ARCHITECTURE EHLINGER & ASSOCIATES SECOND QUARTER 2020 position he held until 1643 when there was a civil war. Jones died in 1652. The east front of St. Paul’s is actually facing the Piazza and has a four columned temple type portico that is more elaborate than the west facade of the sketch. This facade is the one most often depicted in architectural history text books, yet I think it lacks the simple dignity of the west facade shown in the sketch. There are some historians that believe that Inigo Jones intended to reverse the normal order of placement of the altar on the east end to the west end, and ran afoul of Church of England officials who refused to allow it. ---Thus the entrance to St. Pauls is on the plain west front through the grave yard, and the altar is on the traditional east end. The interior of St. Paul’s is equally as simple. A single raised step at the east end is the demarcation of the Chancel area from the Nave of the church. There were at one St. Paul’s, Covent Garden time balconies added on three sides, but in various re-buildings over the centuries, The west front of St. Paul’s in Covent is a rebuilding that took place at the hand - this has been reduced to one for the choir Garden, London, United Kingdom is the of architect Thomas Hardwick (1752-1829) in the rear next to the two adjunct rooms subject in the print of a sketch by Ladd P. after it was burned in 1795. The west on either side. There are two rows of Ehlinger, AIA. The 4th Earl of Bedford facade was retained along with the other columns each centered on the pews. The received permission from King Charles I in outer masonry walls north & south, but net visual appearance is that of a unified 1630 to demolish buildings in an area north the east facade portico was totally rebuilt. single space with very pleasant proportions of Strand that he owned and to redevelop Inigo Jones was one of the most as per the exterior. it into Covent Garden Piazza, the first public important figures in the architecture of St. Paul’s is also known as “The square with terraced residences arcaded England in the 17th Century as he single Actor’s Church” as the actors that played below for a market area in London. There handedly initiated and advocated the in the Theater Royal nearby, and later the also was a theater later on in the Renaissance style in England. The son of Covent Garden Theater (now Royal Opera development. St. Paul’s is on the west end a cloth maker, nothing is known of his early House) that opened in 1723 frequented the of the Piazza. The design commission for life and education. In the early 1600s, he church. Their participation also served to Covent Garden and the church was given was employed by Queen Anne, wife of attract various artists of other disciplines to the architect Inigo Jones by the Earl of James I, to provide costumes and settings as well. Some productions have been Bedford, who in typical developer fashion, for a bal masqué at court, something he presented in the south portico of the church cautioned Inigo Jones to design a simple continued to do even after he began also. Various actors and artists were initially church “not much better than a barn”. designing buildings. His first known buried at St. Paul’s, though since 1852 there Jones replied “Then you shall have the building was the New Exchange in the have been no burials. There are wall plaque handsomest barn in England.” Strand in London done in 1608. He made memorials in the church to many famous St. Paul’s was completed in 1632 (the several trips to Italy to study Classical 20th century acting personalities in year the most famous English architect Sir and Roman architecture, and the Italian addition to 17th and 18th century figures, Christopher Wren was born), and thanks Renaissance buildings, particularly those such as Sir Charlie Chaplin, Sir Noel Coward, to Inigo Jones really is a very handsome designed by Andrea Palladio. St. Paul’s Gracie Fields, Stanley Holloway, Boris building in the Renaissance style, executed was obviously inspired by Palladio. After Karloff (the monster in Frankenstein in the simplest means possible in classical one of his trips to Italy in 1613, he was movies), and Vivien Leigh (Scarlett O’Hara proportions. What is actually seen today appointed surveyor to the King, a in “Gone With the Wind”). Ladd P. Ehlinger

2200 Houma Blvd., Metairie, LA 70001-1399 (504) 455-8911 3109 Ivy Ave. SW, Huntsville, AL 35805-4698 (256) 534-1900 © 2020 Ehlinger & Associates, P.C. Architects, A Professional Corporation Gr THE ASCLEPEION - Ancient “Hospital” DOES ALUMINIUM RUST? component thereby protecting the surface with a colored oxidized film of aluminum with To date over 300 ancient asclepeion This becomes an important issue when other metals of a decorative as well as pro- Greek temples have been discovered. These considering choice of metal for insulated tective nature. This process is called anod- temple types were named after Asclepius, metal or single-skin metal panels. So many ization, and the film layer is chemically de- who was a doctor god known for his healing choices: Copper, Zinc, Aluminum, Galva- scribed as AL2O3. powers. These ‘healing’ temples were usu- nized