Architecture

My interest in architecture stems from my study of Art throughout secondary school and from my Fine Arts course which followed after that. Although I appreciate classic design, I prefer to be surrounded by organic shapes, curves in particular, hence adding Wright to my list because of his design for the Guggenheim Museum. Gaudi’s architecture appeals to me on a very deep level. I would have been extremely content living in the Art Nouveau period, and in absolute heaven living in a place designed by Gaudi!

My love for nature stems from growing up in a country environment surrounded by natural bush. My father is a carpenter by trade and built the house my parents still live in (and have done so for over 40 years). His stone walls are beautiful features in their house and our tree house was the envy of all our friends.

The following list of architects is a brief guide to my tastes:

• 15th century - Filippo Brunelleschi (Florence is my favourite place in Italy)
• 17th century - Francesco Borromini & Christopher Wren
• 19th century - Louis Sullivan
• 20th century - Antoni Gaudi & Le Corbusier (& some of Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture).

From that list, my ABSOLUTE favourite in EVERY respect is – GAUDI.

One of My favourite modern spaces is Federation Square in Melbourne. I find the design quite fascinating despite its overwhelming angular presence.

And to give you an idea of the type of big American design I like, the Pillow–Thompson House in Arkansas is it:

I love the mystery of the curves and attic windows and the asymmetry of the design which is based on the 'Queen Ann' style. Fine in architecture but I can’t stand Queen Anne style furniture - YUK!

Going back to organic form - for example, I do like large natural beams or a single log used as a feature in a room but I cannot stand the look of the traditional American log cabin. To me that is too much of the same. I love the old 14th-16th century thatched English cottages (or longhouses). Their walls are not completely vertical and often have curved nooks and crannies contained within the building. I am not into huge mansions which tend to feel cold and impersonal. I much prefer cosy and comfortable but not dark and dingy. The thing which appeals to me about the Queen Ann style architecture in America is that they are large houses which look compact and cosy. Some Queen Ann styles can be dark, heavy, foreboding and depressing - these are mainly the brick ones - and they are the ones I DON'T like.

It is interesting how one’s aesthetic taste develops and mine is certainly eclectic.