Detail from a Sinkhole
You've probably heard the good news about Amtrak service being restored to Central Station in Memphis after the sinkhole almost swallowed it.
When I saw the repair last Saturday, I noticed a little more good news.
When they rebuilt the retaining wall for the tracks, they detailed it the same way as the existing wall.
This is the wall as it's been for decades.
This is the new part of the wall, on the right, after the repairs.
They've replicated the detail, the planes and bands, of the original. Perhaps it was structurally necessary, but I doubt it. Since Memphis has had little respect for its public works architecture over the last few decades, seeing a detail as simple as this is a pleasure, and maybe a hope.
Thanks to everyone involved for getting rail service going again, and for respecting a simple, subtle detail.
Details texture Memphis.
When I saw the repair last Saturday, I noticed a little more good news.
When they rebuilt the retaining wall for the tracks, they detailed it the same way as the existing wall.
This is the wall as it's been for decades.
This is the new part of the wall, on the right, after the repairs.
They've replicated the detail, the planes and bands, of the original. Perhaps it was structurally necessary, but I doubt it. Since Memphis has had little respect for its public works architecture over the last few decades, seeing a detail as simple as this is a pleasure, and maybe a hope.
Thanks to everyone involved for getting rail service going again, and for respecting a simple, subtle detail.
Details texture Memphis.
Labels: Amtrak, architecture, downtown, Memphis, South Main Arts District
posted by gatesofmemphis at 1:09 PM
1 Comments:
I just looked at the repair over the weekend and was astounded by how seamless it was.
I took a field trip to the sinkhole while they were working on it, so I knew exactly where it was, but I still had a moment where I was like, Am I sure it was right here?
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