Lens-Artists Challenge #173 – Interesting Architecture

architecture, modern, contemporary — Going Modern, Kiawah Island

“Photography brings the world to us: art, architecture, fashion, nature, war and far-off lands.”
Tim Mantoani

This week I started out thinking about the evolution of our little island here on Kiawah. Where once the island was restricted to classic, southern homestyles, today we have opened ourselves to more varied, often contemporary architecture. Exhibit A, the beautiful home in my image above. My opening quote then led me to expand my perspective to include architecture from “far-off lands”. So our challenge this week is to share your images of Interesting Architecture – whether in your back yard or anywhere else around the world.

Shanghai, china, architecture, contemporary — Pudong, Shanghai – China At Its Best

“Architecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn for timelessness”
Frank Gehry

When I think about architectural wonders, the first place I think of is Shanghai. We were incredibly fortunate to have visited during a crisp, sunny, beautiful week when the city was at its most beautiful. At sunset the buildings in the Pudong area were aglow and the ancient areas of the city were softly lit and equally beautiful. It was a wonderful contrast of old vs new – indeed, the timelessness Mr. Gehry himself so often achieved.

Calatrava, NYC, — The Calatrava Oculus, NYC

“A new building should deliver a feeling of hope.”
Santiago Calitrava

It remains to be seen whether Mr. Calitrava’s Oculus, a transportation hub at the heart of the World Trade Center in New York City will achieve the timelessness Mr. Gehry espouses. I can tell you that the interior is an absolute wonderland filled with light and beautiful shapes at every turn. To me, the exterior does not quite fit with its surroundings but that is only one person’s opinion.

stairway, glass, architecture, Mendoza — Looking Up, Mendoza, Argentina

“Architecture is the learned game, correct and magnificent, of forms assembled in the light.”
Le Corbusier

In Mendoza, Argentina we visited the beautiful Archaval Ferrer winery. The only thing better than the architecture was the wine 😊 (or was it vice-versa?). At the top of their contemporary winery we climbed the beautiful stairs to reach a rooftop overlooking the vineyard. A wonderfully memorable day.

Petra, Jordan, architecture, ancient — The Treasury, Petra, Jordan

“Building becomes architecture only when the mind of man consciously takes it and tries with all his resources to make it beautiful, to put concordance, sympathy with nature, and all that into it. Then you have architecture.”
Frank Lloyd Wright

The incredible rose-red architecture of the ancient Nabateans in Petra, Jordan is absolutely unforgettable. Amazingly, the buildings were carved directly into the rock as far back as 312 BC. Not only are they huge (see the tiny people at the bottom of the image) and beautiful, but they are also surrounded by an innovative water system that allowed them to live comfortably in the middle of the desert. That the architects were able to design, and craftspersons to build such an amazing city so long ago is truly a wonder. Along with places like the Great Wall of China or Cambodia’s Angkor Wat (in this week’s header), this ancient city would rank as one of the most impressive places I’ve seen in all of my travels.

budapest, architecture, night, lights — Budapest Nightscape, Chain Bridge

“We should attempt to bring nature, houses, and human beings together in a higher unity”
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

I’ll close this week’s post with day’s end in beautiful Budapest. I probably took a hundred photos of their famous Chain Bridge which spans the River Danube. Built in the mid 1800s, it is glorious at all times of day. I captured this image from our hotel room window which framed an amazing view of the river, the city, and the bridge.

We thank you for your responses to last week’s “A Day in My Week” challenge – what a terrific variety of amazing days you shared with us! We hope you’ll join us this week with some interesting architecture from around the corner or around the world. Be sure to use the Lens-Artists Tag to appear in our reader, and to link to my original. Finally, we hope you’ll join us next week when Patti once again leads our challenge on her Pilotfish blog. In the meanwhile, as always please stay safe and be kind.