Castle Post- possible proposal #2

I drive past the "Castle post" every day when I go to ride my horse at River Mountain Farm. It was extremely surprising the first time I came upon the Castle. One does not expect to be driving and to see a traditional, royal castle in the middle of Versailles, Kentucky. The iron, stone gate that leads up to the castle has pointed fence posts that make for a bold entrance. The grass fields that surround the castle are gigantic. Inside the castle walls there are elegant courtyards filled with flowers, fountains, and a famous dragon statue that "guards" the building.

The first thing you notice about the castle is that it is oddly placed. Everyday I go past I wonder what the implications were of building a castle in this random spot? It must cost a pretty penny to maintain the upkeep for such an extravagant home.

I would imagine there are some pretty high stakes that come with it since it is a tourist attraction. The castle brings in a lot of people to stay within it, and also hosts a lot of events such as weddings, company events, and other parties. The amount of money it brings in is probably a huge factor of why it has stayed in Lexington for so long. 

Kentucky Horse Park-Possible proposal

The Kentucky horse park has been an educational theme park and competition center open to the public in Lexington, Kentucky since 1978. The first time I ever went to the park I immediately was in awe of the beautiful, never-ending grass fields. Every one of them lined with white picket fences. The Kentucky horse park is massive in size and seems like it goes on forever. The entrance is fronted by a regal sign made out of stone that encompasses the fancy ideals of the park. Within the park you can find both the Altech arena, and the Rolex stadium. The structure alone of both buildings grabs people's attention. They are usually used for national events that attract competitors from all over the world.
One thing I have considered several times while visiting the Kentucky Horse Park is whether or not it actually attracts a lot of people? Sure, there are many equestrian competitors and their supporters that attend the competitions, but are there really a lot of the "every day families" that come to see the spectacular events? I also wonder what made them place the park in Lexington? It could have just as easily been built near Churchill downs in Louisville, Kentucky. That being said there are probably many reasons why it wasn't. Lexington had already been home to Keenland race track for a long time, and the owners of the horse park might of wanted to build on Lexington's already equine community. Money also could have been a stake. The price to build the park in a wide, open area in Lexington could of been cheaper than squeezing it somewhere near Churchill downs.

Willy T Library-Second assignment-Sarvini's method

When I first walked towards William T. Young library I was taken a back with its impressive size. I have never seen a library that large, and it was immensely captivating. Along with the magnitude that Willy T has, it is also incredibly beautiful. The way in which it was designed is architectually brilliant. The dome styled facade, and white pillars that line the front create a very traditional look. The library is also located in the heart of campus, making it a focal point for the University of Kentucky.

A problem that definitely occurred to me about the library was how much it cost to build such an extravagent building, when the money could have been put toward scholarships or other financial benefits for students. This brought up questions like what made the school make the library so massive? Why is the inside even more elegant then the outside? I thought about these questions and figured that a library is the number one area for academics on campus. It is the place where most students go to study on a daily basis. A major stake was probably that students needed a great place to get work done and be successful in college. Willy T needed to be beautiful to attract to students. No one would want to go and do homework if it was a dingy old dump.

Wildcat statue-Sarvini's four steps

When I first walked up to the wildcat statue I noticed a lot of things. The first was that I realized the figure was in the north part of campus; which can be popular at some times, but during the day when classes are in session is actually quite deserted. I also noticed that the statue looks very traditional and you can tell was meant to represent school pride. The statue stands tall and proud symbolizing ideals that the University of Kentucky represents. It occurred to me that the cat is also usually covered in some sort of decoration in the UK colors.

To refer to what I mentioned above, it was clear to me that even though many people walk past the wildcat statue everyday not many actually stop to appreciate it. The wildcat is surrounded by stone seating that is meant for people to sit down and enjoy the scenery but not many use it. It's disappointing to see such a great piece of artwork ignored most of the time.

These problems make me consider why the school decided to place the sculpture where they did? Why wasn't it placed in the heart of campus? Immediately when someone asks where I think the middle of campus is I think Willy T. library...why did they not place the wildcat there? I feel like it would have a lot more foot traffic, and be respected by all of the University of Kentucky's students.

That being said, there was probably a lot at stake when they were considering where to put the Wildcat. Money was a big factor I am sure. There might have been a different in price values of placing it in north campus versus placing it in the center. The work that went into creating the artwork could have also been a distraction to students heading to the library or classes, where as Bowman's den and Memorial Coliseum are the only main buildings near the statue now that are not as academic.