Creative Blog – Page 3

4th December 2016 — No Comments

Wonders of the North // Part 1

It's easy to pine for that next trip abroad, to just put your feet up and do nothing for a few days. In reality we all know that never happens. You get restless, bored and impatient, feelings you were literally trying to get away from. Funny enough it's not the location that spoils the fun but your own mind. Next time you feel the itch to get away from it all and spontaneously book a trip somewhere warm, research something that's around the corner. For my latest photography journal thats exactly what I did so read on about my latest adventure:

PART 1 // PART 2

[separator type="thin"]

Bolton Abbey

[separator type="thin"]

bolton-abbey-priory-yorkshire-2

Bolton Abbey is an estate in Wharfedale in North Yorkshire, England, which takes its name from the ruins of the 12th-century Augustinian monastery (now known as Bolton Priory). Nestled in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales on the banks of the River Wharfe, Bolton Abbey provides a down to earth day out. If you're a fan of history, nature and long walks then this is a place for you.

Bolton Abbey is the “jewel in the crown” of Yorkshire’s many landscapes, and the 30,000 acres of beautiful countryside boast over 80 miles of footpaths to walk and explore. I was going through a creative 'mental block' of sorts so my visit here was ideal of getting out of my own head and letting the fresh air inspire me with new ideas.

bolton-abbey-priory-yorkshire-2

Bolton Priory is one of the most beautiful of English Religious Houses, founded by the Charter of Alice de Romilly at Embsay in 1135 and moved to Bolton in 1154. It was a priory of Augustinian Friars who were known as Black Cannons. It was a monastic life and they lived under a rule observing the three substantial vows of poverty, obedience and chastity.

The nave of the abbey church was in use as a parish church from about 1170 onwards, and survived the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Building work was still going on at the abbey when the Dissolution of the Monasteries resulted in the termination of the priory in January 1540. The east end remains in ruins. A tower, begun in 1520, was left half-standing, and its base was later given a bell-turret and converted into an entrance porch. Most of the remaining church is in the Gothic style of architecture. It is still a working priory today, holding services on Sundays and religious holidays. (SOURCE)

bolton-abbey-priory-yorkshire-2

bolton abbey sheep under tree [separator type="thin"]

Lake District

[separator type="thin"]

Instead of taking a gap year in Asia remember that you probably haven't explored most of your own country yet. While doing research for this post I came across some old photos from a trek I did with some friends around the Lake District. The cost of food and petrol were minuscule if you consider how much a holiday abroad actually costs you in terms of time and money.

lake-district-photography-5

Historically split between Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire, the Lake District is now entirely in Cumbria. All the land in England higher than 3,000 feet (910 m) above sea level lies within the National Park, including Scafell Pike, the highest mountain in England. It also contains the deepest and longest bodies of water in England, respectively Wastwater and Windermere.

lake-district-photography-5

Ensure you prepare thoroughly for the trip ahead as the climb can become treacherous with the constantly changing weather. A map, rainproof coat, water and sturdy shoes should be the first things you pack. Cameras and iPhones can come later. It will all be worth it once you take in your surroundings. My old pictures above barely do it justice.

anton dee lake district

[separator type="thin"]

Malham Cove

[separator type="thin"]

malham-cove-yorkshire-2

Malham Cove is a limestone formation north of the village of Malham, North Yorkshire. The large, curved feature was formed by a waterfall carrying meltwater from glaciers at the end of the last Ice Age more than 12,000 years ago. Today it is a well-known beauty spot within the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

A large limestone pavement above the cove awaits if you brave the walk but the entire area is gorgeous in its own right. The cove itself is very popular with climbers because of its number of climbing routes (many of which can be ascended in the rain). So the next time you're short on things to do make sure to explore your local area to the fullest, the Taj Mahal can wait.

malham-cove-yorkshire-2 [separator type="thin"]

STYLEGRAM

[separator type="thin"]

Thanks for reading my latest article. Give it a share using the links below so others can enjoy it too. For more check out my latest lookbook from Paris, street style from London Collections or my trip to the magical city of Coimbra.

brimham rocks As always stay classy and if you have a story you wish to share please contact editorial@thestyledivision.com or tag your social posts with #DVSN

INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST

Published by antondee in Creative Blog, DVSN Updates, Lifestyle, Photography

15th October 2016 — No Comments

Happiness in Dorset

Travel is essential for the well being of your mind and body but don’t go packing that suitcase just yet. Often a simple change of scenery is the only thing that's required so instead of looking for cheap flights abroad, research and see hidden treasures around you. Since I moved to London 2 years ago it's been difficult to actually get out of the city. There's so much to see and do that putting things off becomes an unwritten pasttime. Holidays abroad became easier than local adventures so to put a stop to this a few of us grabbed our cameras and drove down to Dorset to see what Mother Nature had in store for us.

anton dee durdle door [separator type="thin"]

Kimmeridge Bay, Dorset

[separator type="thin"]

british coastline

The first stop on our adventure was Kimmeridge Bay which filled the nostrils with a fresh sea breeze and set the mood for the rest of the trip. In the distance you can see Clavell Tower, also known as Clavell Folly or the Kimmeridge Tower. The tower is a Grade II listed building which was built on the top of Hen Cliff back in 1830. The receding tide also exposed the geology of the world renowned Jurassic Coast. The rocky shale and comentstone reefs make the area a key habitat for marine animals while historic fossils and dinosaur bones have also been discovered here.

dorset travel blog cote ciel backpack anton dee

[separator type="thin"]

Get The Look

[separator type="thin"]

Finding Happiness

[separator type="thin"]

friends durdle door

Maybe it was the fresh air or simply a change of scenery but for the first time in months I felt truly happy. No worries about girls, work, rent or what my next article is going to be about. Just a simple day of walks, laughs and photographs. This got me thinking about happiness and how people view it as a commodity or thing we're all entitled to but for me it's more of a feeling or a state one finds themselves in. The world renowned illusionist and personal hero of mine Derren Brown recently gave an interview on Radio 2 about this very topic. He talked about how the question of happiness isn't thought about as much as it used to be. People think they know what they need to be happy but unfortunately chasing the path of fame and fortune isn't likely to be fortuitous. Fame and fortune should be by-products of your life, not the sole purpose of it as success isn't something that arrives suddenly.

british nature

Maybe the word 'happy' is part of the problem as we use the term loosely everyday. You team won a football game? You say you're happy. Enjoyed a nice meal at your favourite restaurant? Same answer. Using one word to describe different emotions is limiting and diminishes its value. Perhaps what we're feeling is pleasure and sometimes its hard to distinguish between the two. More and more self help books are published everyday with a simple message that anyone can “magically get what they want”. This is a damaging precedent as it's a promise that will always disappoint.

Ancient Greek philosophers such as Epicurus and Pyrrho also talked about Atoraxia, a lucid state of robust tranquillity, characterised by ongoing freedom from distress and worry. The teachings of Buddhism follow along the same lines by telling you that attachment to things you cannot control will only lead to pain so treading the fine line between productivity and tranquility is the way to go.

dorset stairway to heaven

I feel that happiness is whats left when you remove anxiety and disturbances from everyday life or as the 18th century philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau put it:

"Happiness: a good bank account, a good cook, and a good digestion"

[separator type="thin"]

Durdle Door, Dorset

[separator type="thin"]

lulworth cove stair hole

Travel in and of itself will not make you happy but it does pull you out of your comfort zone. To grow and develop (whether personally or creatively) you have to take risks and continuously try new things. Over the next couple of days I will be using my travel journals to delve deeper into our fragile psyche and explore topics such as stress, decisions and what makes a good life. But for now here are a few more snaps from the truly gorgeous Durdle Door.

dorset-durdle-door-britain-uk-nature

lulworth cove stair hole

Durdle Door is a natural limestone arch on the Jurassic Coast near Lulworth in Dorset, England. It is privately owned by the Welds, a family who owns 12,000 acres in Dorset in the name of the Lulworth Estate. Big thanks to the crew for dragging me out of my slumber and helping me discover this unique piece of British coastline. A few of the pictures weren't taken by me so if you like what you see make sure to check out their accounts using the links below:

Ed Robertson // Jess Hope // Zsuzsa Zichó // Jonathon Cartwright // Amber Hoa

durdle door dorset uk

[separator type="thin"]

