ARCHITECTURE Hassan Fathy

HASSAN FATHY

Monograph by James Steele, 
Published by Academy Editions/St. Martin's Press [1988]

Hassan Fathy was an Egyptian architect, a practitioner of vernacular architecture in a contemporary world.  I fear that much that he built has been sadly neglected...

FILM: The Tourist

Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck - quite a mouthful - the Director of the masterpiece The Lives of Others also made The Tourist. I watched it recently - not the greatest movie but rolicking FUN!  And Venice a joy! Angelina Jolie has a perfect English accent and oddball Johnny Depp is good!

TRAVEL: India Part VI - Fatehpur Sikri

FOOD: Farmer's Market, Pimlico Road

Every other Saturday the best oysters ever from Essex are sold in this market by Richard Haward - like a stage set.....up go the stalls at 9am and .......it all disappears at 1pm ...........a boon to the neighbourhood. 

LIVING BY DESIGN: Verona and Vicenza Marble Table Lamps

Designed by John Stefanidis 

for Bella Figura Lighting 

http://bella-figura.com

PEOPLE: Cecil Beaton & David Hockney

David Hockney with Cecil Beaton [known in the 1970's as Rip van With-It] in his Wiltshire conservatory.

COMMENT: Spring will arrive eventually...

Daffodils in a Venini handerkerchief vase

COMMENT: Clearing of postcards with apologies to my friends

ART I ADMIRE: Joan Miró

PERSON THROWING A STONE AT A BIRD [1926]

MOONBIRD [1947]

PERSONAGE [1925]                                                           PAINTING [1927]  

TRAVEL: St. Petersburg, Russia in winter

POETRY: William Butler Yeats

Before the World was made

If I make the lashes dark

And the eyes more bright

And the lips more scarlet,

Or ask is all be right

From mirror after mirror.

No vanity's displayed:

I'm looking for the face I had

Before the world was made.

What if I look upon a man

As though on my beloved,

And my blood be cold the while

And my heart unmoved?

Why should he think me cruel

Or that he is betrayed?

I'd have him love the thing that was

Before the world was made.