Newport ,
RI, is one in the oldest cities in the country, and no doubt one of its most
beautiful. Founded in 1639, it has the country's oldest synagogue and its first
free black church. For almost 300 years it has been a summertime destination for
east coast families. Boating, turn of the century mansions, recreation and
partying - this is what Newport is known for.
It's
original colonial era street pattern, public buildings and private dwellings
have lasting appeal. Fine classical works include the Touro Synagogue, the
Redwood Library (one if the oldest lending libraries in America) and the Brick
Market.
Besides
its collection of narrow streets, downtown Newport has two important public
spaces, Washington Square and Queen Anne Square. Civic buildings surround Washington
Square, the city’s original public space – including the brick market (now a
Newport History Museum), the Colony House, and the Courthouse, as well as a
group of banks, hotels and a theatre. Queen Anne Square emerged more recently,
in the 1970’s at the behest of Doris Duke. The square is anchored by Trinity
Church, whose current building dates from 1726. Built in a classical design, it
closely models in wood the masonry designs that Englishman Christopher Wren built
around London in the late 17th century. Queen Anne Square has recently been refurbished
and reopened this year also had some modest garden wall elements designed by
Maya Lin, who famously designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial as a college
student.
Bellevue
Avenue extends west and south from Newport's historic downtown, and it is along
this street that wealthy old families built their summer cottages, mansions
designed by top New York architects, displaying all they had learned at the Ecole
des Beaux-Artes in Paris.
As the
20th century dawned, Newport was well into its decision to forego industry and
commerce and embrace pleasure and recreation as its raison d'ĂȘtre. The city is
preserved like few others, not a relic but a living, breathing place - casual
but not exactly thriving - where the form, shape, and character of America’s
earliest settlements is preserved, at full scale. It is a fascinating place to experience, again and again. I grew up near Newport, but didn't fully appreciate it until moving away, to upstate New York for college. Since then, since studying Newport for a class on American Town Planning taught by Professor Anne Munly at Syracuse University, I've been fascinated with the design of Newport for almost two decades - a lasting affection.