UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
The University of Virginia was founded by Thomas Jefferson, who lived nearby at Monticello.
In 1816, the Virginia General Assembly passed legislation for Central College, later to be renamed the University of Virginia.
Included on the Board of Visitors was James Monroe, James Madison, and Thomas Jefferson, among others.
Part of the land came from James Monroe’s former plantation, a mile west of Charlottesville (in 1817).
LAYOUT OF ACADEMICAL VILLAGE
Long dreaming of an Academical Village since 1804, Jefferson wanted to encourage discussion while reducing risk of fire and spread of illness.
Staking out the buildings, Jefferson arranged for two rows of resident buildings facing each other east and west, with a two-hundred-foot-wide expanse of lawn between.
At the top of Monroe Hill on the north end, would be a Rotunda for the library, as proposed by Latrobe in 1817.
The south end was to remain open, a metaphor for learning and discussion of new ideas.
DESIGNING ACADEMICAL VILLAGE
However his beloved books were no longer available for his use, since Jefferson had recently sold them to the Library of Congress, after the British burned down their previous library in the War of 1812.
Slowly rebuilding his book collection, Jefferson sought help from Dr. William Thornton who designed the US Capitol in Washington DC.
After listening to Jefferson’s ideals,Thornton drew the designs for the Academical Village, creating each Pavilion unique from the other.
SEVERAL PLANS FROM SEVERAL DESIGNERS CREATED UNIQUENESS
Jefferson also contacted Benjamin Henry Latrobe for design plans.
It’s thought that Pavilion VII was influenced by Thornton, while Pavilions III and IX were influenced by Latrobe.
Craftsmen who were hired on the basis of their own working drawings, apparently applied their ideas for the interiors.
Taking years to build, workmen slept in completed rooms.
Creating dining halls, called Ranges, behind the Pavilions, private gardens filled the space, each as unique as each Pavilion’s entry.
ROTUNDA INSPIRED BY PANTHEON
Inspired by the Pantheon from Palladio’s Four Books, Jefferson desired the rotunda to be half the size, which Latrobe helped to execute.
Begun in 1823, the Rotunda was near enough to completion to host Lafayette on his Grand Tour of America in 1824 and four hundred guests.
WATCHING HIS DREAM COME TRUE
From his mountaintop home, Thomas Jefferson watched the building of the University of Virginia.
ACADEMICAL VILLAGE TODAY
My kids and I arrived at UVA for a prospective students tour, which included a walk through the Academical Village, with intriguing stories of Jefferson’s vision in action.
After the grounds tour of the modern buildings, my kids and I returned to the Academical Village to continue exploring.
Across the Lawn from the Thomas Jefferson statue is the Houdon of the George Washington statue.
Although Jefferson’s original details changed over time, as did most of his projects, his general vision for opportunities for teacher/student interactions were obvious.
These two-story pavilions are where the professor lived, with each entrance unique, of which there are ten.
In-between each two-story section are sections of single-story rooms for the students in-between.
Today, these continue to be historic structures in that the rooms have no air conditioning, heating, or plumbing.
Instead there are wood burning stoves within, with shower houses behind these structures.
Only seniors live here who vie for the coveted honor to be assigned one of these rooms.
Only the top seniors earn this honor.
ROTUNDA
Inside the rotunda is the original library.
On the third-floor library, dances were held.
Jefferson purposely designed this space so dancers could enjoy the entertainment without feeling like they were in the library, because the books were strategically located inside the walls in glass door bookcases.
Lots of study nooks between which are wood burning fireplaces…
PAVILION GARDENS
Each pavilion has a unique garden space for quiet study…
I could easily enjoy studying at this university, where there are many wonderful nooks for deep thought and study.
For more photos, check my Flickr set.
