Thinking Aloud: architecture

Showing posts with label architecture. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Stone Houses of Chrissiesmeer

one the original Stone houses of Chrissiesmeer, with a newer addition

(note brickwork) and other detail below ...

these are mostly abandoned - at the time I visited I was unable to ascertain

what is intended with these old homes, which surely

qualify for heritage status. It would be wonderful to see them restored and used.

I have soft spot of old homes, buildings, structures - so am inclined to want to a

capture their beauty, even though they look worse for wear - it's as if feel I need to

record a memory in their honour!? These just spoke volumes, still standing

proud and steadfast, with their weathered detail and colours -

amidst wild grasses and solid large oak trees ...

An Outdoor Wednesday Post

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

In honour of a great old building

I decided to go with architecture today and creative digital manipulation, so the first
three images are all the same, just different effects.

These are some of the photographs I've taken of the facade of the old Post Office
Building in Johannesburg. It has a very interesting history - built in the late 1800's

and situated in the first market square of the then up and coming city.   It's built in
various architectural styles and has had some structural changes through the years,
including the change from bell tower to clock tower (see images below).

It was declared a national monument in 1978 and continued to be used as the Post
office up until 1996. The idea was to restore the building and continue to put it to
good use. Sadly it remained empty and was subjected to extensive vandalism.
Then about a year ago it burnt down and it's future still remains inconclusive.

the same image - 3 different creative effects .....

a view of the building whilst awaiting restoration - late 2008

and here - detail of the clock tower after the devastating fire of late 2009.

A MidWeek Blues post

and Sepia Scenes post

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Sunrise Over Stone Barn

A selection of images taken at sunrise over Stone Barn (yes, that's what it's called)

at Florence Guest Farm, Chrissiesmeer. See more pictures in previous posts on

this area and guest farm.

a My World Tuesday post
and Outdoor Wednesday post
Image(s) All Rights Reserved

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Prison Door

Details of an old prison door at Constitutional Hill,

photographed in May this year....

and a sneak image of the staircase ...

Wordless Wednesday post
Windows & Doors
Image(s) All Rights Reserved

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Signs from the Gen

a few of the signs from the Old Johannesburg Hospital precinct, taken during our

heritage walk there 10 days ago (see last week's posts for more fascinating

pictures and great detail).

a Wordless Wed post

and

Midweek Blues post

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

A tribute to times gone by ....

a selection of images from a heritage trip which I did (together with a number of

others') to the SAA Museum at Rand Airport (South Africa).

It's one of those amazing places that many don't realise exists.

Rand Airport is still very much a functional airport (for light aircraft mostly),

and on weekends there are a number of interesting aircraft out and about -

either in the skies, doing aerobatics, or parked waiting for lift off.

apologies to the fundi's, as I cannot remember the names of the

two exquisite "specimens" above and below.

the control tower (below) is built to resemble the "front" of an airplane with

Art Deco detailing.

These are some of the old planes that have been retired into the

open air museum space.

and finally some detail of the Harvard Cafe - a vibrant cafe/ restaurant that

serves great food at reasonable prices and overlooks part of the runway.

A Ruby Tuesday post

and

That's My World post

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Playing with Light

another3 images taken on the old Jhb General Hospital heritage walk.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Ventilation Spires

two views of the ventilation spires on one of the old Jhb General Hospital

precint buildings

- see yesterday's and Monday's posts for more info and pics.

a Wordless Wed post

and

Sepia Scenes post

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Worn and Weathered

More images from my downtown trip to the Old Jhb Hospital precinct

(see yesterday's post for more info).

This collection of of the worn and weathered - an old door, worn brick and

plaster work and painted down pipes ..... I just adore the brick red colour,

contrast and textures.

bugweed growing against a weathered wall

bugweed is on the invasive list, but here, it just fits in

so well - tenacious and determined, like the building ....

peeling paint, breaking plaster and still the fine detail of

years gone by stands out....

A My World Tuesday post and

Ruby Tuesday Post

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Views and Reflections of Newtown (Jhb)

Yesterday I posted a skyline view over Newtown Johannesburg, today a few more

images from this historical and culturally rich area of Johannesburg. Above

reflections on the sky scrapers which oversahdow the older buildings of

Newtown and below

a view of the building which now house Museum Afrika,

and another view with graffitti'd artwork of famous musicians of days gone by
(Miriam Makeba on the right hand side).
A Reflection post and Scenic Sunday post

Friday, September 17, 2010

Newtown View

glorious blue skies over the Newtown Precinct, downtown Johannesburg

A Skywatch Post and LATSOF post

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Lisbon Balcony

a balcony in Lisbon, framing the entry to a local store

A Windows & Doors post

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Arched Walkway

The wonderfully arched walkway at the Terreiro do Paco buildings in Lisbon

showing part of the fine architectural detail of that era.

a Sepia Scenes post and a Windows & Doors post

Three views

These are more of the pictures taken whilst I was "lost" on Sunday ... hehe!!!

see two previous posts (above) also.

Coming down one little side street in Brixton, I noticed that the view

of the imposing Sentech tower looked different from each house,

so to speak.... above, through modern concrete walls, and olive trees

this one, through shades of pale pink and turquoise gates

and lastly through a gorgeous fever tree ....

this is a Mdiweek Blues meme post

Monday, August 23, 2010

St Nicholas

I came across this little church quite by accident! Don't you

just love when that happens???

Whilst on one of my jaunts yesterday ... I got slightly 'lost" and came

across this dear with church in one of the oldest suburbs of

Johannesburg, Brixton. St Nicholas Greek orthodox church, in

typical blue and white design, dome and all

(see last image below in case you can't see it above).

What is fascinating is that unlike most churches it occupies a very

small place, literally sandwiched between a number of private homes.

And true to orthodox church style, there will always be

intricate mosaic work somewhere, this one is no exception -

how gorgeous is the detail and colour?!?!?!

and below a clearer view of the dome...

I wax lyrical about my love of photography, if for no other reason,

than the joy of finding wayout places, at times on the road less travelled,

finding things which are truly magnificent, appreciating the small details,

which I (we) would normally miss ....

Anyway back to work now .... as you were!

a My World Tuesday post

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Old Stone Church

A while ago I posted a picture of the old stone church in Chrissiesmeer

(the south african lake district) here. This is a different angle, taken whilst

on our visit to the area in May of this year. I have almost finished editting

images from the trip and hope to post more very soon.

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Curlicue

View more Monochrome images here

Saturday, May 22, 2010

In honour of a great pilgrimage II

a view of the monument from the parking lot, seen through a mass

of the inidigenous Bauhinia shrubs which were in flower.

This is part II of my visit to the Voortrkker Monument
(click to view post I).

This monument commemorates the pioneers who travelled from the coastal
areas inlands between 1835 and 1855 - this trip was called "The GreatTrek".

During this time approximately 15,000 pioneers moved inlands to
establish the provinces of the Orange Free State and the Transvaal, effectively
the start of South Africa as it was to become.

Images clockwise from top left:
Monumnet from the parking lot; a view over part of Pretoria; internal architecture;
Woman and Children statue by Anton van Wouw; a view of the monument from
entrance as you approach; the numerous arches and circles.

Click here to see previous post

View more Scenic Sunday posts here