STYLEGRAM

[separator type="thin"]

dorset-durdle-door-britain-uk-nature Thanks for checking out my latest post. If you enjoyed what you read you can share it using the links below or just follow me on your favourite social channels. Remember, no one is going to tell you what happiness is as it’s different from person to person. Don't believe that if you wish for it the universe will provide, go out there an do it! Until next time 🙂

As always stay classy and if you wish to be featured in one of our roundups please contact editorial@thestyledivision.com or tag your social posts with #styledivision

INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST

Published by antondee in Creative Blog, DVSN Updates, Health & Wellbeing, Lifestyle, Photography, Travel

14th October 2016 — No Comments

The Dark Side of Rome’s Architecture

Just strolling through Rome left me with an unforgettable experience. When you're surrounded with that much history and culture a little bit of it does rub off on you. When I woke up in my AirBNB apartment on Day 2 I decided to do something different. Most people will visit the Coliseum and explore the city but with my obsession with architecture reaching new levels I took a short train ride out of the city into an area called EUR. EUR stands for Esposizione Universale Roma, a worlds fair that the dictator Benito Mussolini and his administration planned for 1942, to celebrate 20 years of Fascist rule in Italy.

[separator type="thin"]

Ss. Pietro e Paolo a Via Ostiense

[separator type="thin"]

Diane Ghirardo (author of Italy: Modern Architectures in History) describes the Fascist Italian culture during the 1940's as one that strived to create "exquisite images of desired realities". The original plan was for EUR to draw heavily on Rome’s extraordinary heritage and purity which explains why so many structures were made out of white marble, a clear symbol of oppression and racism of the fascist regime.

rome italy eur architecture explore fujifilm photography-17

[separator type="thin"]

rome italy eur architecture explore fujifilm photography-17

[separator type="thin"]

Palazzo della Civilita Italiana

[separator type="thin"]

Palazzo della Civilita Italiana

The Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana, also known as the Palazzo della Civiltà del Lavoro or simply the Colosseo Quadrato (Square Colosseum), is an icon of Fascist architecture. This grandiose building was designed in 1937 to host the Mostra della Civiltà Romana during the 1942 World Fair by Italian architects Giovanni Guerrini, Ernesto Bruno La Padula and Mario Romano.

Across all four sides of the building runs the inscription taken from a speech of Benito Mussolini on 2 October 1935:"Un popolo di poeti, di artisti, di eroi, di santi, di pensatori, di scienziati, di navigatori, di trasmigratori" (a nation of poets, of artists, of heroes, of saints, of thinkers, of scientists, of navigators, of migrants). This shows how even a dictator's ideologies can look perfect on paper but actions speak louder than words as history has shown us time and time again.

[columns_row width="half"]
[column]
The Edifice Complex: The architecture of power:

[/column]
[column]

The Edifice Complex: The architecture of power rome

At the time of travel I was reading a book by Deyan Sudjic called "The Edifice Complex" which explores the intimate relationship between power, money and architecture in the twentieth century. It's a fascinating read as the book really nails down the motivations behind each dictators actions.

[/column]
[/columns_row]

Fascist architecture Benito Mussolini eur whiite Palazzo della Civilita Italiana

Palazzo della Civiltà del Lavoro was built as a modern celebration of the Colosseum and inspired by older Roman landmarks although Benito Mussolini did manage to instil a piece of himself within it. The façade of six rows of nine arches each is meant to represent the Fascist dictator name (Benito having six letters and Mussolini nine) and stand the test of time after his death in 1945.

[separator type="thin"]

EUR, Rome Architecture Photography

[separator type="thin"]
rome italy eur architecture explore fujifilm photography-54

Colosseo Quadrato provides us with a rare glimpse into urban Italy and the possibilities that would have unfolded had the regime not fallen during the war. The left over architectural style is often called simplified neoclassicism with large, symmetrical streets and white buildings with austere facades dominating the view. I really enjoyed getting lost in EUR and walking through scenes that wouldn't look out of place in La Dolce Vita so if you ever get the chance to visit Rome, take a risk and venture outside the city. You never know what you might find.

[separator type="thin"]

STYLEGRAM

[separator type="thin"]

If you enjoyed this post make sure to share it with your friends using the links below and check out my latest lookbook in which I explore the North / South divide wearing a custom made Farah shirt.

