Cosmic Oval

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Scope note(s)

    Source note(s)

    • *A New Description of The Cosmic House* by Edwin Heathcote, The Keeper of Meaning, with Charles Jencks, The Critic, and Charles Jencks, The Architect, First Edition, 2021, pp.16-17

    Display note(s)

      Hierarchical terms

      Cosmic Oval

      Cosmic Oval

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      Cosmic Oval

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        Cosmic Oval

          6 Archival description results for Cosmic Oval

          CJA-TCH-b-38 · File · nd [1984-1985]
          Part of Charles Jencks Archive

          Bundle of photographs and an illustration.

          Includes:
          -b&w polaroid photograph of Spring, tracing paper attached marked for publication. Annotated 'A/A files/Book reviews p110 A'.
          -colour photograph of the Spring fireplace
          -colour photograph of the Cosmic Oval
          -colour photograph of the shelves in Indian Summer
          -colour photograph looking into the Sundial Arcade
          -b&w print on photographic paper of the bookplate design inside Towards A Symbolic Architecture, with some of the text glued on

          Extras
          CJA-TCH-b-36 · File · nd [1984-1985]
          Part of Charles Jencks Archive

          Contents of an envelope labelled 'Extras' containing slides, photographs, correspondence and transparencies.

          Includes:
          -compliments slip from Richard Bryant
          -b&w photographs by Robin Laurence for NYT of Charles' Biedermeier chairs alongside some of the Symbolic Furniture, and Charles sitting on one of the Sun chairs, stamped on reverse,1985
          -photograph from the collection of the National Monuments Record of a unidentified historic building
          -colour polaroids of the Foursquare Room
          -b&w photographs of Esna, Temple of Khnum, one with extensive annotations, and the pyramid of King Chephren
          -colour transparencies by Richard Bryant
          -b&w photographs of the Elemental House
          -b&w photographs of the Architectural Library, John's Room and Lily's Room with the furniture installed but no other furnishings
          -colour photograph of the West elevation
          -b&w negative of Winter
          -letter from Mark Lewis of Lewis & Horning regarding the work he did on Indian Summer, 1985
          -cutting from an unidentified magazine
          -manuscript notes labelled 'Richard Bryant' with a list of rooms in a variety of different handwritings, including notes about Medite
          -b&w polaroid photographs of the Cosmic Oval
          -transparencies inside tracing paper, annotated for publication
          -colour slides of rooms in the Thematic House labelled 'C Jencks: not used before. 20 slides - 4 Square RM + Bathpool' but including most of the ground floor, the Time Garden and the chimneys
          -letter from William Stok regarding photography of this mural and enclosing a postcard of a work by Chagall [not included], 1985
          -colour transparency of the Garagia Rotunda annotated 'Chapter 2'
          -envelope enclosing b&w photographs with a message from 'Eamon of the shop'
          -b&w photograph of Charles in front of the Spring fireplace [over-sized, damaged]
          -b&w photograph of Charles and Maggie in front of the Spring fireplace. Charles is holding a mobile phone [over-sized, damaged]

          Cosmic Oval 1
          CJA-TCH-b-14 · File · [1984]
          Part of Charles Jencks Archive
          Contents of a box labelled 'Cosmic Oval 1'. Contains colour slides of the Cosmic Oval, the Cosmic Loo, and the Cosmic Oval and Winter floor during construction.
          Themes
          CJA-TCH-a-7 · File · 1978-1984
          Part of Charles Jencks Archive

          Contents of a folder labelled 'Themes'.

