Category Archives: Urban

Architecture and Trees – An Environmental Benefit

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I reckon that trees around or near any building enhances our visual perception of the urban environment. More than this, they also provide an invaluable means of protecting us from some of the pollution we put into the air. Particulates get trapped by the leaves and are then washed off to ground level by rain. And, of course, they absorb carbon dioxide provide us with oxygen.

Trees on the street in front of your house can make a significant difference to the quality of air you breath inside your home.

The trees in the first photo will not make a significant difference to the air that the inhabitants of the new buildings near Park Tawe in Swansea because, as can be seen from the depth of field in the image, the trees are not all that close to the buildings. The trees around BT’s tower block will be more effective in that respect.

City planners and architects should to take all the benefits that trees can bring into consideration when designing any and all new urban developments.

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Abstract Patterns and Waiting for Pizza

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I like the patterns that can be seen in some of the architecture of Park Tawe in Swansea but the Deep Pan Pizza Company left these premises some time a go, and however visually interesting abandoned buildings can be,  it is always a bit sad to see the results of the unwanted.

We ate there only once and had to wait so long for our meal to arrive that it was unlikely that we would have returned. Was it the same for others?

abstract roof

abandoned building

broken sign

All Dressed Up

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I caught this dapper looking magpie at the end of my walk round the lake in Llansamlet, Swansea (see previous post). I see magpies often enough but don’t often have my camera to hand so when the opportunity arose . . . They are handsome birds!

magpie

magpie

Lakeside Views and Workday Walking

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This urban lake is situated in Swansea’s Enterprize Park at Llansamlet and I have been meaning to take a StillWalks recce walk around it for a long time. I had a meeting to go to at the Mercure Hotel which is very close by and so I took the opportunity of going early and taking my camera with me.

The people working in the area are very lucky to have such a lovely spot to relax during a break and take a little exercise – I wonder how many of take advantage of it?

The Reflection and Deflection of Light

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Concrete, glass and pebble dash – the outer materials of the Civic Centre building in Swansea. It is in a beautiful position on the seafront in Swansea bay and those working there may sometimes find the view somewhat distracting.

These are photos I have posted on Instagram recently and although, on this occasion, the quality of the photos leaves something to be desired, the images themselves are ones I find interesting – that’s why I took them I guess!

One reason for my interest is the effect the different surfaces have on the light that hits them. Whilst the the glass reflects the light and colour in a very direct way, the (originally) white surface of the walls deflects the direct sunlight from dazzling the eye too much because it has been textured with pebble dash. In the second shot the walls have also been given a vertical line pattern which further deflects the light.

Swansea Architecture

Swansea Architecture

Swansea Architecture

Abstract and Monochrome

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If you have seen the posts earlier this week showing various aspects of the architecture of the ATRiuM building in Cardiff, you may recognise these images.

The first is one of the negative shapes formed by the spiral staircase – I darkened the form itself in order to emphasise the shape.

The second is a section of the buildings around The Big Sleep hotel building – changing from colour to monochrome in Adobe Lightroom didn’t make much difference but I did add the grain effect.

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Monochrome-2

StillWalks featured walk videos, until now, have been changed at the start of the week on Mondays. It is now my intention to change these over on Sundays. Therefore this week’s featured StillWalks video, “Deer Park Walk” will be available to watch at full length and 480 resolution until tomorrow. It will revert back to a low resolution sample length on the Monday.

The video features the sights and sounds of the Deer Park in Spring at Golden Grove / Gelli Aur Country Park in Carmarthenshire, Wales.

The video above is in 480p quality. You can use the Donate button below to pay however much you want and receive a high quality (720HD) download of this week’s featured StillWalks video – “Deer Park Walk” which features part of Gelli Aur / Golden Grove Country Park in Carmarthenshire Wales. Click the image above to watch the video. DVD Collections are also available to order in the StillWalks Shop.

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