Beautiful Decay

The old area of any city is automatically my favorite place to go sightseeing. It gives me a window to the past, an idea of what was, and is (in the case of preservation), important to it's people.

The abundance of beautiful woodwork and design shows the expert workmanship of the past.

But while beauty was important to the people of Jeddah, as is seen by the artistry and the craftsmanship of the balconies and facades, it was not the only objective.

The open spaces and the lattice work is a case of form meeting function.

In a time when no modern air conditioning was available, this very beautiful balcony would allow this building's occupants to open doors and windows in order to enjoy a soft sea breeze, while protecting their privacy.

Although we can see the ravages of time on some of these buildings, their beauty remains, eternal.

The next time you see a work of art, whether arcitectural or otherwise, take a close look and see what is behind the design.

There may just be more than meets the eye.   : )