The Defender of London

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Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Rodney Park by Les Johnson, 2010
Waterloo Place
London, September 2014

“In 2008, London financier Terry Smith and others initiated an international campaign to erect a permanent statue of Park on the Fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square, in recognition of his work as commander of No. 11 Group during the Battle of Britain. London Mayor Boris Johnson is on record as saying that devoting the plinth permanently to Park, while certainly a thing worth doing, might not be easy to accomplish because of potential planning difficulties. On 8 May 2009 Westminster City Council agreed to erect a 2.78 m (9 ft) statue in Waterloo Place. A temporary 5 m (16.4 ft) statue was unveiled on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square on 4 November 2009. The fibre glass sculpture was in place for six months, until it was temporarily moved to the Royal Air Force Museum in London in May 2010. Finally, a permanent bronze version of the sculpture was installed at Waterloo Place and unveiled there in front of the Athenaeum Club on 15 September 2010, Battle of Britain Day, during the 70th anniversary commemorations of the Battle. Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton, said that Park was ‘a man without whom the history of the Battle of Britain could have been disastrously different. He was a man who never failed at any task he was given.’” (Keith Park, Wikipedia)

Supercazzola

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“Supercazzola”
Via dei Renai
Florence, January 2022

“The film was shot in Florence and its center was a real bar in Piazza Demidoff, along the River Arno, which was named ‘Bar Amici Miei’ and featured posters of the film. In the 1990s the bar changed its name and was modernized becoming an American bar and losing all connections to the film.” (My Friends, Wikipedia)

Jan Hus Memorial

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Jan Hus Memorial by Ladislav Šaloun, 1915
Staroměstské náměstí
Staré Město (Old Town)
Prague, September 2017

“The Jan Hus Memorial stands at one end of Old Town Square, Prague in the Czech Republic. The huge monument depicts victorious Hussite warriors and Protestants who were forced into exile 200 years after Hus in the wake of the lost Battle of the White Mountain during the Thirty Years' War, and a young mother who symbolises national rebirth. The monument was so large that the sculptor designed and built his own villa and studio where the work could be carried out. It was unveiled in 1915 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Jan Hus' martyrdom. The memorial was designed by Ladislav Šaloun and paid for solely by public donations. Born in 1369, Hus became an influential religious thinker, philosopher, and reformer in Prague. He was a key predecessor to the Protestant movement of the sixteenth century. In his works he criticized religious moral decay of the Catholic Church. Accordingly, the Czech patriot Hus believed that mass should be given in the vernacular, or local language, rather than in Latin. He was inspired by the teachings of John Wycliffe. In the following century, Hus was followed by many other reformers - e.g. Martin Luther, John Calvin and Huldrych Zwingli. Hus was ultimately condemned by the Council of Constance and burned at the stake in 1415. This led to the Hussite Wars.” (Jan Hus Memorial, Wikipedia)

Loggia dei Giudici

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Loggia dei Giudici
Palazzo Comunale (Town Hall)
Piazza dei Giudici
Suvereto, June 2021

Pamätník holokaustu

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Pamätník holokaustu (Holocaust Memorial), 1996
Rybné námestie
Staré Mesto (Old Town)
Bratislava, September 2017

“The Holocaust Memorial is located in the center of Bratislava's Old Town, on the site of the former Neolog Synagogue demolished in 1969. The monument was erected in 1996 to commemorate the 105,000 Holocaust victims from Slovakia. The Holocaust Memorial was envisaged as a place of public remembrance, where two layers of history intertwine: the memory of the Holocaust itself and the memory of the former Neolog synagogue, a long-time local landmark still remembered by many Bratislava residents. The memorial consists of a black wall etched with the silhouette of the destroyed synagogue, and an abstract central sculpture topped by a Star of David and placed on a black granite platform inscribed with the words ‘Zachor’ [‘Remember’ in Hebrew] and ‘Pamätaj’ [‘Remember’ in Slovak].” (Holocaust Memorial, Jewish Bratislava)

San Salvatore al Monte

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San Salvatore al Monte
Via di San Salvatore al Monte
Florence, December 2021

“San Salvatore al Monte is an important basilica near san Miniato, in a grove of cypresses. The building is a work by Simone del Pollaiolo, very loved by Michelangelo who called it his ‘bella villanella (his pretty country maid)’.” (Church of San Salvatore al Monte, Feel Florence)

TC/D1

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Teaching Center and Departments 1 by BUSarchitektur,
Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien (Vienna University of Economics and Business)
Welthandelsplatz
Vienna, September 2017