As always stay classy and if you wish to be featured in one of our roundups please contact editorial@thestyledivision.com or tag your social posts with #styledivision

INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST

Published by antondee in Architecture, Creative Blog, DVSN Updates, Lifestyle, Photography, Travel

11th September 2016 — No Comments

What The Hell Is Blockchain? // Journal 67

It's easy to get entrenched in old ideals and stick to the tried and tested but history has shown us time and time again that progress is inevitable. This couldn't be truer with regard to the tech sector as we're seeing huge leaps of innovation in areas ranging from transportation (semi-autonomous self driving cars) to speech generation (recent DeepMind breakthrough). As technology moves forward it's hard to predict what the future will hold five years from now, let alone ten but already we're seeing emerging trends that are sure to shake up the established order of things.

[separator type="thin"]

What is Fintech?

[separator type="thin"]

modern glass architecture canary wharf london

Fintech is the fusion of finance and technology and the driving force behind developments in areas such as the Blockchain, AI chatbots and personal banking. The majority of transactions we make everyday are minuscule so emergence of a secure and frictionless system unrestricted by borders or political regulations isn't hard to imagine. Most of the money in the world is digital so we can think of everything from stocks to assets as bits of information. This information 'lives' on the internet and can be easily traded or exchanged in the same way you trade money for a pint of beer at the pub.

The amount of information on the internet is going to grow exponentially over the coming years and access, appropriation or sale of this information is going to become crucial. If you're a content creator like myself it's important to get fair compensation for your work and its future use. By assigning a value to each bit of information we can shift into a completely new economy. This virtual goods and assets economy will be backed up by an encrypted database that's distributed around the world making it more secure than the systems in use today.

modern glass architecture canary wharf london

Cutting out the banking middleman will also put us on a path towards greater transparency. Open source cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum are growing steady as the number of contributing developers increases. Companies such as Coinbase and Circle are interacting with the community in order to grow and improve their services. Banks on the other hand are being fined billions of dollars for laundering money for drug cartels. Go figure.

Banking is an entirely virtual business which makes it easy to avoid regulation and accountability. The reaction to the 2008 financial crisis has been more short term borrowing to fund long term goals and doing the same things while expecting a different outcome is the very definition of insanity. So what's the solution?

Say hello to the Blockchain. Blockchain is a way to rapidly exchange digital assets — such as payments, photos, contracts — between two or more parties in a secure, verifiable and auditable process that doesn’t require a middleman. Each party in the network has its own copy of the blockchain attached to every asset. As long as the chains are in sync, all parties can be confident that the asset or transaction is valid. (Source).

modern glass architecture canary wharf london

Each transaction behaves like a physical object and yet it's still digital. That's what so cool about it. Because transactional information itself doesn't take up a lot of data it's irrelevant whether you want to send 100,000 of something or .0000001 of it. The transaction can then be completed at the click of a button regardless of location.

This is how Bitcoin works and the public ledger for Bitcoin transactions lives on the Blockchain. As someone who knows the slow process of sending money abroad while paying exuberant fees this is a game changer. You can also 'tip' people or friends on Twitter, GitHub, Reddit and more using a service such as ChangeTip. Someone took a picture you like or made a comment that made you laugh? Send them your appreciation.

[separator type="thin"]

Displacing The Incumbent

[separator type="thin"]

This is not the first time such a huge monetary shift was on the horizon. Back in the day bartering was the only option to trade, which was replaced by precious metals (gold, silver), then coins printed on precious metals and finally a piece of paper that says you own a certain amount of precious metals. As mentioned above only 5% of money in the world is physical cash so a system that works globally for the other 95% is essential.

Everyday transactions are just a small piece of the cake though. Imagine you create YouTube videos for a living and YouTube pays you money by adding advertising to your content. A concept that circumvents this allows the user to pay proportionally for each 10 seconds of video they watch. The idea here is that the market decides how much something is worth.

garden canary wharf If you have a Bitcoin or Ethereum wallet installed in a browser then newspapers and magazines have less of a need for paywalls. The writer will get rewarded proportionally to how good the article is. If someone reads the first paragraph and leaves they get charged £0.0005. £0.0015 if they read the whole thing.

