The individual characters that we construct from our influences and environments that we interact with everyday, can occasionally be observed through the actions we take and the work that we produce. This phenomenon can be seen occasionally through product design or (if you are lucky) possibly even the occasional piece journalism, but is frequently seen throughout the architectural world. A building, space or whole urban environment can be suddenly uplifted by a single aspect that reveals a genuine glimpse of the designers energy and desire.
Recently I happened to be waiting for the bus on Katherine Street, standing as per usual underneath the uneventful and quite frankly boring office block that hangs lazily over the area around St. Georges Walk like a concrete pig. Yet whilst scanning the buildings facade for some signs of hideous prefabricated detailing I found myself drawn to a set of segmented circular balconies fixed into one of the corner junctions of this urban giant. These balconies which sit quietly within the grasp of the main office block, yet have no access to them are quite literally useless to the function of the building, so what is the purpose, the reason for even being there?
Personally, I romantically want to believe that the architect of this repetitive office based building simply could not leave this particular corner untouched, unborn even. That this particular creative self having been trained and encouraged to enhance space and beautify things just had to do something with this corner, other than a simple ninety degree continuation. Obviously it is not the best balcony or even detailing you have ever seen but the simple fact that someone attempted to transform this building into something more than it was going to be is surely thought for hope.
tW
