Grand Central arches
Jan 20, 2008 Ars Longa, Heart and spirit, Metropolis
I’m always fascinated at the juxtaposition of arcs and right angles in architecture. And being rather metaphor-minded, my first thought when reconsidering this picture a few days after it was taken was that those soft, sensitive curves just couldn’t cut it without those broad-shouldered perpendicular members to hold them up.
This is idiotic, of course. Stiff old columns are yesterday’s news. The innovation of the load-bearing arch was what revolutionized architecture. It is the “soft,” curvy arches that are the real toughies, and the ones you can really count on to keep everything elevated and the roof from tumbling down.