          Includes:
          -colour polaroid of the Cosmic Oval
          -correspondence between Charles and Barbara Hoyle regarding Sir Fred Hoyle's contributions to the house
          -program for the Entrance Ellipse
          -correspondence between Charles and D McNally at the University of London Observatory, regarding an introduction to Fred Hoyle and new research in astronomy
          -manuscript and photocopied lettering designs
          -cuttings from Country Life 14 July 1983 regarding Villa Kerylos, French Riviera
          -typescript with manuscript alterations title 'The Thematic House'
          -astrological designs on tracing paper
          -photocopied typeface designs and details of a course on letter design for architects
          -colour, b&w photographs and floor plans of the [National Gallery of Art, Washington]
          -I.M. Pei & Partners program and statistics and press release for the National Gallery of Art [Washington] Expansion
          -manuscript notes on the National Gallery of Art, the Willow Tea Rooms, temples, Edzell castle
          -design for the sink in the Cosmic Loo
          -notes on the word 'cosmos' and for a frieze
          -contact sheet and negatives of built-in furniture within the house
          -manuscript notes listing rooms in the house and columns labelled 'drawings, sketches notes etc: what we have', 'Photographs: what we have' and 'What we need' dated 14 Dec 1984. There are coloured dots to indicate Maggie and Charles' preferences.
          -cutting from the Guardian 'The House that Jencks built' 1984 and photocopies
          -typescript notes titles 'Cultural History July 25th 1984 MK CK WS' relating to the frieze
          -news cuttings on astronomy
          -typescript notes titled 'Cultural Time' with manuscript annotations listing historical figures
          -typescript notes titled 'Seventeen Themes of the Thematic House The Matic How See' divided into general, historical & architectural and personal
          -printed typescript document titled 'Program for the Entrance Ellipse - The Cosmic Egg and Cultural History by Charles Jencks' with manuscript annotations and sketches on reverse.
          -manuscript and typescript draft lists of themes
          -typescript document titled 'William Stok December 2 1984: Thoughts on the Mural' with a manuscript sketch at the bottom of the page
          -typescript documentitled 'Allegory MK: Architecture defeated; architecture triumphant'.
          -manuscript quotations
          -photocopy from an unknown publication relating to the personification of architecture
          -pencil sketches on tracing paper of doors, with photocopies
          -incomplete typescript document titled 'The Thematic House: Charles Jencks'
          -photocopy from an unknown publication relating to the symbolism of the seasons
          -typescript and manuscript notes titled 'Future Pavilion' with aphorisms about the future
          -photocopy typescript article titled 'The Thematic House (A brief Summary); Charles Jencks'.
          -typescript letter from Mark Girouard sending captions [not included] and returning the slides and transparencies
          -typescript notes on Autumn, Aphrodite, Artemis and Spring
          -horoscopes from Vogue June 1972
          -typescript notes titled 'Thoughts on Reading E.H. Gombrich 'The Museum: Past, Present and Future' in Ideals and Idols, Phaidon, Oxford 1979'
          -pencil and ink sketch frieze designs
          -colour polaroid photograph of the Bathpool
          -receipt from Harriet Wynter Ltd for an Orrery and colour reproduction labelled 'This is the ceiling of the famous planetarium built by Eise Eisinga'
          -letter from D McNally at the University of London regarding the entrance ellipse and returning Charles' program (attached) and regarding introductions to Sir Fred Hoyle
          -pencil lettering designs
          -typescript notes titled 'Museum of Cultural History'
          -private view card for 'Ornament and Decoration: Architectural Drawings by Arthur Brown Jr and Bakewell & Brown' at Phillippe Bonnafont Gallery, San Francisco, with manuscript annotations
          -colour polaroid photographs of the Cosmic Oval

          CJA-TCH-a-18 · File · [1980]
          Part of Charles Jencks Archive

          Contents of a folder labelled 'Ground Floor Cosmic Oval 4.41-4.43'

          Includes:
          -pencil and ink sketches on paper and tracing paper.
          -photocopy of a drawing by Terry Farrell Partnership titled 'Detail of [Oval] Studwork Ground Floor Hall], Oct 1980 (folded)./
          -pencil and coloured pencil sketch of the ceiling.
          -photocopy of an untitled drawing by Terry Farrell Partnership with a plan for the Cosmic Oval showing measurements and doors.