But why would I pay for something that I already get for free? The point is not many things on the internet are 'free'. If you're using a service such as Facebook you're the product being sold. Your private messages, location data and even browsing habits are sold to advertisers for huge sums of money. By taking ownership of your own data you also take back some power. There's also nothing stopping advertisers PAYING YOU for select information you're willing to share. Google Opinion Rewards is a great example of this as it rewards you with credit that can be spent at the Play Store.

[separator type="thin"]

symmetry art of visuals

Wandering through this reflective jungle got me thinking about technology and how we've gone from a device that sent text messages around the world to something that has access to the wealth of human knowledge. The internet is an unlimited resource that can be used to better ourselves, build communities and exchange information. The only limit here our imagination.

modern glass architecture canary wharf london

With regard to fintech, the blockchain and beyond we're still in the very early stages. There's a huge gap between political and technical feasibility but as tech gets better and cheaper and our access and understanding of new information improves we're sure to enter new grounds. Regulation should become less and less complex, not more. So when a new technology such as this comes along will you sit up and take notice or call it a fad the way this scientist did in 1995.

[separator type="thin"]

Blockchain: Further Reading

[separator type="thin"]

[columns_row width="third"]
[column]

Bitcoin Whitepaper

Ethereum Project
[/column]
[column]

Understanding the Blockchain

OpenBazaar
[/column]
[column]

Blockchain (Wiki)

Blockchain (Guardian)
[/column]
[/columns_row]

[separator type="thin"]

STYLEGRAM

[separator type="thin"]

Thanks for reading our latest article. If you enjoyed what you read why not give it a share using the links below? For more posts check out our latest lookbook with Bench, street style from London Collections or our trip to Rome.

As always stay classy and if you wish to be featured in one of our roundups please contact editorial@thestyledivision.com or tag your social posts with #styledivision

INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST

Published by antondee in Architecture, Creative Blog, DVSN Updates, Future & Tech Blog, Photography

9th August 2016 — No Comments

Saint Pablo // Journal 51

Hey guys, just wanted to say thank you to everyone who took the time out of their undoubtedly busy schedule to check out my blog. It honestly means a lot 🙂 I was actually thinking about the concept of time quite a lot recently and I came to the conclusion that it's the only commodity we all share in common. Whether you're rich or poor or live on the other side of the world - an hour is still an hour, the only difference is how you choose to spend it. Time is valuable although many of us don't seem to realise that.

saint pablo photography a game of tones london-4

[separator type="thin"]

saint pablo photography a game of tones london-7

I get a lot of emails and messages that ask me how I manage to stay on top of things and constantly produce great content. The bad news is that there is no right answer, you have to find a system that works for you. The good news is that everyone can do this. When you're first starting out in the world of blogging or writing you have absolutely no idea what you're doing, there's a feeling that you'll be 'found out' soon and all your hard work and accomplishments would have been for nothing. I'm here to dispel that myth and act as proof that hard work does pay off.

[separator type="thin"]

London Photography Journal 21

[separator type="thin"]

After a while you'll learn more about yourself, you'll learn what you enjoy doing and writing about as again you only have a limited amount of time and cannot write about absolutely everything (even though your itchy fingers want to). Think of each piece of content you produce as a message in a bottle you throw into the ocean. After a while some will start coming back and you will have to choose and begin saying 'NO' to people. For me that was the hardest lesson to learn but it wouldn't be a a great lesson if we found it easy.

the shard art of visuals reflections

Procrastination is a killer in all walks of life. When you're at work or university you might get given deadlines by your superiors or teachers or clients. This ensures that as the deadline draws nearer you step it up a gear and get everything done on time and (hopefully) under budget. But in life there is no deadline, there is no time limit for going to the gym or writing that blog post. That's why it's important to treat the brain as a muscle, you have to give it constant exercise otherwise it'll become dormant.

[separator type="thin"]

DIVISION MAGAZINE EUROPE

Many of you have been here since the beginning (send me an email if you remember my Tumblr blog and I'll make sure to send you a little special. No joke.). For those of you just joining welcome to the next chapter. Style Division has allowed me to create a truly unique platform, a space that helped me find my voice and then share it. The next stage is all about giving back. I wish to use DIVISION as a platform to showcase some new faces, exciting creatives and future thinking visionaries. If you think that might be you please get in touch using the email at the bottom of this article.

