Language
Country/Area
No result found
The Secret of Harkness Tower: Why was it once considered the tallest free-standing stone structure in the world?
Harkness Tower is a striking stone tower located on the grounds of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. The tower, part of the Gothic-style Memorial Plaza on the Yale campus, was completed in 1922 and named for Charles Harkness, the brother of Yale's largest donor. The construction of Harkness Tower not only carries profound historical significance, but also represents the pinnacle of contemporary architectural technology.
History
Construction of Harkness Tower began in 1917 and was completed in 1921. The tower is part of a memorial plaza donated to Yale University by Anna Harkness in memory of her recently deceased son, Charles Harkness, a 1883 graduate. In 1933, when Yale University began its residential college system, the tower became part of Branford College. Its designer, James Gamble Rogers, was a classmate of Anna Harkness's other son, Edward S. Harkness. Rogers designed Hackney Tower based on the 15th-century tower of Bodden Church in Lincolnshire, England, and the tower is considered to be the first application of the modern English Perpendicular Gothic style.
The Harkness Tower is unique in its broadcasting mast design, which was inspired not only by religious buildings in the UK but also by the Cathedral of Christ the King in Hamilton, Canada.
Tower design and materials
The 216-foot-tall Harkness Tower represents the year Yale was founded. From the square base, the tower rises layer by layer, eventually forming a double stone crown with a stone spire. To reach the top of the tower, one needs to climb 284 steps; on the way there are four open bronze clock faces, and the sound of the ringing bells is hidden behind the clock faces.
The tower's decorative elements were sculpted by Lee Lowry and depict important Yale figures and their academic achievements.
The bell tower in the tower contains 54 bells, and the sound of each bell is transposed, that is, the C-note bell produces the timbre of B-note. The first ten bells were installed in 1922, followed by 44 new bells in 1966. The instruments are performed by members of the Yale Carillon Orchestra, with concerts held twice daily during the semester and select concerts offered during the summer.
Decoration and Symbolism
The lowest level of the Harkness Tower features eight prominent Yale figures, including Elihu Yale, Jonathan Edwards, and Nathan Hale, while the second level features ancient Greek philosophers such as Aristotle and Euclid.
The monster carvings on the top of the tower depict the images of Yale students in war and study, presenting a lively and story-telling aesthetic.
However, the tower's foundation is not only a solid block of stone, it has also witnessed many rumors over the years, such as it was once widely rumored to be the tallest free-standing stone structure in the world until the project required reinforcement.
Influence and Culture
The design of Harkness Tower had a profound influence on many subsequent buildings, and its image even became the logo of the Yale student newspaper. Moreover, a joke among contemporary architects is that if they were forced to live somewhere in New Haven, they would most like to choose the Harkness Tower so that they would not have to see it. But the authenticity of this statement remains to be verified.
Retest Tasks
Ultimately, Harkness Tower is not only a landmark on the Yale campus, but also a symbol of New Haven. Its construction is not only a technical achievement, but also an interweaving of culture and history. Over time, the Harkness Tower has been repaired and decorated, but it has always stood firm and continues to attract countless students and tourists. When visiting this magnificent building, have you ever thought about the stories behind it and its implications for the future?
