Tuesday, February 15, 2011

An Observation And The Irony Of It All






I have noticed while walking the streets of this country's capital city that there is a certain bit of irony in the design of a lot of the big old buildings that dominate the city streets. And, dominate is the correct word to use in this case. They are very much reminiscent of old style Soviet and/or Communist architecture! Big, monolithic, serious, foreboding, and fortress-like with teeny, tiny, windows are the words that come to my mind. I've seen this style of architecture in Havana, Cuba, and from pix from the former Soviet Union.

Now, I know the design ethic and/or style of the times, and they were all built in a similar era, has a lot to do with it. But, the impression they create cannot be helped. At least through the eyes of this somewhat aged observer of the human condition, anyways. And, this applies to the vast square that is Chaing Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, too. Vast squares being another hallmark of Soviet era architecture. Oh, the irony of it all!

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