Painted Harlem vs. Unpainted Harlem

I'm not a big fan of painting brick. See the nice raw brick next door? But I did find it interesting that they took care to paint some of the details separately. This is a building they have fixed up on 134th street between Frederick Douglass and Adam Clayton Powell.

Here's the building next door that looks quite similar, but has more neutral colors. They're working on it now. I hope they don't paint the brick and details.

Favorite Architectural Element of All Time

I am going back to Seattle this week, so I have been going through old pictures and have been reminded of the Walrus, which is still my favorite element after all these years!

Face With Bird

 

Owls and Bats in Central Park

These are right across the way from the Rumsey Playfield in Central Park, which is near 72nd street. (I <3 bats!)

Rams' Heads in Chelsea

I only had my phone as I was walking around Manhattan this week. I will have to go back to capture a better look at the golden rams.

Elephant Bar Door Handles

Need I say more?



One doesn't often find architectural elements of note at chain restaurants (now that I said that I will,) but I thought these door handles were fun.

Elephant Bar
Modesto, CA

Asian Dragons in Our Nation's Capitol?

This face looks like an Asian Dragon.

I have no idea where this was in Washington D.C., or what the building is. A hotel maybe? I got the photo quickly as I was marching in D.C., so I didn't jot down any information. That's also why the picture is a bit blurry; I didn't stop walking when I took it.

Bench At the MoMA

This is not architecture per se, but is part of the world that is a mesh of art and design. I love the cleverness of this. It really makes you want to sit on it, and makes you think of the origin of leather since that is what it is made from. Designed in 2004 by Julia Lohmann it is entitled Waltraud Cow-Bench.

There are many excellent works showing functional design in the MoMA, but this is what struck my fancy the last time I visited.

Museum of Modern Art, New York
11 West 53rd Street (between 5th & 6th Aves.)

Another Great Door Handle

I love this, so I'm keeping it up a couple of days. (Also, it's exam time. I can't post everyday right now. :) )



I can't really tell if this is supposed to be a lion or another imaginary creature, but I love it.

Dragon Relief

I like these guys under this building overhang in Regensburg. People need to revive the art of architectural reliefs!

Architectural Elements To Make One Feel Pious?

Religious European art was originally intended to visually educate the masses to be pious; this became so because most people were not able to read, or understand Latin, which was the language mass was presented in. Even if some people were able to read, no one could afford Illuminated Manuscripts or Bibles because they were outrageously expensive.

These two figures were on each side of the main door out of the cathedral. Our tour guide told us that it was the Devil on one side and his mother on the other. They were there in order to remind people to be pious and good people when they exited the cathedral to go out into the world.





They don't make me feel especially pious, but people were much more superstitious back then. Maybe if I passed them once a week I would attempt to be more pious...(piety isn't my goal in life, being more Christ-like is, so I still think I would need something else by the doors of the church to make me a better person.)

Yesterday's Theme

These pictures are from the Regensburg Cathedral as well, but I think I forgot these Pictures on purpose yesterday because they are of such poor quality.

This is very standard quatrefoil decoration incorporated into Gothic Design.


This bird looks like a duck that is shielding something with its right wing. I have never seen this on a building before. You can tell the sculptor had seen a duck before it looks very naturalistic!

Regensburg Gothic Cathedral

The patron Saint of Regensburg Cathedral is St. Peter. There is a sculpture of St. Peter inside. I don't think I got a picture of the sculpture of him outside though. I believe the bottom photo is Christ, because there is no key to the church, which is St. Peter's attribute.

It is a grand, beautiful structure. (Read more on what made me fall in love with Gothic Cathedrals by clicking HERE.)

I (Heart) Gothic Elements & Gargoyles

These are all still from Stephansdom in Vienna.







I fell in love with gargoyles almost ten years ago when I was in Prague over Halloween weekend. It was a cold, nasty, rainy day/weekend. I only remember a handful of things from that weekend vividly: going to the contemporary art museum, walking across the Charles Bridge, seeing the neo-Renaissance figures sticking out of the wall at a vegetarian restaurant my friends and I ate at, my friend Daphne's rainbow umbrella, and the gargoyles spitting on me when I was up by the castle/cathedral.

I loved that the gargoyles were spitting down on me, and have never forgotten that.

Is It Pooh?

I guess it doesn't look very much like Pooh, but who has ever seen a bear with a beehive as an architectural detail before? It just made me think of Pooh with his honey jar. I love it! It doesn't really look like the person who designed it had ever seen a bear, but maybe just an illustration in a book. It looks a bit like a drawn bear in 3-D.

Major Close-Ups

These are elements I had previously posted, but I GOT A NEW CAMERA! Here's to close-up elements.

Architecture On Broome: Eastside Edition

Two buildings with interesting elements from east to west on Broome Street in Manhattan.


Almost everything around this window had shape and detail to it. I wonder what inspired the plant motif...


These little gargoyle-looking creatures caught my attention right away. They look like they have chicken legs. I love them!






Look at the dragons! They have such elegant flow from head to tail. And the one on the right looks like it is eating its own tail.

I would have to say these are some of the most interesting elements I have noticed in Manhattan in a while.

Cow Heads!

I was walking in Seattle this summer. I looked up and saw cows looking down at me.

Seattle is full of these fun random architectural treats!

Banana Republic Building, Downtown Seattle.

My Favorite Element of All Time!

I would have to say this is the best architectural element that I have ever seen. I saw the walruses on my cab ride from the airport, and I knew right away I needed to walk wherever this building was to see it more closely. (No one ever told me that Seattle was sooooo hilly though.) I think it's hilarious and really interesting to have them on a building.

Does anyone out there know if a walrus has any symbolism? I'm interested why anyone would put them onto a building's exterior.

This building is on the corner of 3rd and Cherry in Seattle, Washington.

How's This For a Column Topper?

This is from the Metropolitan Museum of art. I love this guy's teeth and brow!