The Aliens Have Landed!

Believe it or not, this retro structure is in the heart of conservative Richmond, VA. A marker next to the building gives its history:
"The Markel Corporation commissioned architect Haig Jamgochian, a Richmond native, to design their headquarters in 1962. The aluminum clad conical structure was inspired by a baked potato wrapped in foil served to Jamgochian while attending an American Institute of Architect's dinner. Each floor consists of a single piece of 555-foot aluminum. They are the longest unbroken pieces of aluminum ever used as siding material. Jamgochian personally sledge-hammered crinkles into the 3rd floor siding before contractors finished the job on the other two floors in 1965. The building is a unique architectural example of its era."

[r nelly]

that is one remarkable building! plus the effect makes it look really retro, too! :)

[Chimom]

oh wow, the editing is fantastic! looks like an UFO landed on earth! great job Allison!

[Colette]

Wow, that is amazing. It makes me a little sad that new buildings just don't have that kind of character anymore.

[Claudette Shelby]

What an interesting building and a great finish on your photo to look "alien".

[Chimom]

p.s. the comment you made about the man in my yesterday's photo was hilarious! i think he was trying to cross the street when the light was changing, but i do love the motion and that's why i kept him in my photo, and now that you said that, he did look like he just rob the bank! lol!

[Rick Schies]

This is really neat. So it is actually housed by the Markel Corporation?

[Barb]

love your alien idea--looks like they have landed to me too!

[Denise Vetromile]

interesting building, processing, and information! I just love these daily glimpses into different parts of the country/world!

[Dirty Durkee]

oh wow this is crazy!

[Danna Bailey Anderson]

great icture....

[Suelbiz]

Great processing - great title... facinating backstory about the building.

[Cindy Bryant]

Lol it certainly looks like the aliens have landed- especially with your brilliant processing!

[Tanya]

Wow it just goes to show if you're creative enough inspiration can come from just about anything!

[agentz]

What an interesting building :) I love unusual buildings and I'm now Googling this one like crazy

[Louise & Ken]

And to think some of us struggle to find new ideas when this designer looked at his baked potato and created a building! That's amazing!

[Melissa Pike]

Oh, what a cool building! I love the designer's inspiration!

[bonnie lee wilson]

I have to agree that it looks like an alien space-craft.
But the true story about it orgins is pretty amazing as well.
Inspired by a baked potato wrapped in aluminum foil -- one just never knows from whence will come inspiration !!!!!

[Karen Hurd (hwy61)]

Good idea to capture this building, Allison! And your editing does make it look rather alien (just as it does "in person!"

[Lauren Dahlhauser]

i LOVE this allison :)

[Kimmi]

Cool picture! I love the caption.

[Tracy Watkins]

awesome shot!

[bonnie lee wilson]

Congrats -- your alien space ship has landed on the Popular Page.

[Jodie Atkinson]

Oh my gosh, an alien backed potato building! I love it :) Great shot.

[Lois P]

How good is that!
Great shot - love its history!
A rarity!

[Jeph Otos]

i never knew what to think of this building, so i grew up justifying it's existence by calling it the guggenheim of the south.

thanks for your link to the glass at the gardens too, very cool!!!

[Sarah Schlow]

Your description for this just made my day. A building inspired by a baked potato? Incredibly bizarre and wonderful. What a great shot, it really gives the building an otherworldly feeling.

[Susan Klassen]

Cool shot!

[Dave Richmond]

I've driven by that building several times. It's nice to know the history behind it. Oh yeah, cool photo too!

[bkb in the city]

That is a one of a kind building for sure.