Building – Page 4 – ebb then flood

Terror Facade (When Buildings Scream) II

September 7, 2019September 6, 2019 by Ebb Then Flood

Yesterday’s post picture revisited and re-imagined.

There’s been something bugging me about it and I feel the need to inject a touch more terror into this architectural mishap.

Somewhere in the back of my mind is that classic horror short story by Edgar Allan Poe, ‘The Cask Of Amontillado’,which I read a number of times as a teen .

Brick by awful brick ,the victim Fortunato is walled into a niche in a cellar.

I used to wonder how long he lasted, yelling for help, screaming with fear maybe.

No one to hear him.

Like this old building’s silent scream…

Terror Facade (When Buildings Scream)

September 6, 2019September 5, 2019 by Ebb Then Flood

Downright disturbing turn of the twentieth century building façade espied on an Auckland walkabout this week.

What was the architect thinking?

Or thinking of, to be more precise?

Sheer bloody terror frozen in stone and plaster.

Oddly, the 1905 building was originally a gymnasium.

Which might explain my take on it: few things are more frightening to me that being trapped in a crowded gym amongst heaving, sweating, exercising, bodies.

Give me a walk in the fresh air, anytime. I think I need some…

A House Repurposed

June 13, 2019June 13, 2019 by Ebb Then Flood

The house below is architecturally gorgeous, and a favourite local destination of mine, but I am equally intrigued by its history of change.

Built as the showpiece mansion of a prominent merchant in the mid to late 19th century, it has subsequently become a Catholic noviate school , an orphanage, housing for the homeless and now, in public hands, a cutting edge art gallery.

So, big money built it and religion, charity and culture have all lived there since.

The building hasn’t really changed but it has been drastically repurposed from time to time.

The truth it speaks to me is that while we may appear as the same person we have always been (maybe our facade deteriorates over the years!), we are constantly being repurposed in ways we would never have foreseen.

What new thing will occur in our rooms? Who will visit the mansion next?

**Pah Homestead, Auckland, NZ June 2019**

The Boat House

June 9, 2019 by Ebb Then Flood

A shot of a boat house sitting serenely over water near my Auckland home.

I am not a boatie or sailor by any stretch of the imagination ,but I admire those who cast off from shore,voyaging ,for adventure on the sea.

So this place appeals to me.

It is by appearance a simple,linear design,with utilitarian function.Boats are stored inside and launched from it.

But it is also the departing place for courage and dreams and happiness, and that makes it magical.

Big House

June 7, 2019June 9, 2019 by Ebb Then Flood

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A friend of mine who lives in Atlanta(who incidentally inadvertantly became the model for the picture in the previous post Your Nemesis, sorry mate) was kind enough to take me to this place, Big House in Macon,Georgia a couple of years ago.

It was the home and musical base for Southern Rock royalty The Allman Brothers band and their hangers on in the early 1970s and a must see for a fan like me – a totally cool shrine to them, rendered more immediate by the lots of their mundane everyday stuff – couches, beds and stereo etc. being still there ,as well as the expected guitars and gold records. A weird time warp experience.

I’m putting this up because I have been on a bit of a southern music trip of late and ,very sadly, New Orleans music great Dr. John died overnight .He was a blues/r’n’b/funk and pianist/singer legend with an unmistakable sound. This photo is about as close as I can manage in homage to him right now,but as with the Allmans ,the music will live on.

RIP Mac Rebennack.

This Site Is Under Reconstruction

May 13, 2019 by Ebb Then Flood

This site is under reconstruction.

No, not this blogsite – the empty building above – draped in its exoskelton of metallic scaffolding and serving only a current purpose of a concrete canvas for graffiti.

A punctured and besmirched exterior for sure but she has solid bones ,and great potential in someone’s eyes.

The site is devoid of construction activity presently,dormant and just a bit sad ,if a building can be called sad.

I’ve talked about it before but there it is again, that gap or hiatus where nothing appears to be going on .But something is stirring and rebirth and a new purpose are sure to come.

Watch this space…