Big School Door

This is a huge door! It was so big that I had a hard time squeezing it and its frame into my camera's viewfinder without having to stand in the middle of a very busy street!! The door rather simple, but still is charming with it's modest decoration and as always, I like the wood. The door's frame with it's ribbons and wreaths floating delicately are happy and uplifting, but what I really like about this door is the fact that somewhere along the way, someone must have gotten tired of swinging that big door open and closed a million times a day so they decided to just cut it in half and only open and close half the door! And why not?! This is a door to a school afterall...can you imagine how much use this door gets on an average day? And now, imagine that the lower half of door is tall enough for a 2m / 6ft person to walk through...that should help you comprehend the size of this door. BIG!!

I like the mail slot. For once, it isn't a tiny little thing that only lets you slip one very thin piece of paper through it at a time; no, this mail slot means business. It is ready to receive books and thick documents, but given the size of the door, I suppose it is only fair that the mail slot be of a proportional size. And yes, the door handle is also big. Hey, maybe once upon a time this was a school for giants! That would explain everything (or nearly)!

At the House of the Three Golden Balls

Here we are again at a door to a house that has a name/object to identify it. We are at the House of the 3 Golden Balls (U Tri Zlatych Kouli). They aren't terribly obvious and to prove it, while I was photographing this door, a Czech man was also looking at it and he said to me: 'House of the 3 Golden Balls? I don't see any balls...where are they?' For a second, I frantically searched all around the door and up the wall for 3 balls, expecting to find big, round things then I realised that those big dots/blobs right over the door are in fact the 3 balls! They aren't very big and are only half balls because the other half of each is stuck in the wall! Wouldn't a better name for this house be: The House of the 3 Golden Balls IN THE WALL?

Oh well!! Half balls, whole balls...no balls...anyway you look at it this is a nice door. I especially like the wrought-iron work on and above the door and the unusual shape of the doors. I also like the door's frame and the unusual shaped window over the frame. I apologise for not quite getting it all in the picture, but I had my back pressed to the building across from this door and despite my best efforts, was unable to get any more distance from it so that I could get everything in the picture, but the essential is there!!

Now, as for the 'accessories'...I must say that though this door handle is a bit creative, it is still rather boring, not old and not very exciting. I also feel that it's style has nothing to do with the style of the door. But that is my humble opinion...take it for what it is worth!!

Colourful Door Monday

Ah, now isn't this a nice blue?! I saw this door from quite a distance and nearly ran to it I was so attracted to it...it was just so inviting!

Though the face above the door is neither happy nor sad, it doesn't turn you away. The flowers around the arch are also delicate and light and inviting. The lines of the door and its windows are tastefully decorative and flowing and are in accordance with the arch that surrounds the door. If I MUST find something unpleasant about this door, it would be the handle. It is unfortunate that they didn't find something with more character and style! Otherwise, in my book, this door is an absolute winner!

Collegium Clericorum Regularium Scholarum Piarum

This building, according to the sign over the door, was erected in 1766. Though it once housed a Catholic Piarist school, it very likely now only houses offices.

The very impressive and massive portal clearly gives you an idea of what the building was created for...look closely at the three statues (click on the picture for an enlargement of it)...it is all described right there...reading, writing and arithmetic AND religion!!

Sad Doors Everyday

Sad doors. They are everywhere. Here, finally, is proof that I'm not the only one who notices them. As you can see, someone posted a flyer on a sad door advertising their services for turning sad doors back to happy doors! Can this be the doings of the door angels we asked for?

Sober but Beautiful

It was a cold, end-of-Winter day when I took these pictures. Nevertheless, I don't know if a sunny sky would have changed the soberness of this door. Either way, the door is beautiful even if, at first appearance, it is somewhat 'timid'. I have no qualms with the brown paint on this door...I can't say whether it would have originally been painted a different color, but I can imagine that it was probably something like this, if not only slightly different.

