Part of the Landscape

Rocks and villages – I love the way the scattering of rocks in this Gower landscape seem to reflect the scattering of buildings in the village beyond.

The view is from the top of Rhossili Down looking north west across the Loughor Estuary towards Carmarthenshire. The weather is fine (at this point) and I am enjoying a beautiful production walk for a StillWalks video which, as yet, I have not managed to complete!

Rhossili Downs

Rocks on the Downs

 

Photoshopping – now you see it, now you don’t

I really liked the green block aspect of this building in Swansea’s SA1 quarter. But I did not like the lamp post in front of it!

When I took the photo this object was irritating, but I thought, “never mind, it’s part of the cityscape“. Looking at the image afterwards in Adobe Lightroom made me decide to spend the time taking the lamp post out. I knew it was going to take a little while to do it well, but I thought it was worth it.

What do you think?

Swansea SA1 building

Swansea SA1 building

Constructing and Constructed Architecture

I love the complex patterns created by the scaffolding on this construction site in Swansea. I have no idea what the new building will look like but it will be sitting beside the interesting patterns to be seen in the design of the BT tower across the road.

The BT tower is not a particularly attractive building – it looks a bit like something you would need to plug in for your phone. There are, however, many fascinating shapes, patterns, reflections to be seen in its surfaces and structure.

scaffolding patterns

scaffolding patterns

BT tower Swansea

BT tower Swansea

Architecture and Trees – An Environmental Benefit

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.

Swansea architecture-1

Swansea architecture-2

Swansea architecture-3