Stonework and Windows by Chipka
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Description
Some of you may recognize The Shift a short story posted a bit earlier in my gallery. There is an upcoming sequel. It’s not quite ready yet, but it is on the way. Both stories, The Shift and its untitled companion piece concern a trio of characters making their way through the convoluted mysteries of life in a country called Ükür.
Ükür is a strange place, but parts of it are drawn from very real places: namely most of the Czech Republic, and a building in Chicago, with a few random fields in Russia. Funny how things work. A building, a country, and taiga grass (with high tension lines in the background) all converge in the strangest possible way and give birth to characters with typographically-challenging names. My mind works that way.
I don’t actually know the name of this building, but if I’m not mistaken, it’s one that plays some small role in my life. Way back in the infant days of the twenty-first century, Corey and I visited a friend who lives in this building…if this is, indeed, the building that I’m thinking. She and Corey worked together, and well…Corey and I were visiting her and gorging ourselves on beer and pizza flavored with fennel seeds. I didn’t pay much attention to the outside of the building, as the inside is what really drew my attention. On the outside it looks normal enough, but the inside is built around a multi-story atrium. The “front” windows of any given apartment look out into corridor and empty space beyond. It’s rather disconcerting. Corey is no longer in contact with his former work-mate/friend, and so I’m not sure I can get interior shots of this building. She’s probably moved anyway, and unless we happen to meet anyone who lives there, we won’t really be getting in. Ah, but we can see the outside of the building, and on a level that’s enough for me.
This is also a significant building in that it resembles the residence of two fictional characters: guys who live in Ükür. Some of you may know Dül and Xéŕšé, and their American friend, Samantha. You may be aware of the irony that characters whose names are burdened with all sorts of diacritical marks find it impossible to pronounce Samantha’s name, simply because the “th” blend does not exist in their language. Odd how that works! Ultimately, what I like about this photo is the fact that it is the visual reference I used as I decided where Dül and Xéŕšé should live. I wanted something old. Something that implied “foreignness” but I didn’t want anything too Czech or too Russian. The Czech Republic and Russia are Slavic countries. Ükür is Indo-European in ways that make it at least visually similar to Bulgaria, Turkey, and Albania. It’s strangely fitting, then, that a building in Chicago would come to visually represent the residence of two distinctly non-American, non-Chicago characters. (For those of you who are curious…their “bedroom” window is the third from the bottom with the vague hint of a reddish floral pattern on the shade.)
I’ve always been intrigued by this building, and this is the first time I’ve been able to capture it. I find it odd that it is a visual reference to Ükür now, and as a result of that, I want to maintain its mystery. I’m sure that it’s historical and significant to Chicago…but because two cool guys with challenging names live in a fictional version of it in a fiction country, I want to maintain its mystery and leave it…well…unnamed.
As always, thank you for viewing and reading and commenting...and for those of you who are anxious, there will be another trip to Ükür very soon.
Comments (21)
KatesFriend
Looks like classical old European architecture, but it also appears to have been retro-fitted in recent years. I can imagine the pedestrian and vehicle traffic below breaking on its round corner forking into two streams split by so ancient unyielding bolder. The roof and caps are intriguing, not too opulent but never a plain box either. One wonders who lives in the penthouse.
TwoPynts
lovely capture of this edifice.
mbz2662
There is character in this building. Wonderfully captured~ :)
beachzz
Kinda reminds me of the waterworks buildings we saw, the stonework perhaps. It would be wonderful to see the inside of this place, you describe it so well. And Ukur--waiting for more---soon, I hope!!
danapommet
Fantastic stone work. Love the turret rooms on the left corner and the “bay” windows. I also wonder who lives in the roof units. They look like they were added on. More beautiful stone work on the top edge of the building. Last night’s comment on “J. Paul Getty Museum courtyard II” make me laugh out loud and your “"flagrant maleness" comment is a classic. Thanks for visiting my gallery. Dana
blinkings
Well written and photographed. The building has great character for me.
myrrhluz
I've spent a while in your gallery tonight and it has been a wonderful place to be. I just reread 'Night Time in Ōmůt' totally enjoying it again and with some new understanding. I am highly impatient (and am now one of the anxious) for the sequel. Your description of the inside of this building is intriguing. So is pizza flavored with fennel seeds. Wonderful outside of the building! It's funny because the bricks(?) remind me of a house in Lake Charles where my mom lives, that we call the ugly house. It has the same type of facade, but where here, it is an interesting texture between the beautiful windows and trimmings, there, it is a bleached monstrosity of boring, lumpy sameness. I love the trimming at the top, on this building. Nice to see where Dül and Xéŕšé live, and the sofa that had been green. Excellent image! Before I got carried away to Ükür, I noticed something that I found interesting about the image. You can see the shadows of the horizontal bars on some of the windows. It's interesting how different they are depending on what kind of curtains or shades are inside.
whaleman
Very nice shot with the dark shadows!
Meisiekind
What an amazing piece of architecture! Just look at the detail at the top. Most amazing building and so regal etched against that blue, blue sky! Most wonderful image Chip! I will have to come back to read the story... Pushed for time today! :))
mairekas
Great POV and image!
helanker
What an amazing building and beautifully captured, but you Chip. You are amazing too. You have an amazing mind. (in a good way)
prutzworks
cool pov and contrasts
auntietk
A perfect residence for your friends. I love all the detail! Just look at the trim up top ... fabulous! I'm looking forward to another instalment in the story. Bring it on! :D
MrsRatbag
What a gorgeous old building!
durleybeachbum
That frieze at the top is something I should love to see close-up! The rectagonal shapes to the right of the corner windows are unusual..I wonder what they are. This is a most interesting pic, the more one looks at it!
ladyraven23452
great work.
belasebok
Interesting POV.Very characteristic building.
romanceworks
It seems that much thought, care, and love was put into the creation of this amazing building, and so it is with your characters that live inside of it, and inside your head and heart as well. CC
0rest4wicked
Fantastic architecture. Not quite sure the purpose of the openings between turret and bay window though.
kgb224
Outstanding capture of this building my friend.
nikolais
must have been built somewhere in the late 30-40s. seems like the style turned out too influencial as most of the Stalin-period structures have similar features, except the rubble-stone finishing of the facade... contrary to the cardboardgypsumplastic architecture of today looks amazing!