Thursday, March 4, 2010

Beauty from nature

The January 2010 issue of the World of Interiors featured a stair that I just couldn't get out of my head; it looked so familiar. The Copenhagen police headquarters is a masterpiece of modern Neoclassicism from the 1920s that contains this gem.
This image looking up towards the skylight finally reminded me of where I had seen this before. Nature!
The spiral stairs perfectly mimic the shape of a chambered nautilus shell. Does this prove that most beauty is derived from nature? Perhaps not, but it sure is an arguement for the statement!
Photographs from WOI, January 2010 by James Mortimer
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13 comments:

  1. AnonymousMarch 4, 2010 at 4:31 AM

    I have scrolled down in your blogpost..many of them:) Thank you for nice pictures and interesting reading about history.

    Have a nice day:)

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  2. UnknownMarch 4, 2010 at 5:42 AM

    Wonderful images! It's my favour to look beautiful interiors and styles.

    Greetings from Uruguay

    VINTAGE

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  3. Lord CowellMarch 4, 2010 at 6:47 AM

    I think it has something to do with the 'Golden Ratio' ...

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_ratio.

    What a clever and intuitive person you are! David :-)

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  4. ArchitectDesign™March 4, 2010 at 9:21 AM

    LC - you are correct! We learned all about the golden ratio our freshman year of architecture school but I didn't realize it was so widely known :-) Good catch!

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  5. marktcoyMarch 4, 2010 at 10:20 AM

    Stunning in its complexity, simplicity, & grace.

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  6. Indianapolis accident attorneyMarch 4, 2010 at 5:23 PM

    Very nice comparison. I've enjoyed looking through your blog, for sure. Thanks :)

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  7. debra @ 5th and stateMarch 4, 2010 at 5:29 PM

    of course!

    you have opened my eyes today with this post. some of the most beautiful objects are a derivative of nature.
    debra

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  8. AnonymousMarch 4, 2010 at 7:20 PM

    Crazy for the Copenhagen Police building-!! It Is the most glorious 30s public building ever built...since sliced bread even its positively to cool for school...and then some!

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  9. KarenaMarch 5, 2010 at 12:00 AM

    The golden ratio. Mathematics shows up in so,many ways and certainly in architecture!!

    Karena
    Art by Karena

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  10. pve designMarch 5, 2010 at 11:14 AM

    You must visit "Shaker town" in Pleasantville KY, my favorite staircase is there. You would love it.
    pve

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  11. Lisa Borgnes GiramontiMarch 5, 2010 at 11:44 AM

    Isn't it wonderful when the images you've stored in your head come together? Beautiful post, brilliant connection. xx

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  12. AnonymousMarch 6, 2010 at 3:29 AM

    good god - perfection is obtainable

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  13. DC by DesignMarch 8, 2010 at 8:39 AM

    Love how you compare the stairs and the nautilus -- how cool. Thanks for all these lessons in classical architecture. Now, I will go look up the Golden Ratio...

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