20 July 2011

The Doors ... of Bern!


I read

Archaeologists in the Swiss city of Zurich have unearthed a 5,000-year-old door that may be one of the oldest ever found in Europe.

The ancient poplar wood door is "solid and elegant" with well-preserved hinges and a "remarkable" design for holding the boards together, chief archaeologist Niels Bleicher said
- The Guardian 20 October 2010

... therefore, I think!


You will remember that when I was visiting Yale, I had fallen in love with the doors ... since then, I do not look at doors the same way. On my trip to Bern, Switzerland I had the pleasure to photograph several really nice ones. 

The one on the right top corner, reminded me a bit of the Elizabeth Arden Red Door or even Talbot's ... I do not specially like shopping, but I like spending ! The bottom right one is very interesting because it looks like nothing but in fact this door gives on the street ... during business hours it is opened and leads to a downstairs store ! very clever. This one was my favorite of this style. 


The other two are from 2 different houses.

These doors are all of different usage (not only used as front door for a house). 
Picture on the right top: a house (wooden door) and bottom: garage door of a private house.


The top and bottom left corners door are at the Nydeggkirche church. The original small church was built from 1341 to 1346 to replace the old fortress. This early church featured a roof turret. From 1480 to 1483 the city added a tower and from 1493 to 1504, a new nave was added. After the Protestant Reformation in 1529, the Nydeggkirche was transformed into a warehouse for barrels, timber and grain, but in 1566 again served as worship space, and until 1721 it was a branch church of the Münster of Bern.

In 1863, the church was extended to the west and an entrance from the Nydeggbrücke (Nydegg Bridge) was added. Then, from 1951 to 1953 a total renovation happened. During the renovation, bronze reliefs by Marcel Perincioli were added to the main entrance at Nydegghöfli and the entrance to the bridge.

No windows, but if you look carefully you will notice that all of them have a peephole to see who is at the door. I like them all but my favorites are the ones on the far right (top and bottom)

I absolutely love the right top shelf door. This door was inside the Cathedral - Münster of Bern which by the way is splendid! Look at theses!












If you look at the right picture Nice window), you will see 3 of them on the left picture, way way in the back above the doors.
Can you imagine me on my knees in front of a lying man?
Being enlighten !! 
tsk tsk tsk ... I've just read your mind !
... but I love this picture with the light coming down on them

OK, let's continue our doors' journey ...
Front door of different houses, nice hey?


 ... and to complete the series ... 2-door doors ...


... and major entrances of different government offices.


Don't you think it is interesting to think of the personality of the owners when we look at one of these doors?
It is unfortunate that in America, we have lost the usage of wooden doors, carved, and all ... love it!

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