In the architect's alphabet, "a" stands for acanthus leaves, which are used for decoration [column architecture] (2023)

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Acanthus Leaves Found in Lancaster Design [Photos] A stands for acanthus Videos

  • GREGORY J. SCOTT | FOR LNP | LANCASTER ONLINE

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Constructed in 1910, the Hager building has a pressed metal eaves with acanthus leaves. It was designed by C. Emlen Urban.

  • Matthew Tennison

The French Baroque style Kirk Johnson Building on West King Street has glazed terracotta acanthus leaves throughout its facade. The building was designed by architect C. Emlen Urban and built in 1911.

  • MATTHEW TENNISON

At the request of readers and school teachers, we are launching a new 26-month series. Returned by popular demand, The Architects' Alphabet offers a fresh new vocabulary. We will explore each letter of the alphabet from A to Z, using examples from our historic community's rich heritage.

In anticipation of the forthcoming book Urban Legend, The Life & Legacy of C. Emlen Urban, he will highlight details from his extensive portfolio of work spanning 50 years.

The examples identify the design feature, its origin, its purpose, and where it resides in our community—usually right before our eyes. As in the past, each story is followed by three questions. I hope you like it...again!

1from 21

In the architect's alphabet, "a" stands for acanthus leaves, which are used for decoration [column architecture] (3)

The WW Griest Building, designed by C. Emlen Urban and built in 1924 in Italian Renaissance Revival style, has a Corinthian capital with acanthus leaves.

  • MATTHEW TENNISON

In the architect's alphabet, "a" stands for acanthus leaves, which are used for decoration [column architecture] (4)

The French Baroque style Kirk Johnson Building on West King Street has glazed terracotta acanthus leaves throughout its facade. The building was designed by architect C. Emlen Urban and built in 1911.

  • MATTHEW TENNISON

In the architect's alphabet, "a" stands for acanthus leaves, which are used for decoration [column architecture] (5)

The French Baroque style Kirk Johnson Building on West King Street has glazed terracotta acanthus leaves throughout its facade. The building was designed by architect C. Emlen Urban and built in 1911.

  • MATTHEW TENNISON

In the architect's alphabet, "a" stands for acanthus leaves, which are used for decoration [column architecture] (6)

The 1906 Beaux-Arts style Bausman Building on the first block of West Orange Street has glazed terracotta acanthus leaves next to a sign. The building was designed by architect C. Emlen Urban.

  • GREGORY J. SCOTT

In the architect's alphabet, "a" stands for acanthus leaves, which are used for decoration [column architecture] (7)

Stevens Girls High School's 1906 building was constructed in the French Renaissance style and features narrow golden Roman bricks, decorative limestone siding, arched French-inspired windows and a copper-colored acanthus leaf fascia.

  • GREGORY C. SCOTT
(Video) A little known architectural fact, Part 2

In the architect's alphabet, "a" stands for acanthus leaves, which are used for decoration [column architecture] (8)

Pressed, painted metal acanthus leaves adorn Lancaster's Hager building, built in 1910. The architect was C. Emlen Urban.

  • MATTHEW TENNISON

In the architect's alphabet, "a" stands for acanthus leaves, which are used for decoration [column architecture] (9)

Stevens High School, built in 1906 in Greek Classical and Italian Renaissance styles, has acanthus leaves on its ceiling medallion. The building was designed by architect C. Emlen Urban.

  • Matthew Tennison

In the architect's alphabet, "a" stands for acanthus leaves, which are used for decoration [column architecture] (10)

Built in 1898 on Block 100 of North Duke Street, the Breneman Mansion features stylized cast stone acanthus leaves over the first floor windows. It was designed by architect James H. Warner.

  • Tippets Weaver Architects

In the architect's alphabet, "a" stands for acanthus leaves, which are used for decoration [column architecture] (11)

Lancaster Town Hall was designed in 1891 in the Venetian Renaissance style. It has Indiana limestone acanthus leaves under a vessel. It was designed by James H. Windrim.

  • GREGORY J. SCOTT

In the architect's alphabet, "a" stands for acanthus leaves, which are used for decoration [column architecture] (12)

Lancaster Town Hall was designed in 1891 in the Venetian Renaissance style. It has Indiana limestone acanthus leaves on its tower. It was designed by James H. Windrim.

  • GREGORY J. SCOTT

In the architect's alphabet, "a" stands for acanthus leaves, which are used for decoration [column architecture] (13)

Acanthus leaves decorate the main entrance of Lancaster City Hall. The building was designed in 1891 in Venetian Renaissance style. It has Indiana limestone acanthus leaves on its tower.

  • GREGORY J. SCOTT

In the architect's alphabet, "a" stands for acanthus leaves, which are used for decoration [column architecture] (14)

Hagerbau 1910 -

The 1910 Hager Building in Lancaster has a stone garland with acanthus leaves. the building was designed by C. Emlen Urban.

