Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
About Me
- Susan Harwood
- It's one of those odd things . . . I live in my little house by the sea and listen to the radio and reckon I know best about more-or-less everything . . . as I keep telling the news-casters, the policiticians and all the experts interviewed there. I shout quite loud - but I'm beginning to suspect they can't hear! Sometimes, I write to my MP . . . but there's always more to say. So, here it is!
BOOK ON A BLOG
THE BRICKS IN THE CAVE - A full length children's adventure story by Susan Harwood - click on the book to read it.
ANOTHER BOOK ON A BLOG
TIMES RHYMES - For people who want to learn 'Times Tables' the easy way!
6 comments:
Hmmm...first thing that pops into my mind is an ugly building is beautiful when something beautiful takes place inside (as in beautiful to the soul)...or when the building provides shelter and comfort or services for someone who might not otherwise have shelter and comfort and services...
I can think of many buildings around my town that represent beauty even if they aren't aesthetically pleasing to the eye and vice versa.
Ugliness has a certain beauty in itself.
How do you define ‘ugly’ ?
Is not beauty in the eye of the beholder ?
Oh, golly. I know I had something particular in mind when I wrote this - and now I can't remember what it was.
That's the trouble with being cryptic!
But, Lisa, I don't think it's what happens inside a building that makes it lovely, even though the people who work there or who receive what is offered inside might well feel a special affection for it.
Coming to this afresh, I would say an ugly building can be beautiful in two circumstances - which may well coincide.
One is the presence of architectural idiosyncarcies which catch the eye and endear it to those who see it.
Another would be if the quality of craftsmanship and materials were especially and noticeably excellent.
A well designed and sturdy shed made of good and appropriate wood will probably be more beautiful than a palace built on the cheap.
I feel quite strongly about the quality of materials. I wish I had proper wooden doors on my kitchen cupboards. I wouldn't ask for anything special; just not to have plastic coated MDF.
(The tops and sides have melamine strips which keep coming unstuck and falling off.)
Bare-Faced-Gardener - I don't think you can say 'ugliness has a certain beauty in itself' without elaborating!
And, while making due allowance for 'the eye of the beholder', is there anything you feel must be present before you'd describe a building as beautiful?
Lisa - if you are reading this - I have been really busy in the last couple of months, what with the summer holidays and everything - so I haven't been over to your blog recently. How are you? How is your arm?
Susan
Ah, those melamine strips. Once they start coming off it’s like fighting a losing battle. I wonder if putting something like polyfiller over the mdf (to stop water ingress etc) would work. Then perhaps a couple of coats of paint for melamine. If it’s done carefully I‘ve seen good results.
As for ugliness – and we’re still talking about buildings / edifices – how is ugliness defined ? What one person sees as ugly another can see as being beautiful.
I agree with the architectural idiosyncracies and definitely craftsmenship, but perhaps not necessarily the materials aspect of what you say.
The example I can think of that’s just been in the news is the Tinsley cooling towers in Sheffield.
Many residents absolutely hated them (or was it what they represented ?) but there was a very large petition to keep them. Personally I thought that one of them in particular had a certain beauty with holes around the top part. And the shape of them was extraordinary. Is Battersea Power Station beautiful or not, or Centre Point in London ?
If you think of concrete you imagine high rises, but concrete also has been used imaginatively.
So ugliness or beauty is subjective.
I've seen many beautiful cooling towers - and their beauty is tangled up with the sky.
I think Battersea Power Station is wonderfully impressive and compelling.
I can't think of anything beautiful which is made of concrete.
(I've seen photos which make concrete buildings look beautiful but that's different.)
You say concrete can be used imaginitively. I agree. But beauty and imagination don't always go hand in hand.
The more I think about it, the more anti-concrete I become.
It is a very high maintenance material. If it is to stay looking good, it needs lots of money spent on it. But, for the most part, concrete has been used in housing for the poor - and left to crack, and stain, and disintegrate.
Occasionally, it has been taken back into private ownership by the better off - those with the means to repair it and paint it and care for it . . . and voila! another stick to beat people with . . .
. . . as if the appearance of a building is connected with the value of those living there!
It's just that some have money they can spare for use in its upkeep - and some don't.
Brick . . . good brick can mellow and look better with age . . . There's another point . . . that materials should be used which will ensure buildings look more beautiful as years pass, not less so.
Do you really like Centre Point?
Susan
Not personally – I’ve always thought Centre Point an abomination.
And don’t let’s get into the eco-unfriendliness of concrete ....
and brick’s not much better, and I’m not sure I like modern brick. But old brick is beautiful as are natural building materials such as stone (oh the quarrying = landfill), cobbs, wood etc.
Post a Comment