[separator type="thin"]

Kurt Geiger - Murray

[separator type="thin"]

It wouldn't be a Style Division post without a hint of fashion so check out my trusty Murray sneakers from KG Kurt Geiger. I picked these up for LCM back in January but it feels like they've been in my wardrobe a lot longer. The classic rubber toecap and sole keeps the shoes relatively light and most important of all - comfortable. I've been wearing them with some ankle socks this summer and the look still works so if you're looking for versatility I would definitely recommend you grab yourself a pair.

[separator type="thin"]

STYLEGRAM

[separator type="thin"]

bank of england sunset [separator type="thin"]

If you enjoyed this post make sure to share it with your friends using the links below and check out my latest lookbook that I did for Topman or another photography journal if you're in the mood for some visual inspiration.

As always stay classy and if you wish to be featured in one of our roundups please contact editorial@thestyledivision.com or tag your social posts with #styledivision

INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST

Published by antondee in Creative Blog, Creative Showcase, DVSN Updates, Health & Wellbeing, Lifestyle, Photography

8th August 2016 — No Comments

The Art of Solitude // Journal 62

Famous Manchester born philosopher Karl Pilkington once said "a problem solved is a problem caused". This is further backed up by French scientist Blaise Pascal who in 1654 wrote “All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” I kid of course about Karl but sometimes he does come out with some profound quotes. If you think about it your life is a constant paradox. Life continually gets out of hand and becomes more unpredictable while we try our hardest to make it look like we have our shit together.

[separator type="thin"]

View From The Shard

[separator type="thin"]

There is an importance to solitude. Dedicating time to yourself and becoming at ease with ones own thoughts is an important part of personal development and understanding. Solitude improves your focus and appreciation for the smaller things in life. Things like yoga and meditation are becoming ever popular as they allow you to collect your own thoughts and see things that may have otherwise been overlooked.

[separator type="thin"]

Photography Journal

[separator type="thin"]

Its easy to categorise things as black and white. Whether it's an argument or a simple difference of opinion I don't think one side is ever 100% correct. At best there are several shades of grey that you have to get through to get some small glimmer of understanding. For me it's fascinating watching debates as you can see the passion someone exudes when they're fighting for something they believe in. For them it's not just a matter of a black and white but about getting a full spectrum of understanding about the issue at hand. There's something very commendable about that.

[separator type="thin"]

The Lookbook

[separator type="thin"]

It wouldn't be a Style Division post without a sprinkle of fashion thrown in so for my latest outing i grabbed some brogues, tartan trousers from Topman and a navy coat from Zara. A plain white oxford shirt and jumper is a classic combination so throw those in the mix and you're done. 10 minutes tops and you're on your way 🙂

[separator type="thin"]

Thanks for reading our latest article. If you enjoyed what you read why not give it a share using the links below? For more fashion posts check out our latest lookbook with Bench, street style from London Collections or our trip to Rome.

As always stay classy and if you wish to be featured in one of our roundups please contact editorial@thestyledivision.com or tag your social posts with #styledivision

INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST

Published by antondee in Creative Blog, Creative Showcase, DVSN Updates, Health & Wellbeing, Photography

8th August 2016 — No Comments

Barbican Brutalism // Journal 68

Brutalist architecture is a movement in architecture that flourished in popularity from the 1950s to the mid-1970s. The term originates from the French word for "raw" as béton brut (raw concrete) is primarily used in the construction. One of the finest examples of brutalist architecture can be found by visiting the Barbican Estate in central London. Designed in the 1950s by three young architects Chamberlin, Powell and Bon, the complex houses over 4,000 residents and is Grade II listed as a whole.

[separator type="thin"]

Barbican Estate, London

[separator type="thin"]

barbican london brutalist architecture lookbook-2

Brutalist buildings don't lend themselves at all well to the grey British weather which dampens their appearance. Le Corbusier who is considered the Godfather of Brutalism constructed a lot of his buildings in the south of France for this exact reason. In the UK however brutalism started to become synonymous with urban decay because maintenance of housing estates was way down everyones list of priorities.

barbican tennis courts

It's not all doom and gloom though as for me the Barbican is one of the more interesting places London has to offer. As you're enveloped by the brutal architecture, the complex takes on a life of its own. You can climb up high for a spot of people watching, get lost in the network of walkways within the estate or visit the Barbican Art Gallery which usually has some interesting exhibitions on show.