  • Matthew Tennison

In the architect's alphabet, "a" stands for acanthus leaves, which are used for decoration [column architecture] (15)

Constructed in 1910, the Hager building has a pressed metal eaves with acanthus leaves. It was designed by C. Emlen Urban.

  • Matthew Tennison

In the architect's alphabet, "a" stands for acanthus leaves, which are used for decoration [column architecture] (16)

The French Baroque style Kirk Johnson Building on West King Street has glazed terracotta acanthus leaves throughout its facade. The building was designed by architect C. Emlen Urban and built in 1911.

  • Matthew Tenniso

In the architect's alphabet, "a" stands for acanthus leaves, which are used for decoration [column architecture] (17)

This plan for the 1911 French Baroque style Kirk Johnson Building on West King Street features hand-drawn acanthus leaves. The drawing is ink on linen. The building was designed by architect C. Emlen Urban.

  • Matthew Tennison

In the architect's alphabet, "a" stands for acanthus leaves, which are used for decoration [column architecture] (18)

Lancaster Courthouse Annex, built in 1896 in the Roman Revival style, has a Corinthian capital with acanthus leaves. The architect was James H. Warner.

  • GREGORY J. SCOTT
(Video) Architect Breaks Down NYC Subway Stations (Oldest & Newest) | Architectural Digest

In the architect's alphabet, "a" stands for acanthus leaves, which are used for decoration [column architecture] (19)

Stevens High School, built in 1906 in Greek Classical and Italian Renaissance styles, has acanthus leaves on its keystone. It was designed by architect C. Emlen Urban.

  • Matthew Tennison

In the architect's alphabet, "a" stands for acanthus leaves, which are used for decoration [column architecture] (20)

Schroeder Mansions, built in 1898 on East Orange Street in the Tuscan Revival style, have acanthus leaves over the square windows on the second floor. The building was designed by James H. Warner.

  • GREGORY J. SCOTT

In the architect's alphabet, "a" stands for acanthus leaves, which are used for decoration [column architecture] (21)

Stevens High School, built in 1906 in Greek Classical and Italian Renaissance styles, has a copper acanthus cornice. It was designed by C. Emlen Urban.

  • Matthew Tennison

In the architect's alphabet, "a" stands for acanthus leaves, which are used for decoration [column architecture] (22)

The WW The Griest building, built in 1924 in Italian Neo-Renaissance style, has a Corinthian capital and cast stone with acanthus leaves.

  • Matthew Tennision

In the architect's alphabet, "a" stands for acanthus leaves, which are used for decoration [column architecture] (23)

Built in 1911 in the French Baroque style, the Kirk Johnson Building has acanthus leaves around and above its shield. The architect was C. Emlen Urban.

  • Matthew Tennison

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Acanthus Leaves Found in Lancaster Design [Photos]

Acanthus leaves were used as design elements in ancient Greek temples, and they were still used on well-known Lancaster buildings designed by C. Emlen Urban. Click through the arrows to see examples of this popular design element.

1from 21

The WW Griest Building, designed by C. Emlen Urban and built in 1924 in Italian Renaissance Revival style, has a Corinthian capital with acanthus leaves.

  • MATTHEW TENNISON

The French Baroque style Kirk Johnson Building on West King Street has glazed terracotta acanthus leaves throughout its facade. The building was designed by architect C. Emlen Urban and built in 1911.

  • MATTHEW TENNISON

The French Baroque style Kirk Johnson Building on West King Street has glazed terracotta acanthus leaves throughout its facade. The building was designed by architect C. Emlen Urban and built in 1911.

  • MATTHEW TENNISON

The 1906 Beaux-Arts style Bausman Building on the first block of West Orange Street has glazed terracotta acanthus leaves next to a sign. The building was designed by architect C. Emlen Urban.

  • GREGORY J. SCOTT

Stevens Girls High School's 1906 building was constructed in the French Renaissance style and features narrow golden Roman bricks, decorative limestone siding, arched French-inspired windows and a copper-colored acanthus leaf fascia.

  • GREGORY C. SCOTT

Pressed, painted metal acanthus leaves adorn Lancaster's Hager building, built in 1910. The architect was C. Emlen Urban.

  • MATTHEW TENNISON
(Video) The Development of Ancient Greek Architecture

Stevens High School, built in 1906 in Greek Classical and Italian Renaissance styles, has acanthus leaves on its ceiling medallion. The building was designed by architect C. Emlen Urban.

  • Matthew Tennison

Built in 1898 on Block 100 of North Duke Street, the Breneman Mansion features stylized cast stone acanthus leaves over the first floor windows. It was designed by architect James H. Warner.

