claims that the front yard “separates each house from the public sidewalk and street while binding us together as a community” (Lance, 30). The courtyard of Mary Markley relates to the front lawn because it separates the residents on the front side of the building and the backside of the building; however, it unites those living in Mary Markley because the windows allow each and every person to connect with the courtyard and with the other side. In addition to this, the courtyard is very private. It doesn’t face a street or a sidewalk; it faces the Nichols Arboretum. Therefore, only Mary Markley residents are aware of this courtyard, so only we get to use it. This courtyard is a secluded, uniting domain.
Brian's 212 Understanding Architecture Section 