So, first post on the blog ever ever but I absolutely abhor those awkward 'first post' introductions, so I'm skipping it. Is that allowed? I figure the only introduction that is due is a slight explanation of my blog's title! For those of you who haven't read the book/seen the movie Pollyanna... add it to your list because it will rock your socks. So, basically, Pollyanna is upset one Christmas because instead of getting a doll that she had hoped for, she gets a pair of crutches (most random gift ever ps...). Pollyanna's dad invents "The Glad Game" in order to cheer her up; the basic premise of the game being that it is always possible to find the silver lining in a situation.
Pollyanna and her dad decide that they can be glad about the crutches because , wait for it, ... they don't need them! Super clever, and really a great idea... finding the things that you can be glad about all around you. You see where I am going.? This is going to be a mash-up of all the things that make me glad... fashion and style, literature, architecture, art, music... a little bit of everything!
So, I totally just did an introductory blurb... Oh well it was short.
Now to the real post! Because I just finished reading a great article on architecture and its ability to influence society, I'm going to share some buildings that are truly inspiring and should not be missed!
Pollyanna and her dad decide that they can be glad about the crutches because , wait for it, ... they don't need them! Super clever, and really a great idea... finding the things that you can be glad about all around you. You see where I am going.? This is going to be a mash-up of all the things that make me glad... fashion and style, literature, architecture, art, music... a little bit of everything!
So, I totally just did an introductory blurb... Oh well it was short.
Now to the real post! Because I just finished reading a great article on architecture and its ability to influence society, I'm going to share some buildings that are truly inspiring and should not be missed!
The newly renovated Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Canada is quite a site to behold. The Michal Lee Chin Crystal designed by Daniel Libeskind is absolutely a marvel, and the symbolism behind the juxtaposition of the old and the new is pretty awesome.
The Guggenheim Museum in Bibao, Spain is another building that gets a lot of attention. While I am not a huge fan of the building itself, it spawned a renaissance of architectural interest and I think that in itself makes it worthy of our praise! Google "The Bibao Effect" and you will see what I mean. Frank Gehry is kind of a HUGE deal.
The "Dancing House" is an office building in Prague, Czech Republic. Designed by Vlado Milunic and Frank Gehry (!) the building stands where bombs destroyed the previous building in 1945. Is it just me, or does it sort of look like a dress form?
Those are just three buildings that fascinate me - the list could continue but I think I will save the others for a Part Two somewhere down the line. The built forms of our cities are great representations of specific times and places in our collective history. The Egyptians have the Pyramids, what will our generations leave behind?
