Confusion

OK, some of you may like this door and others of you may find it too much. I have to say that I like the door and I like the arch....BUT!! I don't know that I really like the door AND the arch together! I mean hey, look at the arch...it screams an entirely different style than the door....neogothic... renaissance..., but the door is talking art nouveau with a bit of art deco. What??? I call this architectural schizophrenia.

Let's first look at the arch, and the door's frame...carved stone, arches, figures, repetitive carved floral frame with a very gothic/neogothic feel to it.

The door? Well, it is wooden, green (?), has large brass handles on it, geometric-shaped windows, stylised flowers, stained-glass windows (behind a regular plate glass window) containing shapes typical to the art nouveau period and finally, the decorative metal (reinforcement?) plates that adorn certain parts of the door. I have a strong impression that the black metal stylised plates were an afterthought. Why do I think this? Well, I have come across many art nouveau and art deco period doors, but so far I have never seen one from either period that had metal plates on them like this one does.

In light of this, I return to my point of departure. Some people like this door and others don't. To be honest, I'm not exactly sure where I stand...I do like many of this door's and arch's elements, but I think having them mixed all together gives me a bit of a nauseous feeling. What about you? How does this combination of styles make you feel?

Sandwiches for Sale

You are probably thinking I've lost my mind having put such an odd title for this door, but believe it or not, next to the door there is a rather large sign that says just that 'Prodej Baget' - Sandwiches for Sale!!

Perhaps they do sell sandwiches there, but what is really behind this door is a school. As you may have guessed, we are looking at yet another building that was built for the church, evident by the religious sculptures above the door. A bird's eye view of this building would show you that it is part of a church complex where the main church entrance is on Narodni Street (and is just a few doors up from the National Theatre). This entrance is on a side street, and may or may not still have access to the rest of the church complex, but I don't know. As I have mentioned and shown before, there are so many (and I do not exaggerate) buildings and complexes that belong or used to belong to the church, it is hard for the man (or woman!) on the street to attain any-on-the-spot information on these less important buildings. What we can do is look at what is in front of us and appreciate it or not.

As for the door itself, I do like it despite it's apparent use (and some abuse), but I am wondering if it isn't relatively new. It has a nice 'chatting-grill', a simple, but not awful handle and has metal pegs in wood which I always like, but if you look at the style of the door and compare it to the style of the ornate statues above (and with the columns on each side of the door), it just seems out of place. One thing the door does do is with the aid of the inverted V slats on it it manages to send the eye upwards...towards the cherubs, the ladies, the bishop and the Madonna and Child. I just feel there is so much richness above and around the door that one of those metal-fronted doors that we have seen on other church buildings (for example see here) would be more appropriate.

Stone Cold

I think this door and it's frame have a certain beauty and merit being discussed. The huge door is really very nice, but honestly, the ensemble leaves me a bit cold. No, I don't want to say I don't like this door, I guess I just feel a bit chilly when I look at it. Even though there are several figures and faces around this door, I just can't seem to find any warmth or cheerfulness when I look at it. Odd that I have this impression of the door because each element does have charm. Perhaps it is I that is the odd one..yes, this is quite possible!

Unique - and worthy of more than a glance

Several months ago I think I mentioned in one of my blogs something about not wanting to 'spoil' you with only fabulous doors. Sure, you would like this, but I think it is necessary to appreciate even doors that at first glance appear less fabulous than others. My 'job' is to help you appreciate those doors. Today's door needs appreciation (in more ways than one!)...you might not give it a second glance if you walked by it, but I think you should and here is why. It has wonderful round windows both on the doors and above the doors and it has interesting, unique-shaped windows around the round window above the door. It also has a great face (albeit a little scarey!) over the door and some nice wrought-iron work in the circle windows on the doors.

Sure, there are bits of paper stuck to the door here and there, but those are not the fault of the door, but of heartless people. Forgive the door for those bits and admire it for the parts that it can own up to!! Now, aren't you glad you stopped to appreciate this door with me?

Oh yeah, forgive the door for its cheap, ugly handle...that was once again the work of a heartless (and uncreative) person.

The People's(?) Door

This door, or rather, this set of doors is at once cold and unforgiving and tactile and warm. How could this be? Well, of course this is my opinion so take it for what it is worth, but the metal is cold and not easily penetrated, but the brass that it is made of is, underneath the patina is a warm golden orange. In the area around the door's handle and other areas that are touched regularly, we can see how the door has remained (or become?) its original warm color due to the repetative act of hands reaching for the handle...even some of the screws have been rubbed to a glowing gold.

The scarfed head of a woman over the door and the two small children that flank her clearly make reference to work, or the work of the people.Think of those famous Russian propaganda posters of the scarfed woman working in the fields or in a factory. The symbolism of the child with the beehive refers the the way bees are diligent workers that work as part of a group or community. The other child holding a bundle of wood (?) again underlines the work theme showing the fruits of labour. To complete the working theme are the two sculptures of men on the terrace who are wearing working clothes and are holding materials of their trade which both seem to have to do with industry.

I find it interesting how the side view of the woman's head seems much friendlier and softer than the front view. From the front she seems very serious, but from the side, I don't get the same impression. What do you think?

Not Alone

In this day and age, cameras watch over us in most public places, but don't forget that we are also (and have been for centuries) being watched by 'others'...

NOTE: Like the handles in the previous post, the above faces have been taken from door frames of doors that I have already posted. If you are curious, take a look back in the posts to see if you can find them!! These faces are in stone or other such material. My next post will have faces carved in wood.