Inspiring women in art and architecture

Only a few days left to see this incredible exhibition. I love how these timeless women look like someone you'd like to hang out with. Refreshing to see paintings of strong, inspiring women in an appealing painterly style.


Meanwhile I went to visit the new Serpentine gallery on saturday with the unmistakable Zaha Hadid extension. I loved the smell and sound of the loose brickfloor with freshly finished interior. In the cafe the brand new tea pots were melting and sticking to the brand new table tops as the sun poured through the new glass surrounds. It looks beautiful and is amazing that this is her first permanent building in London. While in the queue I hear two people talking about how 'people here just dont apreciate her'. Is it because her designs arent fallic glass and steel structures that compete to be the tallest?

21st Century Wooden Houses

I've been hoping the fashion for glass and steel would wear out for years. It depresses me every time I see another massive glass and steel box going up in London. They all look the same to me, so unimaginative, the only excitement over childish competition for the 'biggest yet' or a novelty shape - ooh, a 'shard', ooh, a 'gerkin'. But they are all so cold and shiny, with all those strip lights glaring out. I don't hate all glass and steel buildings, and I love the contrast of glass against old stone. But could we not have some more variety and texture, and some more imagination.

And the intensity of the process, the extraction of the resources, the manufacture, transport, construction, the labour, makes you wince.

So I was intrigued to read about the first wooden high rise building in my neighbourhood in Hackney. Looks great and is so much more environmentally friendly. Hope its a great place to live.