“The area in front of the Teaching Center (TC) is the busiest spot on campus. The square outside the TC, which houses WU’s main auditoriums, is a popular meeting place for teachers and students, and there’s always people coming and going. The wide, inviting seating installations are in high demand. The Teaching Center and the neighboring department building D1 were planned by the Vienna-based architectural agency BUSarchitektur. The façade is made of maintenance-free Corten steel, which will slowly change color as it weathers over the years. The material was also used in the TC foyer and inside the Audimax auditorium, extending the design of the façade into the interior of the building.” (Teaching Center and Departments 1, Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien)

Rocca Aldobrandesca

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Rocca Aldobrandesca
Via della Rocca
Suvereto, June 2021

“The first mention of Suvereto was of year 973. This era of the settlement (10th-11th centuries) a village of wooden huts developed at the top of the hill with very few constructions in rough stone. Suvereto was at that time already under the rule of the noble feudal family of the Aldobrandeschi, who were in control also of great areas and lands in southern Tuscany and Maremma, it was the most northern stronghold of this vast environment extending from the river Fiora to the Cassia Road. During the 12th century significant changes took places on the hill, a quadrangular tall tower in fine worked stone was built, more for military than for residential purposes. In the same time a small town developed on the terraced land at the slopes of the hill. The buildings were set in concentric circles reaching the up the perimeter walls of the fortification. With the construction of towers and fortresses in stone the Aldobrandeschi reinforced their supremacy on the territory. In the 13th century the tower, that was no more updated to the defense needs of the time, was lowered and partially rebuilt adding a bastioned scarp to the walls. At the beginning of 14th century (in 1308 according to an inscription found on the west gate) started new works of strengtheningand expansion of the fortress, a large trapezoidal building was added on the north side of the tower with scarp walls on the east and west sides and a monumental Gate on the north, endowed with a beautiful roman arch and a stone staircase. The internal area was protected by a covering over two wooden floors, anchored in the inner part to two stone columns.” (Rocca Aldobrandesca, Castelli Toscani)

Old mailbox

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Old mailbox
Arany János utca
Budapest, September 2017

Grand Hotel Minerva

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Grand Hotel Minerva
Piazza di Santa Maria Novella
Florence, December 2021

Guards Crimean War Memorial

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A Grenadier, a Fusilier and a Coldstream Guard
Guards Crimean War Memorial by John Bell, 1861
Waterloo Place
London, September 2014

Pieve di San Giusto

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Pieve di San Giusto
Piazza Vittorio Veneto
Suvereto, June 2021

Pražský orloj

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Pražský orloj (Prague astronomical clock)
Staroměstské náměstí
Staré Město (Old Town)
Prague, September 2017

“The Prague Astronomical Clock or Prague Orloj (Pražský orloj) is a medieval astronomical clock attached to the Old Town Hall in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. The clock was first installed in 1410, making it the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest clock still in operation. The Orloj is mounted on the southern wall of Old Town Hall in the Old Town Square. The clock mechanism has three main components — the astronomical dial, representing the position of the Sun and Moon in the sky and displaying various astronomical details; statues of various Catholic saints stand on either side of the clock; "The Walk of the Apostles", an hourly show of moving Apostle figures and other sculptures, notably a figure of a skeleton that represents Death, striking the time; and a calendar dial with medallions representing the months. According to local legend, the city will suffer if the clock is neglected and its good operation is placed in jeopardy; a ghost, mounted on the clock, was supposed to nod its head in confirmation. According to the legend, the only hope was represented by a boy born on New Year's night.” (Prague astronomical clock, Wikipedia)

Santa Maria Novella

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Basilica of Santa Maria Novella
Piazza di Santa Maria Novella
Florence, December 2021

“Santa Maria Novella is a church in Florence, Italy, situated opposite, and lending its name to, the city's main railway station. Chronologically, it is the first great basilica in Florence, and is the city's principal Dominican church. The church, the adjoining cloister, and chapter house contain a multiplicity of art treasures and funerary monuments. Especially famous are frescoes by masters of Gothic and early Renaissance. They were financed by the most important Florentine families, who ensured themselves funerary chapels on consecrated ground.” (Santa Maria Novella, Wikipedia)

Anno 2016

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“Anno 2016” sundial
Bezručova
Bratislava, September 2017

Madonna di sopra la Porta

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Madonna di sopra la Porta
Via Matteotti
Suvereto, June 2021

LC

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Library & Learning Center by Zaha Hadid Architects, 2013
Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien (Vienna University of Economics and Business)
Welthandelsplatz
Vienna, September 2017

