When an architectural design is mentioned, most of us automatically start thinking of cathedrals, usually on a grand scale or the visual eye-catcher of a modern museum.
Then I thought, does Architecture have to be just about new, old, or grand buildings in faraway places?
I really don’t think so.
Most weeks, I wander the twisting path up and around Mauao [Mount Maunganui], a mountain covered with massive mature Pōhutukawa trees; even with foliage, their thick trunks can be seen firmly rooted to Papatūānuku [the land]. Its dense branches overhang the path and coastal line. More noticeable was the towering filigree of branches that adorned those thicker ones and overhung the track like the spindly structure of many a famous Gothic cathedral.
The waves lapped the shore, dulling the surrounding traffic noise and chatter of other walkers and exacerbating the feeling of being somewhere special. For a moment, a sense of peacefulness and quiet enveloped me.
With a sense of awe, I trudged amongst those trees and started thinking of them as not just trees but as an architectural wonderland and a fulfilling architectural design experience.
Architecture is not something we need to be obsessed with ‘thinking’ about; we just need to feel. When you next visit a well-known building or place and are asked to describe it to your friends, think about how you felt and the emotions that ran through you as you walked around or through the building, piazza, garden or forest.
Excellent architecture is all around us, and it may not just be buildings.
Finding it can be a walk through nature.
Linking to Georgina and Nature writing for November – looking through a window
and the lovely Jo from stillrestlessjo.com
Life at No. 22 
An avenue of trees makes me feel uplifted, as do some buildings. Unfortunately not the brick boxes they seem to be so keen on here at the moment.
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I love walking underneath trees and we’re spoilt with rows of well established ones in our neighbourhood. Yes, we too have screeds of housing that has no imagination regarding their architecture.
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Cheers to your springtime glory and beautiful captures. The path with the sunrise is magical, and your closing image is spectacular. I too see nature as a great designer. So much so, I believe its a motivator for human designs.
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You are welcome and yes there is something magical about sunrises by the beach and walking on Mauao. I think you’re right regarding that nature is a motivator for many designers even clothing.
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Suzanne, this is beautiful! The trees overshadowing the path, and the golden descent at sunrise are just fabulous. Thanks so much for including me. I appreciate it a lot.
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You’re most welcome, Jo. I’ve been meaning to do the linking thing for a while. It is a very popular walk and never gets tiring especially when not crowded.
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What a wonderful way to look at the world around us! Your perspective has definitely made me appreciate nature in a whole new way! Love the last photo of the sunlight through the trees.
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Thanks Linda I’m pleased you enjoyed it. It does make us think how wonderful nature is with shape and also colour combinations.
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I agree that nature understands architecture very well. Your photos are perfect illustrations.
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Thanks Eilene, when we stop and really look at our natural environment it’s quite amazing how everything forms.
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What a fabulous place to walk. I agree about trees being architectural, so many wonderful shapes. I love how you captured the light through the Pohutukawa trees.
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Thanks, Cathy, it’s a favourite place of mine to walk. We’re very fortunate to live in an area and road with huge Pohutukawa and Jacaranda trees.
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You beautifully lit photography displays nature’s spreading arches
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Thanks very much, Derrick, and the natural world makes it easy to create beautiful images.
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A beautiful walk and a thought-provoking point about nature and architecture. I’ve more often heard it presented the other way round, with people (myself included) describing the vaulting in a cathedral as tree-like 🙂
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I always get things back to front, especially when verbalising quotes, etc. Part of my quirkiness 😊
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Not back to front, just an interestingly different 😀
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Wonderful nature photos, the shadows and the light through the trees!
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Thanks, Rebecca it’s fun capturing nature, though that image is relatively older than the rest.
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Gorgeous picture of the sunlight through the trees Suzanne. Winter has arrived here so it’s nice to see some sunshine 😀
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Thanks, Jim. This is still a lovely walk during winter unless there’s a weather bomb. Sunshine does brighter up the short days of winter. Hopefully, you have a few.
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This is a beautiful post, both the photos and your words. You’re right, awareness of natural architecture gets lost in the grind of daily life, yet it is inspiration right in front of us.
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The natural world has, on many occasions, elevated my mood with its beauty. We’re very lucky to have these flowering trees on our doorstep.
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Hi Suz I still read your posts, just to let you know and all the beautiful scenery. Enjoyed my catch up with Noeline, albeit a short visit she was pleased to see me. I find it very difficult to understand her.
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Hi Aunty Jan, thanks for reading my posts and I’m very pleased you enjoy reading them. Yes, Mum is hard to understand as her voice is so quiet. Catch up for a chat soon xx
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Beautiful.
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I think so 🙂
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Super photos,Suzanne! And I liked seeing the path up Mt Maunganui — it’s not as I imagined it at all. Thank you.
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Thanks and you’re welcome, Rachel.
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Oh, those trees! I love how their branches lean over the paths. It makes me want to walk them, right now! Mel
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Thanks Jo for the share, will be over to read yours soon.
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I will be arriving 13th next month for a day. You just convinced me to do the walk uphill instead of at the base. Looking forward and thank you. Would it be better to do it in the morning than later in the day?
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Oh, that’s wonderful that you’re here for a visit. My preference is to do the climb in the morning as it’s quite steep, and December will be warm. Going around Mauao is equally enjoyable as doing the climb with less strenuous exercise. Have fun, and let us know how you get on.
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