Beginning the semester with our first ‘Ramble’, we strolled across campus looking at examples of nature integrated on campus. On our stop at Kirby, we noted the tributes to nature on the exterior and interior of the building.

The building itself, constructed in the peak of the depression, is an expression of Kirby’s economic clout and general excess. Also, as we mentioned in class, the building is an expression of constructed nature. The building, in my opinion, actually celebrates nature and symbolizes these aspects that Kirby wanted to convey. You see leaf shaped ornaments sculpted and carved in the building adding to the aesthetic beauty. Two birds, an owl and eagle, can be seen in the front of the building. The owl represents the wisdom that comes from knowledge acquired within. The eagle, celebrates dominance and power that can come from wealth.

It’s ironic, then, that a building that a building that was created with the purpose of showing off personal wealth and social standing also celebrates nature, which doesn’t requires nothing to appreciate.

“Each man is the architect of his own fortune”, is an old latin idiom, carved into the marble around the top of the building and the Kirby building celebrates his fortune through natural architecture.