  • Tippets Weaver Architects

Lancaster Town Hall was designed in 1891 in the Venetian Renaissance style. It has Indiana limestone acanthus leaves under a vessel. It was designed by James H. Windrim.

  • GREGORY J. SCOTT

Lancaster Town Hall was designed in 1891 in the Venetian Renaissance style. It has Indiana limestone acanthus leaves on its tower. It was designed by James H. Windrim.

  • GREGORY J. SCOTT

Acanthus leaves decorate the main entrance of Lancaster City Hall. The building was designed in 1891 in Venetian Renaissance style. It has Indiana limestone acanthus leaves on its tower.

  • GREGORY J. SCOTT

Hagerbau 1910 -

The 1910 Hager Building in Lancaster has a stone garland with acanthus leaves. the building was designed by C. Emlen Urban.

  • Matthew Tennison

Constructed in 1910, the Hager building has a pressed metal eaves with acanthus leaves. It was designed by C. Emlen Urban.

  • Matthew Tennison

The French Baroque style Kirk Johnson Building on West King Street has glazed terracotta acanthus leaves throughout its facade. The building was designed by architect C. Emlen Urban and built in 1911.

  • Matthew Tenniso

This plan for the 1911 French Baroque style Kirk Johnson Building on West King Street features hand-drawn acanthus leaves. The drawing is ink on linen. The building was designed by architect C. Emlen Urban.

  • Matthew Tennison

Lancaster Courthouse Annex, built in 1896 in the Roman Revival style, has a Corinthian capital with acanthus leaves. The architect was James H. Warner.

  • GREGORY J. SCOTT

Stevens High School, built in 1906 in Greek Classical and Italian Renaissance styles, has acanthus leaves on its keystone. It was designed by architect C. Emlen Urban.

  • Matthew Tennison

Schroeder Mansions, built in 1898 on East Orange Street in the Tuscan Revival style, have acanthus leaves over the square windows on the second floor. The building was designed by James H. Warner.

  • GREGORY J. SCOTT
(Video) The Foundations of Classical Architecture: Greek Classicism

Stevens High School, built in 1906 in Greek Classical and Italian Renaissance styles, has a copper acanthus cornice. It was designed by C. Emlen Urban.

  • Matthew Tennison

The WW The Griest building, built in 1924 in Italian Neo-Renaissance style, has a Corinthian capital and cast stone with acanthus leaves.

  • Matthew Tennision

Built in 1911 in the French Baroque style, the Kirk Johnson Building has acanthus leaves around and above its shield. The architect was C. Emlen Urban.

  • Matthew Tennison

'); }

A stands for acanthus

Acanthus is an interesting word and one with a long association with architecture.

Acanthus is a hardy plant native to the eastern Mediterranean, capable of withstanding severe weather and harsh climate conditions.

The ancient Greeks used the acanthus leaf as a design motif in their temples, dating back to 450 BC. dates back to The leaf can be recognized by its thick jagged and jagged edges, reminiscent of a thistle in our region. For the Greeks, it is a symbol of long life and immortality.

In the architect's alphabet, "a" stands for acanthus leaves, which are used for decoration [column architecture] (45)

Ancient and modern cultures stylized the leaf and used it as decoration on pillars. The Greeks used three different orders (designs) to cover their pillars; Doric, Ionic and Corinthian. The acanthus leaf is used exclusively for the Corinthian column capital, the most decorative and elaborate of the three.

In the architect's alphabet, "a" stands for acanthus leaves, which are used for decoration [column architecture] (46)

The tradition has continued into modern times. In Lancaster, Corinthian columns with acanthus leaves can be found on the city's well-known buildings: Griest Building, Hager Building, Stevens Girls High School and Lancaster City Hall.

C. Emlen Urban was a 'classical architect' and enjoyed designing in the Renaissance style linked to Greek traditions. Acanthus leaves are also used as roof ornaments, as seen on the Hager Building and Stevens Girls High School, and to add floral textures to facades, as seen on Lancaster City Hall.

As architectural styles evolved, the classical movement, with Greek and Italian architecture, gave way to styles that were less ornate and less aligned with ancient cultures. However, there are still many structures to enjoy and explore today.

In the architect's alphabet, "a" stands for acanthus leaves, which are used for decoration [column architecture] (47)

What materials were used to make acanthus leaves for the buildings?

Both carved wood and stone were used. Stone, of course, offered the greatest longevity.

Why was Urban drawn to classical architecture?

We can only surmise that he enjoyed the rigorous discipline of designing in styles steeped in antiquity.

What types of buildings use acanthus leaves?

The leaf is primarily associated with civil, religious, and other public buildings, but can also be found in large private homes.

This column is contributed by Gregory J. Scott, FAIA, a local architect with 50 years of national experience in innovation and design. He is a member of the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects. E-mailGScott@rlps.com.

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