Brunch with Battutah
Traditional modern
Posted by Michael Skorulski (Cigel, Slovakia) on 29 September 2008 in Architecture and Portfolio.
It was a tradition in Bahrain to have ornate enclosed wooden balconies on houses. Women could go out on them and survey the street below without being seen which is considered the modest thing to do in their culture. Only a few of these old balconies still exist. I was amazed to see a traditional but new balcony attached to a very modern building.
Tomorrow, we'll see an antique balcony on a house in the old town.
Zygene from morlaix, France
Une bien étonnante architecture ! Que je trouve personnellement ravissant.
29 Sep 2008 5:13am
@Zygene: Merci, Zygene.
Steve Rice from Olympia, United States
That is quite the mix of old and new. I like your composition.
29 Sep 2008 5:35am
@Steve Rice: Thank you very much, Steve.
Kylie Greenan from Richmond, Australia
This is truly amazing Michael, I have not seen anything like this, so the balcony, you can actually walk out onto it? Is it just suspended off the building by timber?... I am not sure I would feel safe out there surveying the street below, but how beautifully crafted they are, thank you for showing us this, I would never have known they existed otherwise!
29 Sep 2008 6:11am
@Kylie Greenan: I'm not sure if you can walk out on it or not. But I was amazed to see it there anyway. I'm sure though it would be very strong. thanks, Kylie.
Elaine- from Vancouver, Canada
I have heard of such things, where the women are oppressed... but to actually cage them so they can get some air, how sad... great capture of a sad subject, well done you!
29 Sep 2008 6:15am
@Elaine-: In their culture, not being seen is considered modesty. Many thanks, Elaine.
MaryB from Staffordshire, United Kingdom
Wow! that is unusual, and what a creative idea of the designers to incorportate the traditional and modern together so effectively.
Well spotted Michael.
29 Sep 2008 6:23am
@MaryB: Thanks so much, Mary.
Angelique from The Netherlands, Netherlands
haha that's great , they should combine things like this more.
I love the style :)
29 Sep 2008 6:42am
@Angelique: Thank you, Angelique.
@Namaki: Many thanks, Namaki.
dj.tigersprout from San Bruno, CA, United States
beautiful indeed! quite amazing! this could be the new style -- modernized buildings with these wonderfully cultural and ornate balconies! i would want one for sure! ;)
29 Sep 2008 7:06am
@dj.tigersprout: Me too. thank you, Jaycee.
@Ana Lúcia: Many thanks for commenting.
Mirko Herzner from Mühlheim am Main, Germany
Wow. A picture discribing a whole cultural concept. Well seen and captured. I also like the composition and angle.
29 Sep 2008 8:34am
@Mirko Herzner: Thank you very much, Mirko.
saeed from ahwaz, Iran
excellent and interesting indeed! thank you very much for sharing us! I'm very interested to know about other cultures and people... Cheers to you dear Michael... well done
29 Sep 2008 8:47am
@saeed: Thank you so much, Saeed.
António Pires from Lisbon, Portugal
Quite amazing that existing only a few of those balconies, one of them is to be seen on a modern building.
29 Sep 2008 9:01am
@António Pires: I think they wanted to keep the tradition alive. thank you, António.
Evelyne Dubos from Le Mans, France
Belle trouvaille. Ce mélange de tradition et de modernité est cependant assez étonnant. Je ne sais pas si les 2 styles se marient bien mais pourquoi pas ?
29 Sep 2008 9:11am
@Evelyne Dubos: Merci, Evelyne.
Betty from New Jersey, United States
An amazing sight, seeing this on such a modern building. It's a beautiful shot! Thank you for the explanation.
29 Sep 2008 9:46am
@Betty: A pleasure. thanks for commenting, Betty.
@Zorilla: Possibly. But I don't notice a door on the outside.
@Veronelle: Many thanks, Veronelle.
Calusarus from St Sorlin en Valloire, France
Impressive architectural meeting ! Nice shot, that I like a lot.
29 Sep 2008 10:52am
@Calusarus: Thank you, Frederic.
Judy from Brooksville-Florida,, United States
At first I thought this was a reflection from beyond, but your text clarified it. Do you suppose the builder was a devout person and wanted a bit of his tradition added to this modern wall?
29 Sep 2008 10:54am
@Judy: That is a very good thought. Thank you, Judy.
Viewfinder from Bradenton, United States
An amazing combination of the old and new. You caught a winner here Michael.
29 Sep 2008 11:18am
@Viewfinder: Thank you very much, VF.
Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada
Oh hell lol put me there with a Zoom and the world is MINE ....I love this double set of five stars to you my dear ;)
29 Sep 2008 11:54am
@Lorraine: Thanks so much, Lorraine. When I first saw this I couldn't believe what I was seeing. It was a first for me. I saw another photographer walking quickly with a tripod and felt sure he was heading to the same place. He wasn't.
dobbino from Cape Town, South Africa
If I had not seen this, I would not have believed it! One gets distracted by the balcony, obviously, but on top of it all the colours here are magnifique!
