There's a basilica that looks just like Powell Library and Royce Hall in Milan, Italy.
Meet the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio, one of the inspirations for the architecture of Powell Library, UCLA's main undergraduate library.
Another inspiration is the Basilica del Santo Sepolcro in Bologna, Italy,
which inspired Powell Library's dome.
Powell Library's architecture is full of historical references and intentional symbolism.
A Look Into Powell Library's Symbolism and Architecture
Powell's main entrance has a historical counterpart, too.
The main entrance is a pediment, a temple-like entrance.
It is modeled after the entrance of the Basilica of San Zeno in Verona, Italy.
San Zeno's entrance hosts a central Christ figure, but
Powell's entrance replaces Christ with an owl.
The owl is associated with Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom.
Above is a sun, with light representing knowledge. This idea of light is thematic of UCLA's official motto: “Let there be light.”
Two worshippers kneel in respect to the owl.
One holds a lamp, also a source of light.
The other reads off a papyrus scroll.
Altogether, these symbols introduce Powell as a site for knowledge.
Just past the entrance, you'll find yourself surrounded by Powell's Moorish and Islamic architectural influences.
Powell's lobby uses tile and geometric patterns, particularly the 8-pointed star. This star motif is present throughout Powell.
Islamic art is known for non-figurative representation rather than the depiction of humans or animals, said classics professor emeritus Robert Gurval. Gurval added that the lobby only has two animal exceptions:
the owl – representing knowledge –
and the Bruin bear – representing UCLA.
Walk up to the second floor, and you'll spot more animals adorning Powell.
In particular, you'll find twin pairs of animals.
A notable non-identical pair is the rabbit and squirrel.
Rabbits would've been on campus during Powell's construction in the 1920s, Gurval said.
However, only squirrels remain a common sight today.
You'll find several animal pairs on the dome ceiling of Powell's Main Reading Room.
Let's look at one panel of the octagonal dome.
Artist Julian Garnsey painted the ceiling to include several animal pairings, four of which symbolize earthly elements.
You'll find salamanders – symbolizing fire –
lions – symbolizing earth –
birds – symbolizing air –
and seahorses – symbolizing water.
Winged animal pairs line the edge of the domed ceiling. One explanation for their inclusion comes from the idea of “winged words” in ancient times. This idea describes how words “fly” from one place to another, Gurval said.
The ceiling also pays tribute to the written word
by featuring 40 different printers' marks from medieval Europe.
One example is the printer's mark of Johann Froben.
Printers' marks were symbolic of printers and their press businesses, similar to a modern-day logo, Gurval said.
These marks signified a book's quality and protected its intellectual property.
You'll find even more references to wisdom and history in the triangular spandrels right below the dome.
Five interlacing circles – symbolizing perfect truth.
A lamp of light – just like on Powell's entrance.
The Tree of Life – where all knowledge is. This symbolism explains the use of floral representations throughout Powell, Gurval said.
The pineapple – a special gift during the Renaissance, Gurval said.
Pineapples were once a status symbol, highly valued as an exotic fruit in Europe.
The underlying geometry of the ceiling is also a historical reference.
The Main Reading Room's ceiling is Mudéjar-style, in line with Spanish influence on Southern California.
The center of the ceiling combines three of Powell's motifs together.
There's an innermost flower,
followed by an 8-pointed star,
surrounded by radiating beams of light, Gurval said.
Collectively, these architectural references to history and culture define Powell as a monument to human society and knowledge.
