Chester, England features buildings with unique architecture with orange bricks, some combined with a Tudor style.
Architecture from the Past
Category Archives: Buildings
Black and White Buildings in Chester
Chester, England is famous for its black and white buildings including the Rows, medieval two-tier buildings above street level with covered walkways which today house many of Chester’s shopping galleries. The Black-and-White Revival was an architectural movement in the mid-19th century that re-used the vernacular elements of the past, such as painted black timber framing with panels in between painted white, referring to Tudor style.
Bolton Castle on a Hill
The 14th-century fortress Bolton Castle in Yorkshire, England is, incredibly, still owned by the barons Bolton, who built the castle. It has never been sold and has always been inherited by descendants of the Scrope family, who were powerful and enjoyed roles at the royal court over several generations. Sitting on top of a hill, it’s still a perfect storybook castle – with restored medieval gardens offering a spectacular view.
Bolton Castle, Yorkshire
Bolton Castle is one of the best preserved medieval castles in the country and dominates Wensleydale with its commanding presence. The castle was built by Sir Richard le Scrope who was Lord Chancellor of England during the reign of Richard II, and is still owned by a direct descendent Lord Bolton. Construction of the castle began in 1378 and took around 18 years to build. It was designed as a fortified residence rather than being simply a military base.
Somnath Temple Spire
The Somnath temple was reconstructed several times in the past after repeated destruction by multiple Muslim invaders and rulers over India.
The present temple is a Māru-Gurjara architecture (also called Chaulukya or Solanki style) temple. It has a “Kailash Mahameru Prasad” form. The architect of the new Somnath temple was Prabhashankarbhai Oghadbhai Sompura, who worked on recovering and integrating the old recoverable parts with the new design in the late 1940s and early 1950s. The new Somnath temple is intricately carved, two level temple with pillared mandapa and 212 relief panels.
The temple’s śikhara, or main spire, is 15 metres (49 ft) in height above the sanctum, and it has an 8.2-metre-tall flag pole at the top.
Shree Somnath Jyotirlinga Temple
The intricately carved honey-colored (further accentuated at sunset) Somnath temple on the western edge of Gujarat is believed to be the place where the first of the twelve holy jyotirlingas emerged in India – a spot where Shiva appeared as a fiery column of light. The temples lies at the meeting of Kapila, Hiran and Sarasvati rivers and the waves of the Arabian Sea ebb and flow touching the shore on which it is constructed. The ancient temple’s timeline can be traced from 649 BC but is believed to be older than that. The present form was reconstructed in 1951.
The setting sun transforms the temple sign, in Hindi script, painted with Indian flag colors by casting a golden glow.
Somnath Temple, Gujarat
The Somnath temple is a Hindu temple located in Gujarat, India. It is one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites for Hindus and is believed to be first among the twelve jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva. We visited the temple at sunset and the golden glow of the sun’s rays is evidenced in all images.
Photography is not allowed on the temple site so we had to access a walkway along the ocean to capture the images.
National Theater
The national theater in San Jose is one of the most beautiful buildings in Costa Rica with great importance to the cultural and historical aspect of the country. It opened in 1897, representing Costa Rica’s high degree of fine art and is a grand display of neo-classical architecture.
San Jose – Modern and Traditional
The culture and history is mirrored in the architecture of the republic of Costa Rica. The pre-Columbian influence, and a colourful blend of Mesoamerican, Central American and Spanish architecture is seen. These historical buildings are perfectly complimented with the new age contemporary architecture in Costa Rica.
Below is a modern Hilton hotel very close to a traditionally designed building in San Jose. Right in the front of the hotel is Plaza Juan Mora Fernandez. Juan Mora Fernández was Costa Rica’s first elected head of state in 1825. He is remembered for instituting land reform, and he followed a progressive course.
Ornate Entrances of San Francisco – Arches
Unique, ornate, and varying arch designs captured during a stroll in Pacific Heights, San Francisco.
Though only there for a week, captured some interesting aspects of San Francisco.
Ornate Entrances of San Francisco – Pillars
Ornate entrances with traditional pillars common among the homes in Pacific Heights, San Francisco.
Ornate Entrances of San Francisco – Touch of Red
It was a joy to capture the grand doors, the moldings, the touches of gold leaf, the entry gates, the clipped boxwood, the exquisiteness of them all in Pacific Heights, San Francisco.
Ornate Entrances of San Francisco – Traditional
As you walk along the Pacific Heights neighborhood, the facades vary from classic Victorians to European revival to newer Contemporary exteriors.
Ornate Entrances of San Francisco – Classic
Strolling through the Pacific Heights, San Francisco, neighborhood lined with beautiful old homes, one is inspired by the architecture and the design of ornate entrances.
Reflections – Surreal
Reflections of a building on glass somehow distort the image making it surreal
Walking in Wilmington – A View of Stairs Through Glass
Symmetry of stairs through glass in a modern building in Wilmington, Delaware
Winterthur in Delaware
More than fifty years ago, Delaware native Henry Francis du Pont began welcoming visitors to his childhood home, Winterthur, to see its magnificent gardens and view his amazing collection of decorative arts and architecture. Visitors to Winterthur Museum and Gardens experience a 175 room mansion and will be amazed by the nature and extent of its holdings.
Wilmington Trinity Episcopal Church
Trinity Episcopal Church, Wilmington, Delaware was built in the 1880s. It is a traditional English Gothic structure that features beautiful stained glass windows. The exterior walls are made of rough, dressed Avondale stone, and the church has a high, steeped roof. The church’s tower and spire were added in 1925. Twelve bronze bells in the tower chime the hour.
Doors of Savannah
When you roam around the squares, ramble the streets and lanes in the historic and Victorian Districts in Savannah, the color, size, texture and charm of so many doors invite you to stop on the sidewalk and take a closer look.
Old Architecture Homes in Savannah
More than 40 percent of the buildings and homes found in Savannah, Georgia have architectural or historical significance. The restoration of these structures is often undertaken by passionate individuals in strict accordance with the rules and regulations put forth by the Savannah Historic Foundation. Restoration of historic buildings has thrived here especially since the addition of the Savannah College of Art and Design in the late 1970s.
