A very well thought out building in terms of how it interacts with it's neighbourhood too. Julia really understood the challenges and I think created a brilliant solution.
That is a beautifully designed building. I agree with you Tahir, that it looks as if it blends in well in all directions. The architect understands the material, and the use of curves, which seem anathema to most architects. Laminated (I assume) and bent wood is a wonderful building medium as it can be used in curves. It continues the tradition in the UK and Europe of using wood for arches in roofs, except they were usually covered in stone. The timber is still there in many cases hence the devastating fires in several cathedrals. In those cases, the timber wasn't laminated, but grown and/or selected for the purpose. The only thing is that I would agree about the cleaning. Any exposed beams are going to be a pain to clean.
Looking at a number of the other ones, it is such a pity that the architects go for the square and the modern, particularly in places where the continuation of the existing style would be so much more sympathetic.
gz
Joined: 23 Jan 2009 Posts: 8964 Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
Posted: Fri Sep 10, 21 9:02 am Post subject:
The mosque is beautiful and technically more than a step further on from the laminated wood catenary arch village hall in Borehamwood we saw in 1987 for a Rixon gathering of 100+.
You must either have a very large family or have collected them from all over the world. I thought the Canadian branch of my family was pretty large, but you have certainly outdone them by a very large margin.
There has been a lot of work done on laminated wood recently. There is the Gridshell building at the Weald and Downland Museum at Singleton in Sussex, which I don't find particularly attractive, but at least uses curves and fulfills it use as a downstairs store and upstairs exhibition/ large work area with no obstructions in the floor space, and there was another we saw further over in Sussex that was one of the first I believe, that has been up for some years. Neither of them is a patch on that mosque though.
gz
Joined: 23 Jan 2009 Posts: 8964 Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
Posted: Sat Sep 11, 21 7:59 pm Post subject:
Grandad was one of the nine babes that survived to adulthood....
Your grandparents did very well then. My mother was one of 7 and 4 survived to full adult hood with one other dying I think in her late teens or early 20s. They did live in London though. Two of them died of things that could be cured or prevented by vaccination these days. Having lost a sister to diphtheria, Mum had me fully vaccinated for all the things available at that time. I think I was one of the first generation to have that available to them.
gz
Joined: 23 Jan 2009 Posts: 8964 Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
Posted: Sun Sep 12, 21 11:56 am Post subject:
There were 13.
One full set of twins died, two half sets of twins died.
Also in London. Blackstock Road Islington
My mother was brought up in Forest Gate. She claimed to be a Cockney, but Dad said the wind would have to be blowing a gale in the right direction for her to be one.
gz
Joined: 23 Jan 2009 Posts: 8964 Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
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