Virginia
State Penitentiary
The Virginia State Penitentiary was the first public building designed
by Benjamin Latrobe. It is located in Richmond, Virginia, and is dated
to 1797-98. He was commissioned by Thomas Jefferson for the job not only
because Jefferson admired his architectural talents, but also because he
favored his liberal ideas concerning prison reform. Latrobe's mastery of
function and aesthetics is extremely evident when studying the Penitentiary.
The cells were designed to provide solitary confinement for each prisoner
and in a circular pattern, thus providing the maximum number of cells for
viewing capacity of a guard located in the center of the circle.
The exterior of the prison boasts a large arch, that has no molded embellishment
of any type. The effect is powerful, both for the function of the building
as well as the architectural style it promotes. The prison is among the
first of the Greek Inspired civic buildings in America.
