Design Debate

Have you heard of the stepwells? I must confess on my visit to India about 5 years ago I didn't have a clue. We traveled all around this enchanting country taking in forts, palaces and peoples and I knew nothing of what was going on underground.  Chicago journalist Victoria Lautman has spent four years photographing these forgotten structures, 120 sites in total, to help raise awareness. These intricate and beautiful feats of engineering are crumbling and decaying with neglect. Once essential to hold the country's water, now some are being used as rubbish dumps, filled with soil or just abandoned.  The architecture is fascinating, spirals of stairs going down and down, all the detail and design show how important water was regarded. Now India is considering re-opening some of these wells to help prevent shortages.  I find these sites quite amazing, from the 2nd to the 4th centuries A.D. the rich poured the money literally i...

Chiswick House Whilst perusing This is Glamorous , a blog which is such a joy to feast your eyes on, I came across the work of Derry Moore . To give him his proper title, Henry Dermot Ponsonby Moore, 12th Earl of Drogheda (born 1937). A British photographer of style and substance.  Leeds Castle Michael Casey, Dublin His work is split into 3 themes on his website, India, Portraits and Architecture; namely that of stately homes. I just love wondering round British grand houses, every room echoing with history. Still ringing with secret conversations, family life and pivotal moments of change.  Clouds Hill, T.E. Lawrence Villa d'Este Bernard Steinitz What Moore manages to capture is that atmosphere. I especially like how he uses the light in his landscape shots.  Protestant Cemetery, Calcutta Villa Gamberaia Moore's work his been used in Vogue, Country Life and Architectural Digest. He has photographed the Queen, Indira Gandhi, Ron...