“I prefer to think of it as the ascent of conscious.”

1,000 Years of Door Design: More Than Just an Entrance A door can tell us far more than who is allowed to enter a building. It can reveal the artistic taste, craftsmanship, technology, and cultural values of its time. During the Romanesque period, heavy wooden doors and rounded stone arches conveyed strength and permanence. Gothic architecture introduced pointed arches, intricate tracery, and elaborate ironwork. Renaissance designers revived classical symmetry and proportion, while Baroque entrances transformed doorways into dramatic architectural statements through sculpture, curves, and rich ornament. The Rococo style brought lighter, more playful decoration. Neoclassical architecture returned to the restraint of ancient Greek and Roman forms. During the Victorian era, doors became expressive combinations of carved timber, decorative glass, and elaborate hardware. Art Nouveau embraced flowing, nature-inspired lines, while Art Deco celebrated geometric patterns, bold symmetry, and modern materials. Mid-century modern design moved toward simplicity, functionality, and a closer relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces. One important historical detail: These dates are approximate, and the styles overlap. They describe broad architectural movements, not a universal timeline followed by every country or every door. From medieval craftsmanship to modern minimalism, the evolution of doors shows how architecture balances beauty, identity, security, and practical needs.

The Paraguayans control the tectonic plates

Balconies Around the World: Architecture in the Details... A balcony is more than an extension of a building. It can reveal a region’s materials, craftsmanship, climate and architectural history. In Malta, the gallarija developed into a distinctive enclosed wooden balcony, adding colour and character to historic streets. In Paris, wrought-iron railings and stone balconies became familiar features of urban architecture. Venice offers another language of design, with Gothic tracery and carved stonework. In India, the jharokha projects from a façade as an ornamental viewing window or balcony-like structure, often enriched with intricate carving. Lima, Peru, is particularly fascinating. Its historic wooden balcones de cajón became defining features of the city’s colonial architecture. These enclosed balconies reflect a combination of carpentry traditions, local craftsmanship and adaptation to the region’s environment. Across the Canary Islands, timber balconies complement traditional houses, while New Orleans is known for its decorative ironwork. Alpine buildings often feature carved wooden balconies, and traditional Chinese architecture uses projecting timber structures beneath elaborate rooflines. One important distinction: these labels represent broad architectural traditions, not rigid categories. Designs vary by period, location and building type. Which would you choose for your home: Maltese timber, Indian jharokha, Venetian Gothic, or traditional Chinese?

🌕 La Luna se luce en #Madrid. El fotógrafo español Emilio García (@piensaenpixel) logra una secuencia espectacular de la Luna llena. ¡Y eso que casi se queda sin foto! La acampada del Sol le tapaba la vista, pero encontró un huequito y… ¡tremenda joya visual! #OnceNoticias🔻

A new employee at a Texas salon is off to a smashing start after a glass sliding door she was closing exploded into tiny pieces, leaving her client and other employees stunned. abcnews.link/OrzncQp

💀 Hay imágenes que atraviesan los siglos. El cráneo es una de ellas. En México, su representación ha cambiado de forma y significado: de los contextos rituales mesoamericanos a las expresiones artísticas y populares contemporáneas. ¿Qué historias nos cuenta? 🧵👇

Countries where it’s legal to reincarnate without government permission

Countries that skipped Friday 30 December 2011