Wherever we look in America we see echoes of our ancient architectural heritage. Something as basic as the California shopping center can be rooted in design concepts dating back thousands of years.
I speak today of the Triumphal Arch , that celebratory architectural icon of conquering emperors, returning victorious armies and foreign booty. Consider below an arch in Tyre, Lebanon, old as the hills. And below that, the classic Paris Arc De Triomphe.
Now look at their historic echo at a shopping center near my house in suburban Sacramento. It speaks of arrivals and welcomes, and possibly triumphant shopping.
It's pleasant, when the weather is good, to drink coffee in its modern shadow.
If by now you are turning up your nose at suburban pretentiousness, I would remind you that things can always be much worse. Consider this triumphal arch from Saddam Hussein's Iraq. Victory Road, it's called.
Back to better taste now in Northern California. Here's a triumphal arch, country-style with antlers. Genuine as it gets.
(Update July 2011) Here below are three more triumphal arches in Imperial Downtown Sacramento - the first two opening the way into Old Sacramento from Westfield Plaza. The third is coming back into downtown. Welcome back, triumphant traveler!
World Photos:
Tyre, Courtesy of David Bjorgen
Paris, Courtesy of Tunliweb.no
Iraq: Courtesy of photos.somd.com
I speak today of the Triumphal Arch , that celebratory architectural icon of conquering emperors, returning victorious armies and foreign booty. Consider below an arch in Tyre, Lebanon, old as the hills. And below that, the classic Paris Arc De Triomphe.
Now look at their historic echo at a shopping center near my house in suburban Sacramento. It speaks of arrivals and welcomes, and possibly triumphant shopping.
It's pleasant, when the weather is good, to drink coffee in its modern shadow.
If by now you are turning up your nose at suburban pretentiousness, I would remind you that things can always be much worse. Consider this triumphal arch from Saddam Hussein's Iraq. Victory Road, it's called.
Back to better taste now in Northern California. Here's a triumphal arch, country-style with antlers. Genuine as it gets.
(Update July 2011) Here below are three more triumphal arches in Imperial Downtown Sacramento - the first two opening the way into Old Sacramento from Westfield Plaza. The third is coming back into downtown. Welcome back, triumphant traveler!
World Photos:
Tyre, Courtesy of David Bjorgen
Paris, Courtesy of Tunliweb.no
Iraq: Courtesy of photos.somd.com
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