What I find wonderful about this door is the beveled glass windows!! Sure, they are quite simple...just small rectangles, but they have been framed in such a way as to render the door even more endearing. On each door there is a lower row of three implied windows where, in actuality, only the center rectangle has glass in it; above this row is a row of three windows where the center one is slightly taller than it's surrounding windows, giving the impression that it is trying to pull our eye upward; and finally, above the door is another set of three small windows surrounded by other windows. These are simple elements, but I find them incredibly effective!

In the middle-lower part of each door, there is a Art Nouveau style carving of mistletoe. This mistletoe repeats the theme in the door's arch where mistletoe surrounds the lady's head and flows gently around the top section of the arch. Simple and enchanting!

If you click on the picture of the door handle, a larger version of it will come up in a separate screen. When it does, look closely at the brass plate that goes with the handle...it has small, but simple designs on it...very charming! Speaking of designs, though, I'm not too sure why it was necessary to add the spiral carving in vertical piece that covers the seam of the two doors...Maybe it was put there in anticipation of that part of the door being knicked and scratched by keys when the door is being opened and closed and like that, any small damage won't be so obvious. I don't know, otherwise, why it would be put there. Any ideas?

Watching and Waiting

I love the lines of this door....especially in the window above the door. I like the delicateness of the door coupled with the strength of the columns that stand by it like sentinels. The ironwork in front of the windows is also very nice as is the ironwork of the balcony above the door's arch. Regretfully, the day I photographed this door, a big truck was parked right in front of it so I had to do my best to get a decent picture of it. If ever I go by it when the view is clear, I will re-take the picture. Promise!

I like the lady waiting above this door, however, the wooden lady waiting ON the door looks like she is half asleep. Perhaps both of them would like to hop down and do some shopping. Why would I think that? Well, this door is on the very chic street called Parizska (Paris Street) where all the haute couture boutiques are located (e.g. Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Cartier, etc.). Just next door to this door (and these ladies) is the Dior boutique ... I guess we could say that it is just next dior! (Sorry, I couldn't resist!)

The door's accessories are nice, but nothing very exciting and it looks like someone's set of keys have, after numerous times of locking and unlocking the door, done a good job of scratching up the varnish...too bad!!

The House of the Reclining Lady?

As I mentioned in earlier posts, it used to be that there were no house numbers on buildings, but rather they were identifiable by an image or sculpture found on the building (e.g. the House of the White Boot - see post of 21 April 2010, the House of the Stone Ram - see post of 8 April 2010). Based on that premise, could we then call this the House of the Reclining Lady? Sometimes the name is actually written on the house along side the image, but in this case, I didn't find any such wording.

Another 'Emily' Door

About a month ago, my Canadian friend Emily was in town and we did some door hunting together. I showed you a couple of the doors we deemed to be 'Emily Doors', but here is one you haven't seen yet. (For those of you who don't know, Emily is 5 feet 3 inches tall and while visiting, she chose a few doors that pleased her not only because of their looks, but because of their size: her size!!)

According to the plaque on this Emily Door, this is the 'back house' (zadni dum) though I honestly can't imagine where the front house is given the location of this door. Mystery! Oh well, that bit of mystery just adds to the door's beauty and charm.

You have to love the mail slot and the other door accessories.

Since we couldn't actually go through this door, I did my best to take a picture through the keyhole...

P.S. Thanks Em! Miss you!

Colourful Door Monday

I wouldn't necessarily put this shade of green in the 'colorful' category, but it is nice and I have to say that the lighting the day I took this picture didn't do justice to the door so be disappointed with me and not the door, please!! I like the unusual shape of the windows and the design in the wood below the windows. I don't quite understand from where the window shapes were influenced given the arches overhead. The geometric window shapes don't really go with the rounded arches, but the oddity is not too blatant so I guess it could pass. My only real gripe with this door is the less the unusual handle, but hey, I guess it can't have it all!!

