Cathedral of St. Joseph- Hartford, CT

The Cathedral of St. Joseph may just be the most beautiful mid-century building I have ever seen. Although generally not my favorite architectural style, it is impossible not to be awed when you pass through the grand cathedral doors. So modern, so striking, and so unexpected.

The original 1892 cathedral was a very traditional, twin tower Gothic affair, constructed by P.C. Keeley. It served the community until 1956, when a fire within the walls of the sanctuary quickly spread, leaving only the massive exterior brownstone blocks standing. Determined to be beyond salvage, the site was cleared. Quickly a drive for funds was launched, and the renowned New York architectural firm of Eggers and Higgins was retained to build a new cathedral.

Primarily known as monument builders, including the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C., Eggers and Higgin designed a thoroughly contemporary cathedral, like no other. The frame was reinforced concrete, with the exterior covered in Alabama limestone. Inside, it was Indiana Limestone, above a wainscot of Cliffdale marble. A series of large windows lined the nave, each 67 feet high and 13.5 feet wide. A Parisian artist, Jean Barillet, designed the slab stained glass inserts, which would wash the cathedral in colored light. The floor, of course, was terrazzo.

Above the altar, a baldachin made of cast and sheet aluminum, in the form of a tripod, symbolic of the Holy Trinity. The altar area is constructed of various types of marble, surrounded by an aluminum screen. Behind the altar, the largest ceramic tile mural in the world. Overhead, a ceiling full of stars. Combined, it is one visually stunning building. Full of symbolism and mid-century materials, this interesting cathedral is not to be missed.

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