Friday 4 April 2008

For some reason I just hate pillars

In the 18th and 19th Century the rulers of various nations thought that they were at the pinnacle of civilisation and in their buildings they harked back to when they believed civilisation was last at its peak. This form of architecture is called neo-classical and was in reaction to the over ornate Baroque and Rococo styles that preceded it. It was also designed to show civilisations were not corrupt and once again displayed the same ideals as the "pure" Romans and Greeks. The problem is that the answers were pillars and I find it a very dull form of architecture.
It started in France but there are some examples I have seen below

National Portrait Gallery in London built 1824



The Bourse in Brussels started in 1863



The Alte Nationalgalerie in Berlin in 1866



The White House in Washington from 1792




The Supreme Court in Washington built in 1935




It reminds me of complaints now that all high streets look the same. The same style of buildings are appearing a;ll over the world and it is difficult to tell them apart. As it happens, this is nothing new.

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