Light Through Windows

Sainte Chapelle, located within the Palais de Justice complex on the Ile de la Cite in the centre of Paris,  is one of the most beautiful and ornate churches I have seen with magnificent stained glass windows and a wonderful arched roof. The sun coming in through the coloured glass bathes the interior in a special light adding to the tranquil atmosphere.

A video of this church can be seen below.

 

Blue Stairway

The architecture of the older classic buildings in New York really impressed me and especially the way in which many of these buildings have been maintained and restored to their former glory. This building with strong blue coloured stonework, blue fire escape stairs and ornate arches made a very bold statement.

Arc de Brooklyn

Heading through Brooklyn I did a double take when I saw this familiar looking monument. Yes this is Brooklyn's answer to the famous Paris Arc de Triomphe monument. Only in America! This is in fact the Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Arch at Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn, New York.

Dragon Roof

This is another example of Antoni Gaudi's architectural genius on the rooftop of Casa Batllo in Barcelona, Spain. The arched roof design and complex chimneys are very typical examples of his designs being colourful and full of irregular lines. The arched roof has been likened to the back of a dragon or dinosaur. The local name for the building is Casa dels ossos (House of Bones), and indeed it does have a visceral, skeletal organic quality. It was originally designed for amiddle-class family and situated in a prosperous district of Barcelona.

The Last Bridge

As I walked around the West Lake in Hangzhou, China in the early morning mist this beautiful arched bridge blended in with the mist over the lake giving it the appearance of being the very last bridge. Again timing in photography is key and I waited some time till I captured a figure on the bridge to give it a sense of scale.