Civic Lessons
This last week, I have been staying near where I grew up and seeing many of my longtime friends. It is the geography of this very first home that I have been soaking up and remembering from deep in my bones. The chill from the fog-infused fresh morning air starts the day with a certain kind of what-will-the-day-hold positive energy; perhaps that smacks of long-held childhood optimism, but whatever it is, I am happy to feel it once again. The warmth from the sun comes early, but the air remains sharp and fresh. Dry air doesn’t weigh heavy with damp. The bay laurel trees, manzanita and sage infuse the dry dirt trails with their aromas, as we hike up the steep canyon trails, winding through the chaparral and oak woodland scrub to spot the Pacific Ocean twinkling through the wisps of evaporating fog.
One morning we took a tour of the Marin County Civic Center, which was Frank Lloyd Wright’s largest and last public commission, designed when he was 90 years old. For those who don’t know the name, Frank Lloyd Wright is considered one of America’s most influential architects. You may have heard of the Guggenheim Museum in New York City; that is one of his well-known buildings.
The Marin County Civic Center was newly built when I grew up. Its graceful arches and sleek line that connects three hills was a distinctive symbol of my childhood landscape. The colours and materials used reflect the landscape in which it sits. The rosy-beige stucco walls echo the colours of the hill’s golden grasses in every season except the short winter period when the grasses are green. The brilliant blue of the curved roof mimics the ever-blue skies.
My favourite activity as a child—not much changed since—was going to the library. I was a voracious reader, and besides our small local library, we would often go to the BIG Marin County Free Library housed under the centre dome of this magnificent building.
We would walk in through the open golden arched gates, and up the narrow escalator through the bright skylit atrium centre walkways to the top floor. Once we reached the heavy doors to the Library, we would open the door and a magnificent welcoming open space greeted us. We entered just off the centre of the domed room, and the book stacks were arranged in spokes away from the centre, rising so that you could see easily to the far end of the stacks in all directions. The whole world of books opened up as of to say: “read me, and then me, and then me! We are all waiting to meet you!” And yet still, the space was quiet and embracing, not loud or distracting; absolutely filled with possibilities. It was a magnetic place.
Years later when I was writing my senior thesis at the University of California at Berkeley, much of my source material was found here in the library at the Marin Civic Center. So once again I had the delightful opportunity to spend hours in the library looking up documents to support my research project. As ever, I was mesmerised by the space.
So it was with great delight that a few longtime friends and I gathered on a sunny morning to learn more about the building and the architect who created this quiet but commanding presence in our childhoods.
Our tour guide described various specific features of the building that make up the unique space. He told us about the decision that led to choosing the architect, and the proposed features that had to be set aside, in most cases because of costs. As a publicly funded building, there was a need to show restraint in the choices made. For example, a waterfall off the side of the building to a stream below was eliminated.
But the most important attributes of the building that remain to this day are those that encourage and support a feeling of democratic equality between our civic government and its citizens. The spaces are calming and open to all; there is no large security guard intimidating or preventing people from accessing the inside of the building. The Library is called the Marin County Free Library, so the purpose and access to all is clear.
In the Council Chambers, Frank Lloyd Wright designed the space to make it as easy as possible for all citizens to be able to participate in civic processes, and for their voices to be heard. For example, by using a curved table at the front, there is a clear view of all the councillors for the attending audience. Most importantly, the speakers podium is designed so that those speaking are at the same eye level as the councillors; no one is more important than the other. Additional accommodations have been made over time to ensure participation in the democratic process is as easy and available as possible for all types of abilities.
Learning about all this the day before there were scheduled protests against the type of government that discourages differences of opinion and is currently reducing any input to decisions that are made from above, this was a welcome alternative point of view. It was encouraging to remember when this building was being designed and built, the US was in the throes of McCarthy witch hunts for people who were deemed different, and therefore undesirable. At the very same time, there was a brilliant architect using his skills to actually build in democratic values of equality and fairness to his buildings. It gave me a glimmer of hope, indeed.
Thank you for reading! I’m on the road so these essays may be slightly scattered (like my brain, a bit more than usual!). Next week I hope to share some of Yosemite National Park. Take good care,
xo Sabrina
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This is an excellent article, very well written. I did not know the many interesting and clever nuances in the design of that building, nor the contemporary historical context McCarthy hearings) during its design and construction that are so relevant today, and that inspired that remarkably handsome group of protestors to take to the streets!
What an amazing building and I love that it’s settled into greenery. I also love that your friends are standing up for freedom. Three cheers there.