A Gentle, Happy Door

On a gray day when the weather is cold and dreary, if you walk by this door, I'm sure you will smile. At first glance, it's beauty is subtle, but if you take a moment and let your eyes wander around this door, you will find that it is happy and seems to have the function not only of a door, but of making people smile. It's dainty flowers at the top of a simple trellis are always in bloom even if the sun is far, far away and snow is on the ground. It's soft green color caresses you eyes...giving them a chance to take a rest in a world that seems to be constantly in motion and often out of focus. I have to say that when I look at this door, I feel peaceful.

Batman! Save this Door!!

OK, OK, I know, you're looking at this door and thinking what a mess it is. Well, you're right, and I believe that the idiots that spray painted on and around it should be rounded up and forced to clean up their stupid actions, but that is beside the point right now.

At first glance, perhaps this door doesn't seem to merit too much attention, but take a longer look at it...start at the top and admire the uniquely shaped windows, then slowly move your eyes down and around the door...

What do you see?

A bird? A lion? Wait! Is that a BAT???

And some sweet, delicate flowers...

And a graceful Art Nouveau-ish design (though I'm not too sure exactly why it is here, but, well, here you have it!!).

Now that you've given this door some focused attention, you have to admit that if someone gave this door a bit of love and care, it could once again be a door that everyone would admire in their first glance at it.

Abandonned

Once upon a time, the man and woman standing over this door greeted many visitors daily to this grand turn-of-the-century building which housed the central post office for this part of Prague as well as the communications for much of the city. Now, the entire building lies empty and this door, which was once a main entrance, is shut and no one passes through it. Maybe one day people will once again use this warm, interesting door, but for now, it is there...alone...victim to the thoughtless, stupid acts of individuals who are unable to comprehend the value of something well-made and appreciable.

Though this is admittedly not from my favourite architectural period, I have to say in all fairness that I find all the elements of this door and its frame to be very agreeable..from the light fixtures above the door down to the round brass decorations on the door and, of course, the grills and the very simple, yet unique door handle.

Poor door, it needs to be loved...it wants to be loved...I do hope that one day again soon, it will find the love it deserves.

Theatre Tuesday

For a door to a theatre (divadlo), this is not terribly exciting, but you do have to admit that this door is not only of a nice, rich-coloured wood, but it is well-loved. Behind this door is a small theatre that is loved by many, especially those who are fans of Jara Cimrman.

It also has a nice handle...which, ironically, in Czech if you say that you 'have a handle' (mate klicku), it means 'you are lucky'! I'll let you think about that and come to your own conclusions!

A Fabulous Door...to a Police Station!

What a FABULOUS door!! It's hard to believe that it is the entrance door to a police station, isn't it? Well, it is. It makes it ALMOST worth getting a parking ticket just so you can walk through it to pay your fine. I especially love the woodwork, but the wrought-iron work is also really nice...and the handle, too!

Church Door Sunday

Actually, this isn't a door to a church, but rather to a chapel that is in an old cemetery.

By the way, just so you know, that isn't graphitti on the door, it's just chalk and it marks that the 3 kings (K + M + B)* visited this door on the day of the 3 kings and it also marks the year (2010). I will explain this tradition better at another time...I promise!

Sunday Door

I don't know why, but I always prefer my Sunday doors to be in sepia...I guess like that they seem more other-worldly and spiritual.

Friends to Come Home To

When I first saw the little angels (babies?) above this door, I had to chuckle: someone's modesty has made sure that they are appropriately covered. But no matter, this nice door is like a good friend...it is there to greet you, to be with you and, in case of need, to protect you. It's lovely wood details and accessories are friendly and strong. We should all be so lucky to a friend like this!!

Sad Door Saturday

So maybe this doesn't look terribly sad at first sight, but look closer (click on the picture)...pretty sad, isn't it? Not just has the door been scratched and banged up badly, but dozens of things have been stuck and glued to it then scratched off...or not. And the final insult is the horrible handle. Poor door...can you hear it whimpering?

Cherubs Watching Over

This door is pretty boring...well, in my opinion, REALLY boring...but I do very much like the arch overhead and the sweet little cherubs amongst all the flowers.

Round and Around

I like all the roundedness of this door...the circle above the door, the rounded arch that frames the door, the rounded 'hoods' on the doors themselves, the columns and even the rounded scrolling above the circle that hangs over the door. There is even all this roundedness repeated in the wrought-ironwork on the windows of the door. This is a nice package. (Just too bad the door's handle ruins the doors chances of being a perfect package!)

Colourful Monday

Ahh...the one good thing about Monday...it's colour day!! Yay! And today's colour is RED (well, it is more of an earthy red than a blood red!)!! We haven't seen this colour since Valentine's Day (the day I started this blog!). Well, this door is not as extravagant as that door was, but this one is in an entirely different ballpark than that one, too.

This door has a bit of both an Art Nouveau and an Art Deco feel to it... this doesn't mean that it is from either of these periods (it could have been made more recently), but as those styles have long been popular, they are used and reused and we fall for them every time (or at least I do!). No matter what, the decoration on this door made me think of Spring and since we have officially entered into Spring, I offer you this Spring-ish door!! Enjoy, and have a nice, sunny day.

P.S. Unfortunately, the handle on this door was not worth photographing up close.