The microcosm of intrusions into the sky – chimneys, flues, antennae, trees, chevaux de frise, hold an endless fascination for me. It’s partly the diversity they enjoy: that rare abandonment of architectural ethnic separatism which Hundertwasser was so insistent on, but it’s also the way they are self-effacing. Chimneys seem to survive the ravages of architectural fashion somewhat better than trim and stucco by being double agents for demure tastefulness and blatant functionality.
The sky itself is endlessly fascinating. Today the sunset was one of those colours that cameras can’t reproduce – lilac and cornflower cutting into a cubic net of clouds. giving it luminescence and depth.
