Lady Ram’s House

Sitting under the shade of a tree in Lady Rams Meadow, I’m thankful for the trees that soften the outline of the views, and give the place so much character. 

Protected by the sea on one side, and on the other by automatic iron gates and a high concrete wall,  I think about how brave the architect it was who designed the replacement for her old house, to pay no heed to the Genius loci. For it seems to be part of the perennially popular modernist movement, the brutalist design philosophy that prides itself on honesty, simplicity and functionality.

From the sea the white painted concrete facade is reminiscent of a giant Cross, slightly out of proportion, which seems to be waiting for an effigy of the crucifixion. 

The rear of this undoubtedly well designed and totally up to date dwelling harks back to the days when every town had its gasometer, and this one seems to have its own, albeit covered in slate and not the usual grey paint. (perhaps the owner knows something that we don’t about future energy supplies?)

I wonder if architects these days learn about the golden mean? The windows that punctuate these walls, are brown framed and square, perhaps inspired by Leonardo da Vinci‘s man, but these windows are blank, like window frames without pictures, they seem to be waiting for someone to appear.

Unlike the four story house it replaces, this one has no steeply pitched slate roof to be ripped by angry winds, for it appears to be built to withstand a nuclear explosion, and the windows facing the setting sun look from the distance as if they are in some awkwardly parked mobile homes.

Thank goodness there were no architects employed by the craftsman who built the cottages in Polruan that everybody comes to admire, to photograph, to write about, and to live in, if they can afford it.

I am so pleased that I have my collection of photographs and my lovely drawing of LadyRams old house, which everyone who saw it admired. 

I leave you to wonder at what future generations will have to say.

For the present, it's taking on the appearance of an abandoned Ministry of defence establishment.