Par Excellence

Courtesy Rue de la Gare by Hoexbroe

France, 1967 - (BTT) We seem to be spending a lot of time in l'Hexagone as of late, and for good reason. This quaint street by the train station just oozes the kind of architectural charm the country is synonymous with, and the yellow Citroën parked out front adds an extra dash of local flavor to an already postcard worthy scene. Please feel free to join the discussion at the Eurobricks forums.

Inspiration of the Day - 10/29/11

Courtesy The Dulwich Picture Gallery by Eric Hardy

Dulwich, South London, England - (BTT) Even if you have never been inside the Dulwich Picture Gallery, architect Sir John Soane's landmark 1817 building and England's first purpose-built public art gallery, chances are you have been to a museum that was directly influenced by it. Designed as a series or interlinked rooms, illuminated indirectly from above through the use of skylights, Soane set the standard to how paintings should be displayed that continues on to this very day.

Hello! I'm still here!

Hello everyone! 

I just wanted to let you know that I have not fallen off the face of the earth. I'm taking classes right now, and that obviously sets priority!

I also wanted to say how great of a job Jonathan is doing with the site. He's posting some great stuff lately, and I'm sure you as readers know this too! Thanks again, John!

Oh! And other new link has been added to the LEGO Related Sites list. It's called DooYoo, and is a site devoted to reviewing products and product lines, one of which is LEGO. So check it out!

Variety Pack

Courtesy Bâtiments City by Ptéra

Lyon, France - (BTT) Successful urbanism is all about packing a wide range of uses in a compact area, and this block truly excels in that regard. Whether you want to play a game of pool, need a quiet space to count your stolen loot, or just want to intimidate your minions from the balcony of your evil lair, there really is a little something for everyone.

Happy Campers

Courtesy Lake Merwin Camper's Hideaway by quý

Amboy, Washington - (BTT) Ah, the great outdoors. There are those who prefer roughing it - tents, campfires, bears, mosquitoes - but this author prefers a vacation heavier on the creature comforts than the creature invasions. With the comfortable hammock on the spacious wood deck, the striking green roof which keeps the weather outside where it belongs, and plenty of windows affording unbeatable views to Mount St. Helens, this cozy mobile home lets you get as close to nature as you really need to get.

There Goes the Neighborhood

Courtesy The grass is always greener...  by JETfri

Mismatch Lane - (BTT) Sometimes the phrase "The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence" is said as a way to remind people that even though others seem to have a better life when viewed from afar, it is all too easy to ignore the negatives that go along with it. Other times it loses its status as proverb to become a simple factual statement about how much superior your neighbors lawn care is to your own. The look of the townhouses themselves are as different as the grass that fronts them, each with a bunch of little details that reveals a lot about the people who call them home.

Inspiration of the Day - 10/22/11

Courtesy Price Tower by s myrland

Bartlesville, Oklahoma - (BTT) While Frank Lloyd Wright is perhaps the most famous architect of all time, he wasn't one to build vertically. The Prairie Style homes he is synonymous for were all about the horizontal expression, and while his iconic buildings like the Guggenheim Museum are famous for a lot of reasons, being tall isn't one of them. Completed in 1956 towards the end of his life, the 19 story Price Tower became Wright's first and only realized skyscraper, not that he didn't dream bigger.

Apologies for going a while without an Inspiration post - I'm trying to get this back to a weekly feature again starting now.

Keep Me Posted

Courtesy 10197 Alternate by Mugen

Main Street - (BTT) The surest sign that summer is truly over? For some it is the changing color of the leaves or the taste of apple cider. For others, it is seeing the fine men and women of the post office trade in their shorts for a pair of long pants. While seasons may end, the need for mail never does, and branches like this elegant building helps make sure every piece reaches its final destination.

Working With What You Have

Courtesy Pet Shop Alternative Model by BrickCityDepot

Remix Road - (BTT) When life gives you lemons you make lemonade, but what about when life gives you all the materials to make a Pet Shop when the blueprints call for a corner building? Well, faced with just that very dilemma, the construction manager of this handsome set of buildings decided to work with what he had, creating in the process something quite unique.

A Night to Remember

Courtesy Memory Hotel by joaquin

Glamor Avenue - (BTT) Sometimes you just need to treat yourself. The rock hard pillows and Continental breakfasts (read: burnt coffee and stale croissants) at the Motel 6 might be kinder on the wallet, but where is the glitz? You may not be royalty (yet) but that is no excuse not to be treated as such. Living up to its name, a stay at the Memory Hotel is a truly unforgettable experience.

Worthy of Worship

Courtesy Indian Temple by anupehr

Northern India - (BTT) Perhaps being a thousand years old isn't saying much when looking at  the cosmos as a whole, but its definitely a reason to take notice when looking at a building. A beautiful example of Nagara Architecture, this Hindu temple may have gotten a bit touristy in recent years, but you really can't blame the masses for wanting to visit such a historically important landmark.

Nearly Gears

Courtesy Chuck's Sprockets by j-spears

Widget Valley - (BTT) Not to be confused with a certain defunct Saturday Night Live sketch, Chuck's Sprockets have been in the manufacturing business for 60 years now. If you ever find yourself wanting something with the look of a gear but the functionality of a pulley (and honestly, who hasn't?), Chuck's got you covered.

Fitting In

Courtesy Un Nouveau Batiment by castor-troy

Paris, France - (BTT) A fine piece of contextual architecture, this new building plays well with the neighbors. The top floor apartments seem to have been snatched up quickly based on the curtains already in place, but looking through the ground floor windows it appears that the developer is still shopping for a retail tenant to occupy the space.

Vinyl Countdown

Courtesy Round Again Record Shop by lgorlando

Retro Alley - (BTT) CD sales are down, yet vinyl sales are up. Whether people like the warmer analog sound or just enjoy messing with the heads of those in the music industry is up for debate, but the folks at Round Again Records certainly aren't complaining about a trend as circular as their products.

Iron Works

Courtesy Office Building by Bill Meakin

Portland, Maine - (BTT) Preferences in office buildings sure has seen a shift in the last century, and there is certainly nothing wrong with a sleek and shiny curtain wall. The fantastic wrought iron windows on the second level of this historic workplace, however, proves that maybe there is more to a window than just a rectangular piece of glass.

Secondary Colors

Courtesy Oporto's Downtown Buildings by hugosantos2010

Oporto, Portugal - (BTT) This pair of buildings, each with their own little details, certainly livens up the street. Like a slice of cantaloupe next to honeydew, it reminds this writer of something sweet, not unlike the wine the city is famous for.