Victorian Nonsense

Figure 1, circa 1920.

This spectacular photograph shows what looks to be a rural farm home quietly roaming across the prairie. The scene is incredibly tense as a single, lonely tree stands in the background on the left, flanked by two additional (mobile?) homes on the right. A smoky fog adds to the mystique of the photo. In another lifetime, historians may come across this image and proclaim suburban sprawl occurred in this manner: entire homes drifting quietly and blindly through a dusty, undeveloped, (perhaps even war torn) landscape...

For more historic photos and the image featured above, visit: Square America Snapshot Archive Blog

Spa For Deviants

In the search for more systemic, less iconic mockitecture, I bring you the Spa for Deviants. Its Programming and Space Planning are tailored for Deviants.

What a Jerk!

This was the incredible scene from last Sunday's New York City marathon: Michel Bach, of France (did I really need to say where he was from?), runs a marathon with a 10-foot tall plastic replica of the Eiffel Tower. He actually had to duck under balloons along the race course! This all is strangely similar to an old post we published here at the Mockitecture WebLog about a topic we identified as "Personitecture" (a.k.a. people dressed as buildings, or, building mascots). Bach joins the ranks of people like the architects responsible for some of New York City's greatest buildings, Philip Johnson, and Conan O'Brien. Anyway, I'm waiting for that inevitable retaliatory Statue of Liberty costume to appear on an American cyclist during the Tour de France. Take THAT, France!

I'll leave you with a special image from the infamous 1931 Beaux Arts Ball. Below is architect William Van Allen, in a legendary costume, pictured with his wife (via NYTimes.com).

A Mobile Wedding Machine

Last night, Charles Gibson - sporting a wonderfully pink tie - introduced Americans to the idea of Mockitecture. The news segment featured Reverend Darrell Best's mobile wedding chapel, a fascinating vehicle part historic fire engine, part church. Lovingly named the Best Man, this "wedding machine" features stained glass windows and miniature pipe organs. The fire engine - with its functionally rough and rugged personality - has collided with the church, which in it's own right is rather good natured and mild mannered. The Best Man is satisfyingly eclectic and undoubtedly complex and contradictory. Such a provocative pairing of religion and emergency response does in fact elicit a few questions. The most pressing would be why a mobile church is not an imitation of Reverend Best's permanent church in Shelbyville, Illinois? After seeing images of the Best Wedding Chapel (shown below), I must admit I was quite disappointed by the fire truck version of the church. On the other hand, I was thrilled to discover the opportunities a sturdy truck frame can provide: the possibilities are endless! Ironically, since Rev. Best is the driver of the truck, he must outsource his own job to another ordained minister willing to engage in rather unconventional practice: marrying a couple at breakneck speed. As a result, the truck-church now curiously remains parked for weddings which takes most, if not all, of the excitement out of getting married in a vehicle. Happy couples are left to get married in parking lots rather than on the open road. Despite these (and I'm sure other) setbacks, I appreciate Reverend Best's radical ideas. Be sure to catch the 2 minute news segment on YouTube.

(image via Dan Cirucci and Best Wedding Chapel)

Snapshots from Beyond: Part 2

These gems from a recent road trip to the South (USA) begged me to visit Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Their marketing campaign featured wildly colorful birds, exotic animals, and adventure games all with subtle religious overtones. Perhaps the phenomenon of highway cities - or those which have originated and been sustained by the highway - is a topic that deserves greater attention? For their Main Streets are a bizarre mash up of utopian desire and tourist industries. By the way, did you know the tomb of Jesus is actually in Pigeon Forge, TN!?!