A tennis pavilion, the work that Melania leaves in the White House
The first lady of the United States, who received criticism for the project, also renovated the rose garden.
First the Rose Garden, now the South Lawn. Melania Trump left a more lasting mark on the White House grounds with a new tennis pavilion that "will function as a place of recreation and gathering for future first families," the first lady said in a statement released Monday.
In addition, Melania announced the completion of this structure through the social network Twitter.
(It may interest you: What has been the role of the last first ladies of the United States?)
The project renovated the existing White House tennis court and grandchildren's yard and erected a new 1,200-square-foot building on the south lawn.
History continues to unfold at the @WhiteHouse & I am pleased to announce the completion of the tennis pavilion. Preserving this historic landmark is vital & I want to thank all who helped complete this project. pic.twitter.com/8NAjbYViS0
— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) December 7, 2020
Construction of the pavilion began in October and was inspired by existing architecture, which is the neoclassical federal style favored by President Donald Trump, according to a proposal submitted by the National Park Service, which operates the 18-acre White House grounds. .
The last fixture on the White House lawn is 18 feet tall. Clad in limestone and with a copper roof, it features unique architectural elements of the White House, such as a colonnade and fan-lit windows.
The pavilion also has changing rooms and is intended to be a "unifying" part of the grounds, connecting the Kindergarten and the tennis court. According to the statement, the tennis pavilion was financed by private donations.
Criticisms for the first lady
Melania Trump's project, approved in June by the Fine Arts Commission and the National Planning Commission, drew criticism in March when the first lady posted an update on Twitter as coronavirus cases soared in the United States.
Critics disapproved of the timing of publication. The pavilion is one of several design projects the first lady undertook this year.
Modifications in the rose garden
Melania remodeled the White House rose garden in August, working with landscape architecture firms Perry Guillot Inc. and Oehme, van Sweden & Associates for the makeover, which involved digging up trees, replacing yellow flower beds. bright and red with white and pastel roses, and limestone paved walkways installation.
The renovation was completed before a rally for the Republican National Convention was held on the White House lawn. Under the original proposal, the tennis pavilion will not affect historic assets or prominent views.
The legacy of other presidents and first ladies
The south grounds of the White House have traditionally served as recreational space for first families since the early 1900s, and each president has left a personal touch.
Jimmy Carter had a tree house built for his daughter and Bill Clinton installed a seven-seat hot tub. Tennis courts were first installed with Theodore Roosevelt and, in 2009, Barack Obama had the lines of the basketball court painted and added removable baskets so that he could play basketball across the court.
The grounds have also served as a canvas for the first ladies to leave symbols of their legacies. The Children's Garden was built in 1969 as envisioned by former First Lady and ardent environmentalist Lady Bird Johnson.
In 2009, then-First Lady Michelle Obama planted a 2,800-square-foot garden as part of her work to promote healthy eating.
