65 Vincent Square, Westminster, is a Mies-inspired office block built 1958-60 by A.V.Farrier and recently restored. Being Mies-inspired, the facade is all thin vertical sections with bright blue ceramic panels between. It is all very plain and formfollowsfunctional. But a little carved panel above the door lends genuine delight, simply by being something Mies would have disapproved of. It shows a Roman homestead with farmers hoiking great big jars about, fruit trees behind being picked by a buxom Roman nudist fruit-picker, and a woman seated on a throne inspecting a chicken. Below her, a basket of eggs. The motto reads Deus hanc domum secundet, which I think means 'God be in this house' but if anyone knows better, tell me.
Devoted to the unexpected details that help to make life in the city worth living
Tuesday, 29 April 2008
65 Vincent Square
65 Vincent Square, Westminster, is a Mies-inspired office block built 1958-60 by A.V.Farrier and recently restored. Being Mies-inspired, the facade is all thin vertical sections with bright blue ceramic panels between. It is all very plain and formfollowsfunctional. But a little carved panel above the door lends genuine delight, simply by being something Mies would have disapproved of. It shows a Roman homestead with farmers hoiking great big jars about, fruit trees behind being picked by a buxom Roman nudist fruit-picker, and a woman seated on a throne inspecting a chicken. Below her, a basket of eggs. The motto reads Deus hanc domum secundet, which I think means 'God be in this house' but if anyone knows better, tell me.
God favours this house.
ReplyDeleteWhoops, I meant, "Let God favour this house".
ReplyDeleteThanks Conrad!
ReplyDeleteThat makes it clearer. I hate that fact that Latin leaves so much implicit, although it does make it more concise.