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?

Colourful Door Monday

Yes, I know, it's almost Tuesday, but I'm sneaking in under the wire on this!!

This door isn't extraordinary, but I do like it...especially the colour. It is small and could even be considered an 'Emily' door...look how high up the handle is! I don't know, this just seems like a nice, happy little door...it would make me happy to come home to this every day.

Hello Pretty Blue Door!!

Liechtenstein Palace

This palace is on the edge of the Vltava (Moldau) River and when the famous floods of 2002 hit, this building (and this door) was at least half submerged...water was up to the top of this door. Seriously! Since that flood, the city developed and installed a system of removeable flood walls, unfortunately, due to the location of this building, the wall system is such that it passes in front of this building which means that if Prague were to have another flood like the one of 2002, this building would once again find itself underwater.

Given the fact that it was certainly badly damaged by water, we can only imagine that this door was either repaired with remarkable skill, or replaced. At first view I would bet on the latter, but when I look at it up close, it looks as if it has had a life longer than 8 years. Nevertheless, this beautiful door and simple, yet tasteful arch is a pleasure to look at.

I like how this big door becomes 2 as well as 4 doors. How? Well, 2 big doors, and in each of those doors, another smaller door! Cool, huh? I think so!

Lovely handle, keyhole protector and flower decorations. The color of the wood is also incredibly rich...like warm honey. A very beautiful door!