The Martin CastleCameron Young

• Located in Versailles, Kentucky.

• Construction was started in 1968 by Rex and Cathy Martin but was never finished due to a divorce.

• The Martin Castle was put on the market in 1988 and sold in 2003 to a Floridian couple with ambitions to turn the building into a bed and breakfast.

• A fire occurred in 2004 which destroyed most of the main building.

• Today, the Martin Castle is completely rebuilt and remodeled into a luxury hotel and venue.

Design Features

Media Used:

• Stone

• Blacktop

• Roofing

• Wood

• Cement

• Glass

Design Aspects:

• The outer stone wall

• Four towers on each corner of the surrounding wall

• Main building

• Main building staircase

• Fountain

• Courtyards

Design product of culture

• The Martin Castle shows how the culture of the United States is changing dramatically.

• The large, luxurious castle gives a glimpse into how we, as a society, find this normal and everyday. We enjoy bigger, grander things.

• Our culture wants more space, more amenities, and more square-footage.

Human experience enhanced

• The design of the Martin Castle is unlike anything for miles around. Castles are not common in the United States, let alone Versailles, Kentucky.

• The largeness of the land and building puts of a grand feeling.

• The gate and the large front lawn makes many by-passers wonder and become curious.

• The outer wall gives off the same “mysterious vibe”.

• The towers give you an idea of how large the building actually is.

• Inside, The grand main staircase leads you to other parts of the castle and puts off a grand, royal feeling.

• The furnishings chosen resembles European style. The furnishings are large and intricate.

Business, Social, and Cultural practces

• The Martin Castle is a business, now. The castle is a bed and breakfast, hotel, and upscale venue. The design of the building is something new and unlike anything in the surrounding areas, making it perfect for bringing in consumers.

• Bed and Breakfast venues are increasing in popularity, now that the economy is picking up. Socially, the society is coming out of a recession. Families have more money to spend on entertainment and luxury things, including a stay at the Martin Castle.

• Culturally speaking, the design of the castle is unlike the culture in Lexington. Castles are typically seen in older countries, not in the United States.

• On the other hand, the castle perfectly resembles today’s culture in how our society wants more and more. The castle shows how our society is changing and becoming more demanding (in terms of living space).

Social media influence

• The Martin Castle has always been the center of many Kentuckian’s attention

• News media and bloggers such as; LEX 18, Lexington Herald Leader, Tops in Lexington, and other local bloggers have drawn more attention to the Castle

• LEX 18 covered a story after the remodel was completed to help advertise for the, now, hotel.

• The Castle Post (hotel’s company name) has a facebook page to advertise.

Culture and consumerism

• Our culture is changing, and because of this we are changing as consumers, as well.

• The end of a recession results in spending more money on luxury items and entertainment.

• Consumers in this culture find this a reasonable item to spend money on, and they do. A bed and breakfast is a mini-vacation, which many couples do in this society very often.

Works cited

• www.thecastlepost.com/

• www.dupontcastle.com/castles/martin.htm

• http://myoldkentuckyroadtrip.com/2011/09/20/kentucky-tales-the-versailles-road-castle/

• http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/535