London is visually amazing. Everywhere you look, there's something fascinating, some detail, some reminder of how things change over time. And, when a city's had the chance to develop over long human-time, that means lots of variety.
Here are three very small examples from the past couple of days.
First, this alleyway in Southwark, south of the Thames, just across the London Tower Bridge.
Obviously, there was a compelling purpose that led the designers and builders of these building to connect them with walkways; sometimes with walkways that shot off at odd angles. What could that have been? Given the location and the predominance of buildings named after spices (e.g., The Cardamom Building, Ginger Place) I have to assume it had something to do with aiding commerce. Maybe I can find out.
Next, a bit of advertising.
Imagine you're a butcher named Lidstone. Pretty successful. Building your own building. Want to promote your business. What do you do? How about having a large stone cartouche carved and placing it on the side of the building facing the most prospective customers. This was a billboard inspired by confidence: "we're a business that will last a very long time." Unfortunately for Lidstone, it didn't. Can you imagine anyone today having the confidence to literally have an ad carved in stone put on a new building?
Finally, a bit of British practicality...and decorative whimsy.
This building sits on a convergence corner in South Kensington. You get the size perspective when viewing the electrician in the bucket there in the center foreground. Skinny building, necessitated by skinny lot. "Why not make one of the sides attractive with staggered white cornerstones?" someone asked. "OK, then," someone else answered.
Thanks!
Thanks to them, and all the others who've made London such an incredible place to see.
Tags: London
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