Originally Published: May 2020
The Hartford Seminary building in the west end of the city of Hartford opened in 1981 and was commissioned at a pivotal moment in the institution's history. A decision had been made by the school's leadership to move from being an institution preparing students for Protestant ministry to focus more on religious research, outreach and interfaith dialogue. Today, the Hartford Seminary is committed to advancing inter-religious peacemaking with an emphasis on the Christian, Muslim and Jewish faiths.
The building was designed by architect Richard Meier who over the course of his long career has become known for his use of simple geometric shapes, sculptural gestures and white finishes. In a variety of interviews he has described the use of white as a way for a building to both reflect and stand in contrast to its natural surroundings. He does not see white as an absence of color, but as a reflection of all colors.
In the case of the Hartford Seminary building, the color and the overall design is meant to symbolize an "introspective institution" dedicated to understanding the world's religions that is at the same time open and inviting to the local community.
At its core the seminary is a simple rectangle with various bulges, curves, flourishes and abstract adornments that reveal themselves on the exterior and hint at the multiple purposes of the spaces inside.
The strategic placement of windows of various sizes and configurations make natural light one of the most dramatic features of the interior. From curbside they add visual interest and add to the curiosity surrounding a building that stands apart in a neighborhood of homes and other structures from the late 19th and early 20th century.
The Hartford Seminary building is without question unique, but does not appear to be out of place. This may be a testament to its simplicity. It is humble in its place on the rear side of a corner lot. At the same time it cannot be ignored.
After several years designing mostly residential buildings, the Hartford Seminary project was one of Meier's first commercial commissions and set him on a path to become one of the recognized leaders of a particular school of modern architecture informed by the earlier work of Le Corbusier.
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© Dean Pagani 2020
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© Dean Pagani 2020