Steel, or Composite. All variations and In comparison to ferrous metals (iron, ally located in remote places: forest, moun- combinations of materials are available. steel) the aluminum oxidative coating is not tains, along streams. But the question is does aluminum rust? much greater in volume than the original By 350 BC, the popular design of these If building a new facility with metal sid- unoxidized aluminum, whereas rust is about facilities included special spaces where heal- ing one wants to consider its planned life seven times greater in volume than the un- ing under the two main courses of treatment span, its cost, and its future maintenance. oxidized steel or iron. were followed: Among all the other considerations - so it is There is a type of steel alloy called “Cor- 1. Purification: hence baths were built or a complicated issue. Let’s make it simple. Ten” steel where the rust layer functions local spas were used. No! more like the protective oxidative layer or 2. Healing Dormitories for the spiritual Aluminum corrodes by oxidation. Rust film that forms on aluminum surfaces. Cor- needs of the patient for ‘temple sleep’ or is a similar type of corrosion by oxidation. Ten steel is frequently referred to as “weath- incubatio treatments. Rust is the name for oxidation when it oc- ering steel” because of this ability of the rust Cleansing baths and purges, cleansing curs on iron or steel surfaces. Newly formed to form a film that is dense enough to pre- diets, visits by snakes, dogs, or potions or unoxidized steel or iron reacts with water vent further rust. Cor-Ten steel is frequently mixed with opium helped the incubatio. The and the oxygen in air, instantly forming a used for bridge members exposed to the incubatio or incubation period had a bit of a layer or film of ferrous oxide (rust) on the weather that will be difficult to re-paint on a different meaning than today. surface exposed to the oxygen. Newly regular basis. The protective rust layer is still During incubation, the patient, in a con- formed or unoxidized aluminum reacts with active though, and presents a staining prob- trolled space, was induced to have dreams water and the oxygen in air, instantly form- lem on adjacent or supporting reinforced to be interpreted by a Priest or physician. So ing a layer or film of aluminum oxide on the concrete surfaces. To protect against this, the spiritual and the medical healing was all surface exposed to the oxygen. This oxida- areas of the member are usually painted near in one. tion corrosion forms a protective barrier over their concrete supports to prevent rust stain- These Greek healing temples became the the underlying aluminum, unlike most rust ing. home of many future physicians. Reportedly layers. Rust layers typically are porous Among all metals, aluminum has a fairly Hippocrates practiced in at a temple in Kos, enough to allow additional water and air to low corrosion rate. The Noble Metals have Greece, before he became physician to penetrate the rust and cause additional rust the greatest resistance to corrosion and are: Marcus Aurelius. until the entire component is transformed ruthenium (Ru), rhodium (Rh), palladium Non-venomous snakes were kept in the into rust. (Pd), silver (Ag), osmium (Os), iridium (Ir), asclepeion and played an important role in platinum (Pt), and gold (Au). It is known that the healing activities. A staff with a snake contact with dissimilar metals can affect alu- serves as a symbol of medicine from ancient minum (galvanic corrosion). Galvanic corro- times and was called the Rod of sion can affect aluminium when it is physi- Asclepius.The Caduceus two snake staff cally or through an electrolyte connected to symbol used in medicine today was a Ro- any metal that has lesser reactivity compared man adaptation of the staff carried by the to aluminium Greek god, Hermes. There is an asclepeion Today, manufacturers of metal panels located on the southern slopes of the use alloys and coatings of paint and electro- Acropolis of Athens. Others are in Kos and lytically applied powder particles to protect at Epidaurus. from corrosion. Aluminum has the advan- Epidaurus, a UNESCO World Heritage tage of the anodization coating process as Site, has some of the finest 4th century BCE well, though it should be pointed out that Hellenic architecture. As water was so im- anodization is vulnerable to insult by clean- portant to temple healing, one finds amaz- ing products containing trisodium phos- ingly designed large-scale water supply and phate and or chlorine. The aluminum com- sewerage systems. ponent is typically painted with a zinc chro- mate paint to provide a galvanic barrier when the aluminum component is attached to an- other, more reactive metal, in order to gal- vanically isolate the aluminum. Care should be taken to avoid these situ- ations to protect the longevity of the alumi- Aluminum in an acidic solution with num building components and prevent fu- The Rod of Asclepius other metals may be electrolytically trans- ture maintenance problems. Dana S. Ehlinger ferred as a film to the surface of an aluminum Dana S. Ehlinger © 2020 Ehlinger & Associates, P.C. Architects, A Professional Corporation