I don't know about you but I get great pleasure walking about towns and cities looking at architecture?
I don't mean the stuff designed by famous people but otherwise ordinary features that stand out, for whatever reason.
I feel that the landscape industry has become fixated with straight lines and crisp finishes with very few able to see a minds' eye picture of a project after a few years, once it has weathered in.
I guess it is programmes like Rogue Traders and unfair scrutiny on forums that creates an atmosphere of fear when it comes to experimentation of new ways or replicating the look and feel of the past.
I recently walked around Saint-Émilion. There is a mix of buildings and architecture, from medieval to Roman through to modern day. Many of the streets have now been replaced with new stone and paving but one particular hill (not sure what it's called) took my eye.
It's built with granite cobbles which are all over the place. Some setts are turned, some are missing, the jointing is far from consistent and if it were built today the paving would be condemned as dangerous and the contractor hung out to dry.
Yet....this paving is glorious; a work of art. Despite its apparent health and safety failings it's so beautiful and appealing.
Flicking through the news websites this morning I cam across this article More to Le Mans than motor racing. I wasn't overly interested in the article but what caught my eye was the photo of the arch .
My initial reaction was one of pleasure. There is so much going on. The colours; texture, shape and lines.
However, look closely and ignoring my inner feelings I can see a poor design. Erratic and irregular lines and broken shape. The arch itself is wonky. The joints between the stone brick and tiles are huge.
However this arch is a winner for me and examples like this can be found all over the world.
What is more it's easy to replicate....but would anybody dare?
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its not an easy task !
They couldn't have been such cowboys if it's still standing could they? Looks like a Roman arch with a bit of bodge up repairs some centuries later. Looks nice though , as you say .
Rough stonework can be a thing of beauty, thinking the old clapper bridges as in in Postbridge, Devon, one that sits in a glorious setting.
Remember being moved at first sight of Gaudi's Casa Mila, also known as La Pedrera, the stone quarry. Not to everyone's taste but I love it, and not a straight edge to be found anywhere!
Also, since when did The Sun cover culture & history? Lol...
We noted The Sun sponsored Stakker Racing #21 at Le Mans this year but did not supply any 'support' crew with brollies :-( .. Mmhhh perhaps they ARE getting cultured then
Have to say there are plenty of good Tarmac curves here at the circuit that are well appreciated, however the best bit of architecture is several miles long of straight Tarmac ... called the Mulsanne straight.