Church Door Sunday

This is another side door to a church...this time, to the Church of St. Giles. As is the case in many of the churches in Prague, there are regularly scheduled concerts which explains the poster in front of this door. Again, I don't know how often this side entrance is used, but it seems to be used on occasion. For more information about this church, I would suggest that you look here: http://www.prague-church.com/

Sad Door Saturday

Spring is here, the weather is lovely, everyone is smiling...but this sad door. Not even the two faces on this door look very happy. Honestly though, just a little work and this door could once again be happy and smiling. I really do not understand the need of some people to deface doors and walls...or anything!! Are there not any door angels out there to protect these innocent doors from angry, heartless people? Please come forward if you are out there!!

At least the pretty door handle has remained intact!

Spring All Year Long

Isn't this just the happiest door? Wouldn't you love to come home to this every day...especially on those dark, cold, nasty days of Winter? What better door to see than one with such cheerful flowers! (I almost expect to hear a bee drifting around among the flowers!!) I love this door! It is so refreshing and warm and friendly. I would love for it to be my front door!!

I'm not sure of the era of this door... I don't believe that it is over 100 years old as its design suggests...but I could be wrong! It was certainly inspired by both the Art Deco and Art Nouveau periods, but those periods are often used for inspiration even today. I wish I could give you some precise information about this door, but at this time, I have nothing to tell you, however, I promise to update this post if I learn something. OK?

A Jewel

If you have been following my blog for any amount of time, you have surely already come to the conclusion that there are a lot of interesting doors in Prague and that the supply seems to be endless. I could put only the creme-de-la creme doors on here each day, but then that would leave you without all the other doors that, while maybe less glamorous, are nevertheless interesting and beautiful doors that deserve being noticed, appreciated and even loved.

All week you have seen honorable and worthy doors, so I thought that today you deserve to see a little jewel (in my opinion!)...it is definitely very nice - not THE top of the top, but certainly lovely and inviting. So much so that it makes my heart go pitter-patter (yes, call me strange, but a pretty door makes my heart leap a bit!). I like all the elements of this door: its columns that are completely different from each other; the oval window under the delicate garlands; the terrace that protects the frame and the door; the various faces that watch over the door; the colour of the wood; the movement of the carved wood; the romantic simplicity of the overall design; and finally, the door's accessories.

As a little cherry on top, if you look at the photo of the close-up of the window you will see a pretty reflection of part of another beautiful door located just across the street (I will post that door some other time)...just please don't mind the reflection of the car!!

A Few of My Favourite Things...

OK, I know this is not the most exciting of doors, but it does look good, have a certain charm and deserves to be shared with you. I have a whole list of things that make me turn my head when it comes to doors...the top of the list is any Art Nouveau door, followed by natural wood doors, but then the list goes on without any specific order and can even get confusing when favourite features criss-cross each other (e.g. an Art Nouveau door with a fabulous arch).

Well, another favourite feature somewhere on that list is a door with a rounded or unusual shape. But even as I write that, I must admit that I have a certain love of the clean lines of a squared door...hmm..maybe I'm just too spoiled and want to have them all!! For you this is a cause for rejoicing because it means that if I have them all, then you have them all...or will, eventually!!

As you can see, today's door has a rounded shape...voila a criteria that it fulfilled to be shared with you...oh! and it is of a clear wood! I like the stone work around it as well (notice the way it was carved/etched). The wrought-iron work isn't terribly romantic or creative or old (nope, it is new), but since it doesn't take away from the door or it's frame, I won't complain.

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!!

Colourful Door Monday

And today's lucky colour is GREEN! I like this little door (we could call it an 'Emily door'!)...notice how high the handle seems to be...so high that it looks like the picture is upside down, but it's not...this is confirmed by the cobblestones at the bottom of the picture! The handle isn't bad either!

Church Door Sunday

Welcome to the Church of St. Nicholas. Once again, you are looking at a side entrance to a church rather than the main entrance (if you want to see that entrance and photos of the inside of this fabulous church, I suggest looking here: http://www.psalterium.cz/en/o_kostele_en.php). I don't really know what this entrance is used for though it does seem to be used sometimes. The rest of the time the stairs in front of it make a great resting spot for weary tourists!!

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!)