I love small churches. Especially on quiet mornings. The atmosphere of sacredness, early morning sun through stained glass windows and beautiful woodwork, peace and  quiet. In the Western Cape, South Africa, I noticed a similarity and uniqueness in Anglican churches. I discovered a surprizing thing. All these  churches were designed by a Victorian lady, an amateur architect , Sophy Gray. In Victorian times no ladies were allowed in the professions. Yet lady Grey did an excelent job as an architect.

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Modernistic buildings in Barcelona

At the end of the nineteenth century the industrial revolution was in full swing in Europe. Industrialisation brought new building materials. Cement, steel and corrugated iron led to unimaginative, homogenic housing. Art and craft and good craftsmanship became less important. A new style developed, as a reaction to the boring buildings, known as Art Deco. In Barcelona it was known as Modernism. Buildings that were people friendly with excellent craftsmanship and decorated with unique tiling, mosaics, metalwork and sculpture became the norm for the new middle class evolving. Old style craftsmanship combined with new building materials and a new style of architecture changed the face of Barcelona. Architecture so innovating that today, a hundred years later, the style still is fresh and new.

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