Christian Science Center

Back Bay Fens

This site has been unlike any of the previous. A feeling of open space is obviously present. The feeling you get as you walk down the dug trenches (to drain water) into the fens creates the experience of leaving the hussle and bussle of the city to move into a tranquil vegetated space. The room is protected by the water or small river that flows along the outer edges giving off the feeling you are in an invisable boundry away from the streets. Trees in the fens are overtaken inthe distance by large buildings but they buffer the verticality of the city.

Copley Square - John Handcock Center

The space between copley square and the John Handcock tower is a very unique one. The space is unlike any we have visited yet becuase there are no real definitions it is very open to the city. The space between the handcock tower and the chapel is a very special one, you are presented with two dramatically large buildings, one a large building with historic presence and the other the handcock an enormous building that seems unreal with is slender shape and form. the buildings seem to suction you through the space and be transfixed with the unreal mass of the handcock center. The church is seems to humble your senses and give off a sense of relaxation and across from it the handcock tower gives off a quietness from its power. light flows into the space between the two buildings giving it life from copley square park. the space ultimatly trencends a sense of intelligence, it connects massive structural accomplishment with the boston public library and the rest of the city.

Commonwealth Avenue - Boston Commons

The commonwealth avenue site visited in class was a combination of two settings tied together very elegantly. The Boston Common side of the street is very quiet and beautiful. An elegant view of flowers, tree's, and grass span the park to take you out of the city and connect back with nature. As you leave the park and cross the street you walk across a chaos of traffic that breaks the two spaces but acts almost as a connector between them. If the two spaces were directly connected you would not get the same feeling. Crossing the street you walk into a beautiful neighborhood that is lined with green trees and life. Aparments close in the area and suclude it from the shopping and park atmosphere. It gives the same feeling the park does but remains quieter. The most important aspect from the two spaces are the statues that stand tall in both parks and connect the two areas to each other.

Louisburg Square

The square is very much apart of the city but the open green space in the center of the neighborhood really allows you to disconnect with typical city living. It brings a sense of suburban life in context with the sky scrapers and traffic a few streets away.






The garden area in the middle of the square is not accesable from the street as there is a gate around it. The gate arond the garden, brick walkway and buildings, stone street really set the sqaure in time and show its roots while still expressing the new century with automobiles and electric street lamps.


















Louisburg Square s a private square located in the Beacon Hill, Boston, Massachusetts neighborhood of Boston. It was named for the 1745 Battle of Louisburg, in which Massachusetts Militiamen sacked the French Fortress located on the site. The Greek Revival houses around the square reflect the rarefied privilege enjoyed by the 19th century upper class in Beacon Hill. Currently it is the most expensive residential neighborhood in the country. U.S. Senator John Forbes Kerry owns a townhouse on Louisburg Square.