The US. Capitol bulding , a home of american democracy and global symbol of freedom , it is among the most architecturally impressive and symbolically important buildings in the world. The capitol building itself reflex the history of USA , growing with the nations since the first cornerstone was laid .

1. Saad Dahleb University – BLIDA –
Blida Institut of Architecture
People's Democratic Republic of Algeria
The US CAPITOL
Produced by :
Bouteldja Abdelbasset
Kolli Lydia

2. -Work plan :
- Introduction
- Situation
- global description
-History of the capitol
-Space distributon
- Architectural Style
- Materials
- Decoration

3. Introduction :
The US. Capitol bulding , a home of american democracy and global
symbol of freedom , it is among the most architecturally impressive and
symbolically important buildings in the world.
The capitol building itself reflex the history of USA , growing with the
nations since the first cornerstone was laid .

4. Situation :
The United States Capitol Building is located in Washington, D.C., at the eastern
end of the National Mall on a plateau 88 feet above the level of the Potomac
River, commanding a westward view across the U.S. Capitol Reflecting Pool to
the Washington Monument 1.4 miles away and the Lincoln Memorial 2.2 miles
away.
Google mapsThe situation of the US Capitol

5. Global description:
The Capitol Building today covers well over 1.5 million square feet, has over 600 rooms, and
miles of corridors. It is crowned by a magnificent white dome that overlooks the city of
Washington and has become a widely recognized icon of the American people and
government. The U.S. Capitol's design was selected by President George Washington in
1793 and construction began shortly thereafter
It has housed the meeting chambers of the Senate and the House of Representatives for over
two centuries the U.S. Capitol has been built, burnt, rebuilt, extended and restored; today, it
stands as a monument not only to its builders but also to the American people and their
government.
www.aoc.gov

6. History of the capitol
- The chronologic freize of the US capitol :
1793 1811 1814 1826 1850 1863 1958 2008 2016
The first corner
stone laid by G
Washington
By William
Horton
Construction
of congress ,
Library of
congress
Construction
of the south
wing
British
troops set
fire to the
building
Total
destruction
Architect
Charles Bulfinch
rebuild the
building ( hous ,
senat , copper
dome
Thomas U
Walker ,
designed the
2 wings
Larger dome
constructed ,
and the
statut of
freedom
puted on it
East portico
extension
US capitol
visitor
center had
opened
Restoration
of the
building

7. Space distribbution

8. - The underground
U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
. The visitor experience is an intellectual and emotional encounter comprised of
highly personal moments that inform, involve and inspire those who come to see
the U.S. Capitol.
The U.S. Capitol Visitor
Center provides a
welcoming and
educational environment
for visitors to learn about
the unique characteristics
of the House and the
Senate and the legislative
process as well as the
history and development
of the architecture and art
of the U.S. Capitol

9. A- The First floor :

10. The Hall of Columns is a dramatic, high-ceilinged corridor over 100 feet long. It runs along the
North-South axis of the first floor of the House wing in the U.S. Capitol, directly beneath the Hall of
the House of Representatives. The hall takes its name from the 28 fluted, white marble columns that
line the corridor.
The capitals in the Hall of Columns are a variation on the Corinthian order, incorporating not only
classical acanthus leaves but also thistles and native American tobacco plants.
Hall of Columns

11. Brumidi Corridors
- The Brumidi Corridors are part of the new wing of
the U.S. Capitol constructed by Thomas U.
Walter between 1852 and 1859.
ConstantinoBrumidi began making designs for
the corridors in 1856.
- A variety of techniques were employed in the
corridors. Brumidi created the portraits and
historical or allegorical scenes in the
semicircular lunettes over the doorways in the
difficult true fresco technique.
- Decorations in the north corridor include colorful
parrots and trophies on the walls near the
elevator. Near the stairways at either end of the
corridor are pilasters decorated with squirrels
and mice. Monochrome medallion portraits of
Revolutionary War leaders are painted along
the walls.

12. Crypt
The large circular area on the first floor of the U.S. Capitol Building is called the Crypt.
The 40 Doric columns of brown stone surmounted by groined sandstone arches support
the floor of the Rotunda.

13. Old Supreme Court Chamber
A masterpiece of architecture and
engineering, The unusual ceiling is formed
by nine lobed vaults held by stone ribs
supported by heavy brick piers and a three-
bay arcade built parallel to the old east
wall. The new masonry ceiling did not
impose any additional weight or put new
lateral pressure on the old walls and thus
was supported independently of the old
work.
The chamber is semicircular and measures 74 feet 8 inches wide and 50 feet deep. Its
vaulted ceiling is divided into lobes by 10 ribs. The windows on the eastern wall originally
looked out on the Capitol Plaza; because the mid 20th-century extension of the Capitol's
east front blocked the windows, they are now artificially lighted.

14. B- Second floor plan

15. Senate Chamber ( north wing )
The Senate Chamber is a rectangular, two-story room located in the center of the
north wing of the U.S. Capitol. The nation's 100 senators sit at individual desks
arranged on a tiered semicircular platform facing a raised rostrum. A visitor's gallery
overlooks the chamber on four sides.

16. House Chamber ( Shouth wing)
with Ionic columns made of black Italian marble with white Alabama marble capitals. An
American flag occupies the center and is flanked by two bronze faces.
The House Chamber, also
known as the "Hall of the
House of Representatives,"
is a large assembly room
located in the center of the
U.S. Capitol's south wing.