29 Sep 2008 12:27pm
@dobbino: Thank you very much, Rob.
Robin from Lunenburg, United States
I very much like the angle you chose, gives a different perspective.
29 Sep 2008 1:13pm
@Robin: Thank you very much, Robin. I tried to get as close under it as possible.
MadScientist from Düsseldorf, Germany
A fine capture of weird architecture! I've seen modern houses where older bay had been preserved (house from 1900, bay from 18th century), but this one here is just crazy! :-)
29 Sep 2008 1:23pm
@MadScientist: It is unusual. Thank you, MS.
@Daryl: Thank you very much, Daryl.
Rui from Leiria, Portugal
Amazing. The traditional style balcony in a modern building. Very well seen and captured. Well done Michael
29 Sep 2008 2:13pm
@Rui: Thank you so much, Rui.
claire from Canada
great find Michael! kinda weird to see this old traditional window on modern buildings. :)
29 Sep 2008 2:27pm
@claire: I think so too. Thank you, Claire.
@Kaddy: Thank you very much, Kaddy.
petitlouis from Liège, Belgium
Voilà une architecture des plus originale !
Excellent cadrage.
29 Sep 2008 3:12pm
@petitlouis: Merci, Petitlouis.
amy from Nanaimo, BC, Canada
Outrageous!! Fantastic image, Michael!!! The pov and framing are perfect.
29 Sep 2008 3:20pm
@amy: Many thanks, Amy.
MJ from Delaware, United States
I have never seen such a thing... and it is amazing on a new building... great capture...
29 Sep 2008 3:37pm
@MJ: Something very traditional just stuck on. thanks, MJ.
Michael Rawluk from Williams Lake, BC, Canada
That is a beautiful addition to the building and you snapped a terrific shot of it. It looks great with that reflection.
29 Sep 2008 3:49pm
Radel from Netherlands
wow! I've seen these things before but never would have guessed the purpose. thanks.
lovely reflection.
29 Sep 2008 3:50pm
@Radel: Thank you so much, Radel.
Terry H. from Azle Texas, United States
It looks very out of place to be mounted on a glass wall. Strange , crazy and great shot!
29 Sep 2008 4:10pm
@Terry H.: yes, very out of place. thanks, Terry.
Jasp from Plymouth, United Kingdom
It looks like someone has just stuck it on the outside, fascinating.
29 Sep 2008 7:57pm
@Jasp: Yes, very much an add-on. thanks, Richard.
beanow from Poland
Excellent! Well seen and captured. I also like the composition and angle. Beautiful color blue.
29 Sep 2008 8:11pm
@beanow: Thank you, beanow.
Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom
A floating box I thought..... then realised it was a balcony. I don't think it is suited to a modern building though, but I guess they know best. A brilliant and unusual shot.
29 Sep 2008 8:19pm
@Observing: Thank you, Mike.
@Marie: Merci, Marie.
Volodia from Mississauga, Canada
I really love the clarity and the colours of this shot. Nicely done.
29 Sep 2008 9:32pm
@Volodia: Thank you, Volodia.
AC from NY, United States
This is certainly an interesting (and very beautiful) blend of old and new. Love the angle and the reflection.
29 Sep 2008 9:36pm
@AC: Many thanks, AC.
sherri from Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
Absolutely amazing. An extraordinary image.
29 Sep 2008 11:52pm
@sherri: Many thanks, Sherri.
Martie from Versailles, United States
What a fantastic image you have captured here! That balcony is gorgeous!
30 Sep 2008 1:53am
@Martie: thanks so much, Martie.
Terri from Portland, United States
Fascinating! What a contrast. Wonderful photo too.
30 Sep 2008 4:51am
@Terri: Thank you, Terri.
Marion from Nanaimo, BC, Canada
That's too cool Michael. The old on the new. Incredible.
30 Sep 2008 5:53am
@Marion: Many thanks, Marion.
Aurore from L'Hay Les Roses, France
j'aime l'angle, la lumière, le reflet, jolie photo!
30 Sep 2008 6:20pm
@Aurore: Merci, Aurore.
Cat from Tel Aviv, Israel
It looks like a little fortress! It's very bizarre but rather alluring, an attempt to make a faceless modern office building have some character and retain some old cultural symbols. I wonder if it's functional?
1 Oct 2008 2:09pm
@Cat: One day I will find out if it is functional. thank you, Cat.
Kevin from OrganicPIX.com from DFW, Texas, United States
Very nice detail to this building - also like the perspective from which you photographed it - certainly gives a sense of height!
2 Oct 2008 2:26pm
@Kevin from OrganicPIX.com: Thanks, Kevin. I got as close under it as possible.
Sony DSLR-A300
1/8 second
F/11.0
ISO 100
90 mm (35mm equiv.)