How Architecture Creates a Labyrinth

Labyrinthe in the Architecture

Victorian architecture lends itself to the aesthetic of labyrinth. A labyrinth that disorients visitors and works to either inforce or subvert the public memory of the WMH. The winding hallways, many doorways, intricate detailing all make the houses feel like an elaborate maze. The addition of stained glass windows are not only beautiful but add ambience that changes the way light filters through the space. The Victorian aesthetic is antithetical to modern architectural features which favor simplicity, clean lines, and linear elements.

All of the elements that make it strange and disorienting are what attribute the 'spookiness' or eeriness. It does not have to be a scary experience wandering through the meandering halls and peering out a thousand windows. The space leaves plenty of opportunity to evaluate how a labyrinthe aesthetic takes us out of our cultural context and lets us evaluate the accepted narratives. Is the architecture ludicrous, nonsensical, hysterical? Or is it marvelous, complex, and informing us of a narrative of public memory we had not stopped to consider before?

An example of the architectural style that features throughout the house; the numerous turning corners and use of glass. This all fits within the labyrinthe aesthetic but not necessarily dark in nature. The many windows allow for natural light so corners are less spooky and more transcendant.

The amount of doors and rooms is a feature of Victorian architecture. The numerous rooms and paths is strange to a modern day indivdual but was not as odd to those in the past. The amount of doors and long corridors are in the labyrinthe aesthetic. It emphasizes the choices and not knowing what is beyond every corner or doorway. The ropes at the end of the hall emphasize that this is a unicural labyrinth while on the tour. Meaning there is only one path tours are allowed to follow.

A black and white photograph of the WMH that was taken before the 1906 earthquake took down the seven story tower. At this point in the tour after many rooms and hallways this photo is used to orient. It provides an outside perspective of what the tour has just gone through and gives an inkling at how massive this house really is.

The stained glass windows are a staple of the Winchester House. They are beautiful and everywhere in the house. The spiderweb art is tied into the spooky lore of the tour but there are also stained glass with gems, daffodils, and daisies in the house. The stained glass changes the colors in the hallway for an immersive experience of the space.