Author Archives: Crompton

Architecture & Chemistry

Demolished on December 1st 2008, this house at 157 Harper Rd London was a council flat filled with hot concentrated copper sulphate solution which was allowed to cool before draining. Visitors had to wear wellingtons. It was very blue. (artist: … Continue reading

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Rope

This elegantly detailed bracket holds a rope barrier. Is this not better than the spring loaded spools of tape in your bank and post office?

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Old Manchester Town Hall 1834-1912

Architecture in the raw Photographed just before its destruction in 1912 Manchester’s pre-Waterhouse Town Hall was the subject of study by students at the Manchester School of Architecture published in 1915. Few buildings of this quality have ever been demolished … Continue reading

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French concrete brut mystery

This photograph was taken in France in the 1950’s by architect John Sagar. Can anyone identify this wonderful concrete structure? Update 12 July: See comments

Posted in CiA, Crompton, Le Corbusier, Nostalgia | 4 Comments

Eiffel Pen

A great work of architecture makes a great nib: discuss.

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Corb in twenty-four

The bow-tie appears at 6.00 am. The hat changes but the spectacles are constant, not vanishing until just before midnight, although they were raised briefly after lunch. Image: Collage at the Musée Picasso Corb v Lutyens

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Not only bears

This skeuomorphic concrete toilet is embossed to look like a house in the woods.

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Lutyens damaged door mystery

Doors at the end of the long gallery in Lutyens’s crypt at Liverpool Cathedral are peppered with holes: how come? (Answer in comments)

Posted in CiA, Crompton, Edwin Lutyens, Liverpool | 1 Comment

House for two people who do not talk

The repetition of the arch over the river and the arch over the drive echoed in the roundels is beautiful. (Tatton Lodge, Cheshire)

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The bed of a hero

Leather, of course. The Kitchen is done out like a submarine with tin-foil wall paper and a port hole. (T.E. Lawrence’s cottage, Bovington Camp, Dorset).

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Card No.1

Click HERE for the full set of cards…

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Card No.2

Geometry up north. Wooden heart. Click HERE for the full set of cards…

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