mullgardt

Updated: May 3, 2025

How subtly Mullgardt has interwoven the feeling of spirituality with all the animal forces in man. That tower alone is a masterpiece. I know of no tower just like it in the world. From every side it is interesting. And at night it is particularly impressive from the Marina." The architect went on to explain something of the court's history.

John D. (John Daniel) Barry - The City of Domes : a walk with an architect about the courts and palaces of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, with a discussion of its architecture, its sculpture, its mural decorations, its coloring and its lighting, preceded by a history of its growth

"Mullgardt has kept the spirit of the pageant in his court," I said. "Just as it is it would make an ideal setting, particularly for pageant with music, opera, for example." "Of course," said the architect. "But the music ought not to come as it does now, from a band. It ought to come from the orchestra. Violins belong there. Put brass never!" "Well, what happened to the pageant scheme?"

John D. (John Daniel) Barry - The City of Domes : a walk with an architect about the courts and palaces of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, with a discussion of its architecture, its sculpture, its mural decorations, its coloring and its lighting, preceded by a history of its growth

"When Mullgardt started to work out his plans he must have had in mind the transitional character of an exposition. He knew that he could afford to try an experiment that might have been impracticable if the court had been intended for permanency. He evidently was determined to cast tradition to the winds and to strike out for himself."

John D. (John Daniel) Barry - The City of Domes : a walk with an architect about the courts and palaces of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, with a discussion of its architecture, its sculpture, its mural decorations, its coloring and its lighting, preceded by a history of its growth

Mullgardt has succeeded in putting into architecture the spirit that inspired Langdon Smith's poem 'Evolution, beginning 'When you were a tadpole and I was a fish. In the chaotic feeling that the court gives there is a subtle suggestiveness. The whole evolution of man is intimated here from the time when he lived among the seaweed and the fish and the lobsters and the turtles and the crabs.

John D. (John Daniel) Barry - The City of Domes : a walk with an architect about the courts and palaces of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, with a discussion of its architecture, its sculpture, its mural decorations, its coloring and its lighting, preceded by a history of its growth

Court of Ages, Louis Christian Mullgardt, of San Francisco, architect. Most original of the courts. Faint influence of Spanish Gothic, Romanesque, French, Moorish. Richness and profusion. Suggests evolution of man. Palaces around court: northeast, Mines; northwest, Transportation; southwest, Manufactures; southeast, Varied Industries,

John D. (John Daniel) Barry - The City of Domes : a walk with an architect about the courts and palaces of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, with a discussion of its architecture, its sculpture, its mural decorations, its coloring and its lighting, preceded by a history of its growth

An artist's dream in romantic Orientalism Mullgardt's own title for it His great "Tower of the Ages" Mullgardt interprets his architectural masterpiece Brangwyn's splendid murals, "Earth," "Air," "Fire" and "Water" The "Fountain of Earth," by Robert Aitken, realism set amidst the romantic. The Court of the Universe is not Oriental, the Court of the Ages is.

Ben Macomber - The Jewel City

It's never intrusive and yet it's there, plain enough for anyone to see who looks close. It represented a magnificent opportunity and Mullgardt was big enough to get away with it." Then the architect told me the human story behind all this beauty as we wandered back into the center of the court and stood there. "Notice the incline," he said, "from the entrances?

John D. (John Daniel) Barry - The City of Domes : a walk with an architect about the courts and palaces of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, with a discussion of its architecture, its sculpture, its mural decorations, its coloring and its lighting, preceded by a history of its growth

The Gothic type of architecture of this court has not been accredited to any preceding period. Its general character supposedly resembles Spanish or Portuguese Gothic more closely than any other known style. The Court, including its avenue extending to the Marina, was designed and modeled by the writer of this article, Louis Christian Mullgardt.

Louis Christian Mullgardt - The Architecture and Landscape Gardening of the Exposition: A Pictorial Survey of the Most Beautiful Achitectural: Compositions of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition

Large cauldrons, at side of steps leading down to sunken gardens, designed by Mullgardt. North Entrance to Court of Ages "Daughter of Neptune" or "Aquatic Life," large female figure in north Court of Ages, by Sherry E. Fry. Planting: eucalyptus, acacia, laurel. Illumination

John D. (John Daniel) Barry - The City of Domes : a walk with an architect about the courts and palaces of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, with a discussion of its architecture, its sculpture, its mural decorations, its coloring and its lighting, preceded by a history of its growth

Girl archers on top of columns at four corners of central court, launching arrow at sprites on base of columns. Originally designed as fountains. Serpent cauldrons, around pool, designed by Mullgardt. "Fountain of the Earth," by Robert Aitken, in center of court.

John D. (John Daniel) Barry - The City of Domes : a walk with an architect about the courts and palaces of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, with a discussion of its architecture, its sculpture, its mural decorations, its coloring and its lighting, preceded by a history of its growth