“The heart of the university campus is the centrally located Library & Learning Center, designed by the Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid. The building’s cantilevered roof is visible from afar, and the prominent glassfronted monitor faces Prater Park. The external appearance of the building is characterized by two contrasting sections of light and dark. The building segments are separated by a seam of glass. Colored fiber-reinforced concrete was used to construct the façade.” (Library & Learning Center, Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien)

Grassy steps

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Grassy steps
Via delle Porte Sante
Florence, December 2021

Esztergom and Vén Duna

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“Esztergom” and “Vén Duna” excursion boats
Seen from Széchenyi Chain Bridge
Budapest, September 2017

Via Piave

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View of Town Hall
From Via Piave
Suvereto, June 2021

Cicchetti

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Bar, ristorante, caffè Cicchetti
Piccadilly, St. James's
London, September 2014

Giovanni Fattori

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Monument to Giovanni Fattori by Valmore Gemignani, 1925
Via Battisti
Florence, December 2021

“Giovanni Fattori (September 6, 1825 – August 30, 1908) was an Italian artist, one of the leaders of the group known as the Macchiaioli. He was initially a painter of historical themes and military subjects. In his middle years, inspired by the Barbizon school, he became one of the leading Italian plein-airists, painting landscapes, rural scenes, and scenes of military life. After 1884, he devoted much energy to etching.” (Giovanni Fattori, Wikipedia)

Týnský chrám

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Church of Mother of God before Týn (Kostel Matky Boží před Týnem)
Staroměstské náměstí
Staré Město (Old Town)
Prague, September 2017

“The Church of Mother of God before Týn (in Czech Kostel Matky Boží před Týnem, also Týnský chrám (Týn Church) or just Týn), often translated as Church of Our Lady before Týn, is a Gothic church and a dominant feature of the Old Town of Prague, Czech Republic. It has been the main church of this part of the city since the 14th century. The church's two towers are 80 m high, and each tower's spire is topped by eight smaller spires in two layers of four.” (Church of Our Lady before Týn, Wikipedia)

Grated window

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Grated window with cacti
Via Magenta
Suvereto, June 2021

Church of St. Elizabeth

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Church of St. Elizabeth (Kostol svätej Alžbety)
Bezručova
Bratislava, September 2017

“The one-nave church was built in 1908-1913, four years after the plans of Ödön Lechner to build a church in the Hungarian Art Nouveau style. The so-called Hungarian secessionist style forms dominate in the church. Lechner also drew plans of the neighbouring gymnázium (high school) and of the vicarage (also in the Hungarian Secessionist style). The ground floor of the church is oval. In the foreground there is a 36.8 metre high cylindrical church tower. At first, a cupola was planned, but was never constructed; instead, a barrel vault was built, topped by a hip roof. The roof is covered with glazed bricks with decoration, for the purpose of parting.” (Blue Church, Wikipedia)

Scalinata dei Bastioni

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Scalinata dei Bastioni (Staircase of the Bastions)
Piazza Ferrucci
Florence, December 2021

D3/AD

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Departments 3 and Administration by Peter Cook and CRABstudio, 2013
Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien (Vienna University of Economics and Business)
Welthandelsplatz
Vienna, September 2017

“The organic-looking ensemble made up of department building 3 and the AD administrative building was designed by British architect Sir Peter Cook and CRABstudio. The complex extends from the west entrance to the center of the campus and forms the southernmost element of Campus WU, neighboring the Prater Park. At ground level, the two buildings have closed façades with reduced window surfaces, except for the library reading areas, the lounge in the seminar room area, and the bakery, which have fully glazed façades. The upper levels are characterized by the colored bands of the striped façade, ranging from dark orange to pale yellow, separated by windows. Untreated silver fir planks are mounted horizontally and vertically on the façades of both buildings, giving them a lively structure. They also provide protection from heat and are a visual reference to the trees of the neighboring Prater Park.” (Departments 3 and Administration, Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien)

By the North Gate

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By the North Gate
Via dei Condotti
Suvereto, June 2021

Andrássy Palota

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Atlases
Andrássy Palota (Andrássy Palace) by Kallina Mór
Andrássy út
Budapest, September 2017

Florence Courthouse

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Palazzo di Giustizia (Court of Justice)
Viale Guidoni, Novoli
Florence, December 2021

“The Tribunal of Florence (court of justice) is a large 21st-century complex on the Viale Guidoni in the Novoli quarter of Florence. Situated near the entry of the A11 highway and the Florence Airport, it is Italy's biggest tribunal building after that of Turin.” (Florence Courthouse, Wikipedia)

Viscount Southwood

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Viscount & Viscountess Southwood memorial
St James's Church Garden
Piccadilly
London, September 2014