Introduction
Buildings and houses are a result of artwork and architecture since they are constructed in resemblance to what is drawn in books or in the minds of an architect. The size of the building and its purpose are among significant determinants of shape and construction process. In the 21st century, Americans refer to the White House as a symbol of the current president (Asher et al. 65). For this assignment, I choose the White House building as my contemporary topic. This essay is a comparison of what I previously knew and what I have recently learned about the White House building from the official website.
History of the White House Building
I knew that the official residence of the President of the United States of America is the White House. The President operates from the Oval Office as the official workplace. The building is in Washington, D.C., specifically at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. The White House has been home to all U.S presidents since the reign of John Adams in 1800 (The White House). The building was designed in neoclassical style by an Irish architect, James Hoban, who also modeled buildings such as the Leinster House, the Oireachtas building, and the Irish legislature house. According to the White House, the initial construction started in 1792 to 1800 using Aquia Creek sandstone. The building was then modified by the third president, Thomas Jefferson, who took power from 1801 to 1809.
The modifications were contracted to architect Benjamin Henry Latrobe, who added low colonnades on wings concealing stables and storage. The White House was burnt down by British Army in 1814, who destroyed the interior and external charring. Under the authority of president James Monroe, the reconstruction began immediately. The semi-circular South portico was a result of a continued reconstruction in 1824, followed by North portico in 1829. Completion of the west wing in 1901 allowed president Theodore Roosevelt to relocate due to increased crowding. In 1909, President William Howard extended the West Wing to create the initial Oval Office. Another East Wing was constructed to host presidential social events.
The exterior walls and wood beams were dismantled to install load-bearing steel frames in 1948. The reconstruction is also known as the Truman reconstruction since it happened under the reign of president Harry Truman. The rebuilding was a comprehensive dismantling and restructuring of the interiors from 1949 to 1952. The reconstruction added new services, technologies, and extra space, which was a process that took over three years. The scope, costs, and authenticity of the rebuilding were highly criticized, although the White House emerged to be a safe, stable, and well-functioning residence for presidents and their families. The current White House structure includes the Executive Residence, the West Wing, and East Wing.
The Eisenhower Executive Office Building hosts the Vice President (VP), the president’s supporting staff, a Blair House, and guests’ residences. According to the official website, the building is a living museum of American history. The White House has been frequently named a favorite American architecture by institutions such as the American Institute of Architects (AIA). The White House official website is an ancient scholarly as it provides first-hand data exactly as released by the government press official outlets. I have learned that the existing information about the history of White House destruction truly exists. I was aware that the president operates from the Oval Office, but I was not sure about the location of the office. The reconstruction of East and West Wings surprised me since I used to think that the building was initially constructed as it appears today. My visit to the website was beneficial because I learned about the occupants of the White House and its divisions.
Knowledge Comparison
The content provided on the website exceeds what is known by people since detailed information of specifics, such as the number of employees, is provided. The location of the White House is well known to be in Washington D.C., but I did not know about 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. The construction site was identified by George Washington in 1791, who arranged a design contest where the winning architect would be awarded the contract and $500 (Morrison). The source provides clarification that the White House was dismantled by the British Army during the War of 1812. It is not clearly known that James Hoban was appointed to rebuild the residence, a concept that I have newly learned. President Monroe moved into the new building in 1817, facilitating the construction of the South Portico. Andrew Jackson impacted the construction of North Portico in 1829.
The second renovation was initiated by President Theodore Roosevelt, resulting in the relocation of the President’s offices from the Second Floor of the Residence to the current West Wing. Again, there was a new architect from New York’s McKim architectural firm, Mead and White. I learned that the Oval Office was introduced and constructed by President William Howard in the West Wing. The ancient source confirms that the White House showed signs of weakness, leading to a complete renovation. The information from the website specifies that only the outer perimeter walls were spared, as other structures were completely dismantled. The website confirms that the residence has hosted every president since John Adams. According to the website, the building contains 132 rooms, 35 washrooms, 412 door entries, 147 windows, 28 fireplaces, and eight staircases.
The White House kitchen can serve 140 guests and more than 1,000 plates outside the work environment. Although we all know that the White House is all White, I did not know that the White House’s outside walls require 570 gallons. I learned new terminologies such as “the President’s Palace,” “the President’s House,” or “the Executive Mansion,” which are synonyms for the White House. The website also reveals that President Theodore Roosevelt was the one who officiated the name “White House” in 1901.
Historical Connections
The White House connects back to the first president of the United States, George Washington, who developed the idea to construct a home that will be used by future presidents. The number of daily users and visits has increased over the years, fulfilling the dreams of ancient presidents in constructing a spacious occupation for the president and staff. The Obama administration utilized the White House as a home, workplace, and historical landmark through competence and commitment to transparency, public participation, collaboration in government, and integration into the initial website structure and design in 2009. Transparency and participation were evidenced in the site design as clear intentions were given by presidents. The design of the White House kept government officials and their needs front of mind with intuitive navigation that limited initial choices but provided an immediate sense of Presidents’ priorities.
Conclusion
The White House is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. President George Washington identified the construction site, which is 10-square-mile away from the capital building. The cornerstones were laid in 1792, with the Capital following later in 1793. The presidential building has undergone multiple renovations since the discovery of weakness in the structure by engineers, who rendered the building unsound and unsafe for habitation. There was a complete gutting of the interiors and a complete overhaul of the building. Despite Washington choosing the location and architect, he did not live in the White House. President John Adams was the first president to live in residence, even before it was finished. Since Adam’s reign, every other president and his family has lived at the White House.
The White House hosts 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms, 28 fireplaces, eight staircases, three elevators, 412 doors and 147 windows. A fully equipped kitchen is also available with a capacity to serve dinner for up to 140 guests and 1,000 visitors. The building is newly painted after every six years consuming about 570 gallons of paint. The biggest change during the reconstruction commenced in 1950 after the president authorized the start of Project 9, which was described as a protective measure. The project was an underground project to construct a shelter to resist an attack from an atomic bomb. The reconstruction is believed to have been delayed by the construction of an underground tunnel to connect the West and East Wings. The White House is believed to be the most protected house in the 21st century.
Works Cited
Asher, Frederick M. et al. Art of ancient Egypt, Art History. Pearson Publishers. Edited by Stokstad M. and Cothren Michael W., Vol. 1, 4th Edition, 2011, p. 65.
Morrison, Jessica. The White House. Weigl Publishers, 2019.
The White House. “The White House Building.” Whitehouse.gov, 2021.