Mary@MaryBrush.com     restorechic@mac.com     www.marybrush.com

  July 4, 2005      

I write to you from the speeding train of the TGV as I travel from Lyon to Paris for 2 days.  This marks the start of my second month as a Richard Morris Hunt Fellow.

I have been told that I ‘Like to Live on the Edge,; so this will include a series of photos of what one sees when they step outside of the standard confines of standard street life, climb a scaffolding to the top of a church bell tower, and have a look around.

Life at the moment is so extraordinary.  Each day is filled with architectural and life lessons, new towns and villages, and of course interesting people.  A not so typical day started with an early flight from Lyon to Lille. (St. Armand des Eaux and view from above)  All that remains of this XVIth century Cathedral is the entry tower.  The church was lost in the Revolution and now the stone is affected by the ravages of time and pollution.  The condition of the stone and the functionality of the structure may call its existence in to question elsewhere, but in Lille they are starting a second and major phase of restoration.  The afternoon included a visit to a  Robert Mallet- Stephen house - The Villa Cavrois.  The building is substantially under scaffolding, but is truly remarkable.  I plan to see the current exhibit at the Beaubourg center in Paris on this highly influential French architect of the XXth century.

An afternoon flight then took us to Marseilles for a few days.  I stayed at the Cite Radieuse  by  Le Corbusier.   - The dinner conversation with the resident freres considered his true genius and a debate as to whether or not he was more architect or artist.

Avignon has a new entry to the famous Pont D’Avignon thanks to the architecture of Didier repellin and Renzo Wider.

The Palais de Pape is being restored, and we met with the master Italian mural conservators as they begin their work on the XVIth century murals of theChapel St Marecal.

A private chateau in Provence provided this view of the landscape/paysage.

In Lyon, the Cathedral St Jean is receiving an exterior wall restoration of the stone and stone tracery.  The process of decide why there is an issue with the building causing the restoration, what the issue is, how to do the restoration and then which areas are priorities - and what can last another 100 years or so until the next restoration is a fascinating topic of conversation.

 A second trip to Rome provided more opportunities to enjoy the city, but also to see the progression of an extensive masonry wall consolidation.  That has limited public interest, so know that the photos are available should you be interested.  We then  traveled to Napoli where Didier Repellin in on an international team of architects and engineers to stabilize and restore the Albergo dei Povieri This immense building is poetic in its deterioration - heavy with a combined sadness and hope for an enlightened future.

A fascinating demonstration of how buildings must continue to change for current life conditions is Didier’s project to build a much needed roof over the stage of the Theatre Antique of Orange - a theater in current use but with origins in the Roman Empire, complete with a statue of the Emperor Augustus. 

This program is such an private look at architecture in France - it is a history of both construction and restoration.  It is a cultural exchange and true life experience.  I speak French the majority of each day, and comprehension has increased exponentially.

Many many thanks to all of the people that I meet each day for your time dedication and patience.

Back on the ground I can tell you that the Lavender is in bloom, the weather is warm and the wine is perfect.

A bientot!  Please write!