Wednesday, August 02, 2006

Street of the Green Windows

Rua das Janelas Verdes; I love the very name. It is one of my favourites, for its graceful old architecture, it's calm, its colours.

These are shots mainly of some of its windows, none of which are green. Art-deco tile panels;





A brand-new luxury apartment conversion;
The street side of the National Classical Art Museum;



A Renaissance man looking out of his window.


Actually he is a reflection from the Museo's current exhibition poster.
Posted by Picasa

12 comments:

Oleanderman said...

I'm jealous that there's such a freedom with colour on buildings on the continent whereas here we're stuck with brick or stone so much of the time. The tiling on that building is truly gorgeous and pulls together the shades of sky and earth so perfectly, lending enthusiasm for the day to those walking by. Here I'm just looking through rain at the brown houses opposite... not much inspiration there.

Jenny said...

I love these pictures. Seeing a place's architecture really gives a feelign about it - what the people value, how they live. The color, the detail, and somehow, the peace, is very appealing to me today!

edwin s said...

Yet again, wonderful shots! also kudos to the self-restraint. this time it worked. it shows off the simple beauty of the shots.

Icarus said...

Neo, hope you see this! I wrote an answer to you a couple of weeks ago about the light, natural colours & the human harmonisation with that and the climate in construction here, and howthat contrasts with, for example, Gt Britain. Because of the rain & clouds, why can't they infuse the environment with a lot fo friendly, uplifting & tasteful colour? Tradition? So it's too late?
And Jenny, who was commenting to me as I was commenting back, "Removed by author" was me (LOL!), cos there was a mistake in it. Thing is, my re-write has not appeared, so you're going to have to wonder. I think it would have given Ed another laugh though, atleast.

Icarus said...

Oh this cannot happen twice! First I overlap with Jenny, now with you Ed! Synchronicity, or what?
But I agree wholly with your words, thanks!

Anonymous said...

I think this post deserves a copy of the briliant begining of Os Maias (The Maias, in english), by Eça de Queiroz, written in the 3rd quarter of the 19th century. So, here it goes:

" A casa que os Maias vieram habitar em Lisboa, no Outono de 1875, era conhecido na vizinhança da Rua de S. francisco de Paula, e em todo o bairro das Janelas Verdes, pela "casa do Ramalhete", ou simplesmente, o "Ramalhete"..."

For the rest, please, read the book, which is available in english too, and which I recomend! Sorry I don't translate because it'd be too painful and effortless to try to get in english the great and expressive writing of Eça de Queiroz, in spite of the time passed since the publishing of this work.

Icarus said...

Superb, Pedro. It's wonderful, thanks so much! Either I will translate, or I'm going to ask to Ana S. if she could kindly oblige, if she reads this, since literature is her forte.
Worth sharing & yes, I remembered almost every word of that opening sentence,reading in the book that you lent me.

Icarus said...

(Soliloquy, aside)Sirrah, Muppet! Methinks this a fine nomenclature. And perchance befits me well, and by the by, may come to serve me well. More so even than hath NWM...

Icarus said...

Hi Telma e seja bem vindo neste recanto onde só anda....gente de todo lado!
Uma espreitinha dentro vai confirmar que estás livre cá. Qualquer lingua, percibida ou não, is very welcome.
So make yourself at home!

Carlos said...

Nowhere man, I regularly check your photos and, although I haven't seen the all archives these are, by far, my favorites (and also the last one of bridge Vasco da Gama). What's funny is that I worked in the neighborhood for 3 years and never realize it (well, there were other thinks in my mind).

More amazing is Portelini's comment cause Os Maias is simply my favorite book. I was obligated to read it in school, but loved it so much that have read it again twice.

Icarus said...

You arevery welcome to make your presencefelt Carlos & I'm delighted to read what you said about this beautiful confluence of Janelas Verdes & Eça de Queiroz.
Yes, I suppose work can have that effect!
Now, toclose I'm probably going to shred someone's copyright by adding theEnglish version of Portelini's quotation, with Ana's help:
"The house which the Maias arrived to occupy in Lisbon, in the autumn of 1875, was known in the Rua de Saõ Francisco de Paula and all over the Janelas Verdes district as the House of the Bouquet', or simply as´'the Bouquet'.
A good night to everyone, wherever you may be.

Leonor said...

I have a passion for windows. Beautiful pictures as always.