The Symmetry

Lots of times, the symmetric shape happens in the areas of architectures.

Couple of weeks ago I visited State Capitol of Minnesota, which are considered as one of the Midwest’s most spectacular buildings.

The Capitol is more than 430 feet long, and 220 feet tall from ground level to the top of the dome’s lantern.

The symmetric building was intentionally designed in the classical style, but with all the modern conveniences of the time at the end of nineteenth century. It turned out to be a towering white marble dome, fluted columns, graceful arches and commanding statuary.

Looking closely we may see a masterpiece with the building – the Quadriga which is the gleaming gold sculpture of a four-horse chariot.

It was designed by Daniel Chester French and Edward C. Potter, and it is made of sheets of gilded copper hammered around a steel frame.

The four horses, with two on each side, are handled by three people, with one in the middle and one on each side. The entire combination presents the perfect symmetric beauty.

Inside the capitol, there is a House of Representatives Chamber on the second floor, which is the largest room in the building. It is used for both regular House sessions and joint sessions of the legislature.

The 134 seats are set uniformly on each side and the seat for the Speaker of the House is at the topmost desk.

Inside the arch above the Speaker of the House there is a sculpture, Minnesota Spirit of Government, created by two Italian immigrants. In the middle is a woman on a pedestal carrying the state seal. On the right are Sacagawea and a Native American chief, and on the left are early French explorers.

There is a Rotunda at the first floor in the building.

A large, round area in the center of the building — extends from the first floor to the inner dome. In the center is a large marble star, which serves as a symbol of the state motto, “The North Star State.”

Besides being designed to be symmetric in architectures, symmetric features can be formed naturally at the right conditions and moments.

On an extremely calm morning and with the soft light at the time of sunrise, the collection of autumn colors on a hill, together with the clouds in the sky, casted a perfect refection on the surface of a lake.

I believe there are a lot more cases of symmetry both designed or natural, I can’t wait to explore more in the future.