Friday, October 14, 2011

'Chateau Ivor' Under Construction 2

Another mid-construction view of 'Chateau Ivor', the Charles A. Gould estate designed by John Russell Pope c. 1908 in Dix Hills. Click HERE to see the previous construction photo of 'Chateau Ivor' and HERE for more on the estate. Photo from the Gould family collection.

14 comments:

HalfPuddingHalfSauce said...

What goes up must come down. What must rise must fall. You have to wonder what Long Island home or garden has architectural artifacts from the demolition.

Use ctrl and - keys to shrink photo.

Anonymous said...

I always thought, for the most part,most of the details and artifacts of these estates became landfill.

Doug Floor Plan said...

I need someone with better eyesight, or maybe insight, than I -- the house is clearly still under construction but in the center section is that a small trimmed tree in a pot up next to the house? If it isn't ... what is it? It would seem way too early to bring in the landscaping.

Anonymous said...

"...is that a small trimmed tree in a pot up next to the house?"

Could be an unofficial good luck "topping out ceremony" relic, no way would the builder have been able to place the tree where the topping tree traditionally went, i.e. on the roof!

-Flo

The Down East Dilettante said...

I would normally agree with Flo (I almost always do), but in this case, one can see, looking through the porch arches, that this is a pair of topiary bay trees, the favorite of gilded age terraces the world round. I posit that the house appears to be completed, shutters installed, scaffolding gone, in this photo, and the first signs of landscape planting can be seen on the terrace at the left. So, I see this picture of the very freshly completed house being readied, and the messy contractors yet to pick up their piles of junk on the lawn in the foreground (and has it not been ever thus?

Doug Floor Plan said...

Thank you Flo & DED for your insight. Now I'm going to wag my finger at Zach for calling this "another mid-construction view" which is deliberately misleading & probably part of a scheme to lure us into buying timeshares in Boca (joke Zach, joke).

But I am surprised that one of the first pieces of landscaping to show up are those topiary bay trees; I'm sure there is symbolism in that.

HalfPuddingHalfSauce said...

Or - its a combination of light and shadows coming from the open arches of the "wings"?

Anonymous said...

"But I am surprised that one of the first pieces of landscaping to show up are those topiary bay trees; I'm sure there is symbolism in that."

Oh boy is there.

from Wiki:

*Bay laurel was used to fashion the laurel wreath of ancient Greece, a symbol of highest status.
*In the Bible, the laurel is often an emblem of prosperity and fame. *In Christian tradition, it symbolizes the resurrection of Christ.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_Laurel

-Flo

The Down East Dilettante said...

HPHS, not a combination of light and shadow---the effect is the reverse of what it should be for that. Definitely two bay trees in tubs. Looks as if the Goulds were determined to get in residence.

Flo, good score

The Devoted Classicist said...

I agree with D.E.D., despite the scraps and debris in the foreground, the construction is nearly if not essentially complete in this photo.

Anonymous said...

1. Housewarming gift
2. Placed for a party - perhaps to thank the constrcution workers

I imagine the landscaping was a project in its own right and possibly occurred after the residence was occupied. The timing of winter could have also played a part.

Anonymous said...

OLI: "designed as a hunting and sporting retreat...that consisted of over 1,000 acres."

The season opened, there ya go.

Houseparty commenced just after the county constable gave Charles his CO [but not before shooting the pic for file documentation]. The florist brought the potted trees; the caterer brought beverage and cigars, cooked the sides and meat; the guests shot seasonal whathaveyouquailpheasantdeer.

-Flo

Anonymous said...

That's either a potted tree of Nell Carter.

The Down East Dilettante said...

By Flo, I think you've got it!