Frieze Frame...

While I was back home I checked on the progress of the exterior details - the columns, capitals and frieze bands. Konstantinos, our master carver, had finished carving the prototype for the two large columns on either side of the central portion of the manor.

Above: pictures/details of the upside down capital for the main columns. He has carved a quarter of it, as the other three quarters will be direct replications.

Below: The boxing for the frieze band. 

I designed the frieze band detail myself.

Above: The profile for the frieze band

The boxing is a positive detail for the plaster work, which will be painted in fibreglass and then cast in latex to make a negative mold. The negative mold will then be used to create the 100m of frieze band required to encircle the house at the midfloor level (seen sitting on the columns below):

Usually a frieze band goes at the top of a building forming the middle part of the entablature...

We have two frieze bands, one at the top below the modillions/dentils which will render the entablature to look something like this:

But we also have a mid-floor frieze band such as seen in these buildings below:

Above: The Royal Albert Hall has several frieze bands at various levels.

Some of the inspiration for our frieze band design:

 

Pediments...

Now that we have moved on from the schematic planning phase with the architect, and are working on the detailed construction plans, we have been looking at the finer detailing on the building. We love the idea of having our family crest rendered upon the pediment of the front of the house, and probably the Stables and Chapel as well. There is a long history in architecture, especially that of English stately homes, to support such detailing. It is also a great way to add ornamentation to what would otherwise be a large triangular face without much decorative splendour!

Above and below: A cafe in Paris we visited last year. We loved the classical styling of The Orangerie, and it does have a gloriously detailed pediment.

Below: More examples of detailed pediments:

(Please excuse Tamara [the eldest daughter of Bernie Eccleston] )

We could possibly include our motto in Latin across the architrave