The whole neighbourhood used to be nothing but villas until they started to build pre-fab apartment blocks in the 50s.
architecture
Kuala Lumpur, seen from Chinatown towards the old railway station
Kuala Lumpur, seen from Chinatown towards the old railway station, originally uploaded by Brin d’Acier.
We spent a month backpacking around Singapore and Malaysia. Despite all the excitement, I took the time to do a few sketches…
Here’s one of the wonderfully chaotic architecture of downtoen Kuala Lumpur. That’s Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in the foreground.
Shanghai sketches
Smoggy Shanghai, originally uploaded by Brin d’Acier.
I was in Shanghai for two weeks, working. I managed to do a few sketches.
Great art deco movie theatre
Piece of retro architecture in the bazaars outside the old town. ‘Ye Olde Cathay’ – style
Sketched from the Bund on my first day. The Jetsons-looking tower is the Pearl of the Orient Radio Tower.
Functionalist Buildings in Kallio, Helsinki
Functionalist Buildings in Kallio, Helsinki, originally uploaded by Brin d’Acier.
Kallio (the rock, as it’s built on one of the rare hills in Helsinki) is a traditionally working class neighbourhood. The buildings range from Art Deco to 70s pre-fab. Most are in a pared-down modernist style.
Art Nouveau apartment buildings, Helsinki
Art Nouveau apartment buildings, Helsinki, originally uploaded by Brin d’Acier.
Corner of Bulevardi and Fredrikinkatu.
It’s getting cold, so this might be my last outdoor sketch of the year. If the weather stays sunny and I get myself a pair of fingerless gloves I might squeeze off a few more.
Travel Sketchbook – Stockholm
Sketchbook Stockholm 2010-10-07, originally uploaded by Brin d’Acier.
The view from our hotel window, on Sturegatan.
It was a great and sunny fall day, so I stopped to draw the view. The next day we visited the East Asian museum to see the Terracotta Warriors, and the best new Swedish art show at the Museum of Modern Art, both located on this island
Beautiful sunset on the old town, seen from the courtyard of the East Asian Museum.
We stopped at this hip café while walking around in Södermalm, a young and artistic neighbourhood.
Alberga Manor, Espoo – the Sugar Castle
Alberga Manor, Espoo – the Sugar Castle, originally uploaded by Brin d’Acier.
I often pass through the grounds of this pink manor house on my way to work. As the weather was nice I decided to draw it.
There has been a manor on this site since 1620. This latest incarnation was built in 1876. I don’t know if this neo-renaissance building bears any resemblance to the original. It’s also known as ‘Sugar Castle’ as its owner Feodor Kiseleff made his wealth trading sugar, and wood from sugar crates was used in its construction.
The Old Church, Helsinki
The Old Church, Helsinki, originally uploaded by Brin d’Acier.
This wooden church was built in 1826 to serve as a temporary structure while the older cathedral was demolished and a new stone church was built to replace it.
The architect was Carl Ludvig Engel. He was responsible for most of the neo-classical buildings in the historical centre of Helsinki.
It’s almost impossible to draw this church from the front in the summer because of the big trees. It’s the same “Plague park” as here and here.
Neo-Baroque apartment building on Annankatu
Neo-Baroque apartment building on Annankatu, originally uploaded by Brin d’Acier.
Most buildings in this neighbourhood date from the late 19th century, and range from Neo-Renaissance to Art Nouveau. This one is from 1898.
September in Plague Park
September in Plague Park, originally uploaded by Brin d’Acier.
Corner of Annankatu and Bulevardi in downtown Helsinki. The park on the left is known as Plague Park as the victims of the 1710 plague were buried there.
Mille Croquis 