During my visit Ragnar Kjartansson's 'Second Movement' was displayed at the Barbican Lakeside. The work featured two women in quintessential Edwardian costume rowing a boat and embracing in a never-ending kiss. It was quite a surreal sight considering the location but an interview with one of the women summarised the piece with this amazing quote:

"Sexual orientation, politics, social status, race, none of that mattered. We just kissed."

[separator type="thin"]

Get The Look

[separator type="thin"]

anton dee style division menswear blogger

It wouldn't be a Style Division post without a lookbook so for my latest outing I played it simple with some Converse hi tops, sweatshirt from River Island, headphones from Master & Dynamic and a backpack from côte&ciel.

division mag

[separator type="thin"]

Get The Look

[separator type="thin"]

Brutalist Architecture

[separator type="thin"]

barbican london brutalist architecture lookbook-4

I honestly have no idea why out of all the different architectural styles Brutalism is becoming one of my favourites. Maybe I just like the word 'brutal' or maybe I like simplicity. Brutalism is a style with an emphasis on textures and unusual shapes but structural simplicity remains a key ingredient.

Scale is also extremely important as the style is characterised by massive concrete shapes colliding abruptly. Although the prominent Lauderdale Tower is a frequent winner of London’s ugliest building award, a case can be made that the new apartment blocks built around the city lack the soul and stature of their predecessors.

[separator type="thin"]

STYLEGRAM

[separator type="thin"]

Thanks for reading my latest article. If you enjoyed what you read why not give it a share using the links below? For more fashion posts check out our latest lookbook with Bench, street style from London Collections or our trip to Rome.

barbican london brutalist architecture lookbook-2 As always stay classy and if you wish to be featured in one of our roundups please contact editorial@thestyledivision.com or tag your social posts with #styledivision

INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST

Published by antondee in Architecture, Creative Blog, Creative Showcase, DVSN Updates, Photography

5th July 2016 — No Comments

Rome & Bologna Street Style

Ever heard the expression, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do”? Well during my visit to Rome I managed to completely smash the lens on my trusty Fujifilm camera. Instead of getting upset I decided to do a small 'farewell' series to the old lady by taking some street style shots of the people I met during my travels. Some of the images were completely unsalvageable or overexposed but sometimes it doesn't matter if you still have the memories.

[separator type="thin"]

While outside the Colosseum I met two Italian girls who come to this spot every day to sharpen their illustrating skills and it reminded me of a chat I had with Phil Dean (aka The Shoreditch Sketcher) and the importance of cherishing the little details in life. As a side note, the Colosseum during sunset is pretty magical. Definitely one to tick off the bucket list.

[separator type="thin"]

I haven't done a street style series in a while so it was thrilling to get back into the swing of things. LCM is just around the corner so hit me up using the email below if you wish to link up. In the meantime I'm slowly getting used to the Sigma lens so expect plenty more street style posts in the future.

As always stay classy and if you wish to be featured in one of our roundups please contact editorial@thestyledivision.com or tag your social posts with #styledivision

INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST

Published by antondee in Creative Blog, DVSN Updates, Fashion Blog, Photography, Street Style

2nd July 2016 — No Comments

Barcelona, Spain // Photography Journal 53

Lets be honest, the sheer act of traveling is a little bit of a hassle. I can never sit by the pool and just put my feet up for a few days but the unpredictable flight schedules, hotels and taxi troubles makes me understand the people who do. I was over in Rome and Bologna a couple of months ago and had to wait a day in Barcelona because of a cancelled flight. My Fuji was already smashed (as you will see by the dark marks in several of the pictures) so I thought Barcelona could serve as a perfect backdrop for its farewell.