17. Capitol Rotunda
The U.S. Capitol Rotunda is a large, domed,
circular room 96 feet in diameter and 180
feet in height located in the center of the
United States Capitol on the second floor.
The Rotunda is used for important
ceremonial events as authorized by
concurrent resolution, such as the lying in
state of eminent citizens and the
dedication of works of art

18. Old Senate Chamber
Located north of the Capitol Rotunda is the richly decorated Old Senate Chamber. Designed
by Benjamin Henry Latrobe, this room was home to the U.S. Senate from 1819 until 1859 and
later to the U.S. Supreme Court from 1860-1935. Today the restored Chamber is used
primarily as a museum, recreating the scene of many significant moments in the evolution of
the United States Senate and the legislative history of the nation.

19. National Statuary Hall
National Statuary Hall, also known as
the Old Hall of the House, is the large,
two-story, semicircular room south of
the Capitol Rotunda. This historic
space now serves as the main
exhibition space for the National
Statuary Hall Collection.

20. - Third floor plan

21. The yhird floor allows acces to the Galleries , wher visitors may watch the senate
and congress
Galleries
We find also offices , press galleries commitee rooms

22. Capitol Dome
The U.S. Capitol’s dome made of cast
iron was designed by Thomas U.
Walter and constructed from 1855-
1866. Finished at the total cost of
$1,047,291, the Capitol Dome was
constructed with 8,909,200 pounds of
ironwork bolted together in a
masterpiece of American will and
ingenuity.

23. Architectural Style
The United States Capitol is among the most
symbolically important and architecturally
impressive buildings in the nation
An example of 19th-century neoclassical
architecture, inspired by the use of ancient Greek
and Roman styles in the design of great public
buildings. These styles are recognized by the use of
tall columns, symmetrical shapes, triangular
pediments and domed roofs.
Corinthian Columns
Doric ColumnsIonic ColumnsDome

24. Materials

25. Sandstone
Sandstone was a common building
material during the early years of
Washington, D.C., because it could
be found locally in a government-
owned quarry and was easy to cut
to shape. Builders originally used
sandstone for the exterior of the
Capitol as well as for interior
floors, walls and other elements.
Because sandstone is a soft
material, the exterior eventually
wore down and most was either
covered over or replaced with
harder stone; the interior features
remain visible.

26. Marble
Marble is used throughout the U.S.
Capitol Building, the congressional
office buildings, and many other
government and commercial buildings
for its beauty, durability and relative
ease of carving. It forms exterior
surfaces and such interior elements as
floors, walls, columns and stairways.
Marble is also commonly used for
statues and other sculpture, both
indoors and out.

27. CastIron
Cast iron was used extensively in the
U.S. Capitol’s mid-19th century
House and Senate extensions and
new dome. In the extensions, it was
used for roof trusses, plumbing and
gas lines, and decorative window and
door trim. The Capitol dome is made
of 8,909,200 pounds of cast-iron
girders, plates, columns and
ornaments. A popular construction
material at the time, it was used for
bridges, pipes, machinery and many
other objects until it was widely
supplanted by steel.

28. Decoration

29. Amateis Doors
• The bronze doors are
cast in relief ranging from
very low to high and
consist of a transom, two
valves, and a surrounding
frame.
• The ornamental frame
consists of oak and laurel
leaves, symbolizing
strength and victory
House Bronze Doors
• Each valve consists of
three panels and a
medallion depicting
significant events in
American history. The
descriptions below start
at the top of each valve
and proceed downward.
Senate Bronze Doors
• Each valve consists of three
panels, depicting events in
the life of George
Washington and
Revolutionary War scenes,
and an allegorical
medallion. The
descriptions below start at
the top of each valve and
proceed downward.
The Columbus Doors
• The Columbus Doors,
also called the Rogers
Doors or Rotunda
Doors, stand
imposingly at the main
entrance to the U.S.
Capitol Building
Doors

30. President’s Room Chandelier
• An elaborate 18-arm bronze chandelier
provides light for the President's Room of the
U.S. Capitol Building
Small Senate Rotunda Chandelier
• This chandelier has hung in the Small Senate
Rotunda since 1965. Imported from Europe
composed by Bronze and crystal
Lighting

31. Minton Tiles
• In the Old Capitol, stone pavers were used in corridors and other public spaces, such as the Rotunda
and Crypt
• At the extensions of U.S. Capitol Two types of tile were used : plain and inlaid encaustic tiles in a
range of colors. Plain tiles were used as borders for the elaborate inlaid designs or to pave large
corridor areas. They were available in seven colors: buff, red, black, drab, chocolate, light blue and
white. Additional colors, such as cobalt blue, blue-gray, and light and dark green, appear in the inlaid
encaustic tiles that form the elaborate centerpieces and architectural borders. They were made by
"filling indentations in the unburnt tile with the desired colors and burning the whole together."
Paving

32. Paintings and murals:
Baptism of Pocahontas Declaration of Independence Discovery of the Mississippi
by De Soto
Apotheosis of Washington Brumidi Corridors Frieze of American History

33. Sculpture:
Collection of statues
Relief Sculpture Relief Portrait Plaques of Lawgivers

34. The Statue of Freedom
• Statue of Freedom is the crowning
feature of the Dome of the United States
Capitol. The bronze statue stands 19 feet
6 inches tall and weighs approximately
15,000 pounds.
• Statue of Freedom is a classical female
figure with long, flowing hair wearing a
helmet with a crest composed of an
eagle’s head and feathers. She wears a
classical dress secured with a brooch
inscribed "U.S." Over it is draped a
heavy, flowing, toga-like robe fringed
with fur and decorative balls. Her right
hand rests upon the hilt of a sheathed
sword wrapped in a scarf; in her left
hand she holds a laurel wreath of victory
and the shield of the United States with
13 stripes.