[separator type="thin"]

Architecture in Barcelona

[separator type="thin"]

mr dee explores barcelona spain photography-19

Many great painters and artists lived in Barcelona at some point in their lives and their influence is still evident throughout the city. Picasso and Miró have museums dedicated to their works while the Sagrada Família which was designed by Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí continues to generate a sense of awe.

mr dee explores barcelona spain photography-17

mr dee explores barcelona spain photography-32

The Sagrada Familia has three grand façades: the Nativity façade to the East, the Passion façade to the West, and the Glory façade to the South which is yet to be completed. Taking a small break by the pond and listening to a cello playing musician allowed me to really think about where I wish to take this platform. Over the course of the next 6 months all will be revealed but I still find myself thinking back to that moment and whether the gothic architecture had a part to play in my inspiration.

mr dee explores barcelona spain photography-27

[separator type="thin"]

AIRBNB to the rescue

[separator type="thin"]

mr dee explores barcelona spain photography-15

Once you've stayed in one nice hotel you've pretty much tried them all. The location might differ yet I always yearn for more. Airbnb allows me to really experience the city I'm staying in by linking up with a local and spending a few nights in their home.

While in Barcelona I stayed on a houseboat with a man called Mark who didn't take life too seriously and invited me along to a small party with his pals. Riding around Barcelona, sea breeze hitting my face, I thought you really cannot put a price on experiences. There is a monetary cost involved, of course, but the value you gain from the experience cannot be underestimated.

people on bikes in barcelona

[separator type="thin"]

Camp Nou, Barcelona

[separator type="thin"]

camp nou barcelona

Its always been a dream of mine to see Lionel Messi in action. Although I support Chelsea FC it's difficult not to admire the little magician and what he's doing at FC Barcelona. The energy of the ground was pulsating as over 70,000 took the time out of their busy schedules to come together and create a one of a kind atmosphere.

They say football grounds are the modern day cathedrals and I'm inclined to agree. You come together to support a cause, sing songs and generally get delirious if your team scores a goal. By the 90 minute mark Suarez and Neymar both put one in the back of the next but Messi was nowhere to be seen. As I was contemplating leaving to beat the traffic Barcelona got a free kick in the 93rd minute. You can guess what happened next 🙂

[separator type="thin"]

STYLEGRAM

[separator type="thin"]

If you enjoyed this post make sure to share it with your friends using the links below. If you wish to see my latest lookbook check out my Topman - Great Britain, Great Suits campaign or for more travel journals check out my trip to Bologna.

barcelona airport shadows As always stay classy and if you wish to be featured in one of our roundups please contact editorial@thestyledivision.com or tag your social posts with #styledivision

INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST

Published by antondee in Architecture, Creative Blog, DVSN Updates, Lifestyle, Photography, Travel

22nd May 2016 — No Comments

City of London // Photography Journal 48

I would consider myself somewhat of a shutterbug. During my endless mindless wanders I take pictures of things without really thinking about where I'm going to use them in the future. The City of London has been my latest 'victim' in this regard as its imposing architecture and rich history ensured the lens caps stayed firmly in my pocket.

bank aldgate london architecture blog vsco-9

[separator type="thin"]

bank aldgate london architecture blog vsco-9

The City of London is widely referred to simply as the City. Often written as just City and is also colloquially known as the Square Mile, as it is 1.12 sq mi in area. Packed into this small area are a number of historic institutions such as the London Stock Exchange, Lloyd's of London and the Bank of England.

[separator type="thin"]

city of london bank of england london

You'll be surprised to find a number of parks and open spaces such as the Finsbury Circus or Jubilee Garden tucked in between the grandiose structures. There is also a lovely intersection of old and new with the Lloyd's building becoming a personal favourite of mine.

The Lloyds building is a perfect example of Bowellism architecture in which the services for the building, such as ducts and lifts, are located on the exterior to maximise space in the interior. The whole structure feels like a living organism and it almost feels like a waste that it's main purpose is housing an archaic financial institution.

city of london bank of england london

[separator type="thin"]

Street Style

[separator type="thin"]

Never one to turn down a few street style shots here are a few I grabbed on my mini adventure. I'm off to Paris and Amsterdam in the next few weeks so this long forgotten passion of mine will be undergoing a much needed revival.

[separator type="thin"]

STYLEGRAM

[separator type="thin"]

reflections window bank

If you enjoyed this post make sure to share it with your friends using the links below and check out my latest photography post where I explore the iconic Canary Wharf.

As always stay classy and if you wish to be featured in one of my next roundups please contact anton@thestyledivision.com or tag your post with #styledivision

INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST

Published by antondee in Architecture, Creative Blog, DVSN Updates, Lifestyle, Photography

‹ Newer Posts Older Posts ›