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A new painting of The Serpentine Sackler Gallery, in London's Kensington Gardens, commissioned by Omnis, a leading provider of premium, architecturally inspired exterior solutions.
Expressionist artist, Stephen B Whatley - whose work has been published in TIME - is noted for his contemporary architectural paintings, for Buckingham Palace, the BBC and the Tower of London (where there is a permanent walkway of his series of 30 paintings at Tower Hill). His work is in private collections worldwide and other public collections including the London Transport Museum and Westminster Cathedral.
The artist made a series of drawings on location which inspired this oil painting - a new interpretation of the classic 1805 gunpowder store (still in military use until 1963) now called The Magazine; and its 2013 addition, a soaring, dramatic structure designed by architect, Zaha Hadid. The painting includes an interpretation of the playful fountain by Bertrand Lavier, installed in 2014.
The painting will have its first showing appropriately enough at the Serpentine Sackler Gallery, at the new Omnis Launch on May 12th.
Omnis is the integration of six established UK manufacturing companies and one US facility: SpeedDeck, Downer, CEP Claddings, CEP Architectural Façades, CEP Panels and Rigidal. For 50 years, they have been turning visions and blueprints into beautiful buildings. The launch event at the prestigious Serpentine Sackler Gallery, is the mark of the UK manufacturing businesses new beginnings. Building on the legacy, Omnis will now move forward and become a single source, next generation, exteriors solutions provider.
Oil on canvas
24 x 35in/60 x 90cm
Collection of Omnis Industries, UK
At the corner of F and 10th Streets NW, the former flagship of Woodward & Lothrop—affectionately known as “Woodies”—still commands attention. Built in stages from 1887 to 1926 and expanded over time, this Beaux-Arts masterpiece boasts elaborate terra cotta detailing, neoclassical ornamentation, and a powerful presence in the heart of Washington, D.C. The building now houses government and commercial tenants, yet retains the splendor of its retail heyday. American flags fly proudly over richly ornamented entrances, while the morning sun crowns the cornice. Pedestrians and cyclists animate the historic intersection, weaving modern life into the enduring tapestry of this DC icon.
My love for Venice is immeasurable.
I help aspiring and established photographers get noticed so they can earn an income from photography or increase sales. My blog, Photographer’s Business Notebook is a wealth of information as is my Mark Paulda’s YouTube Channel. I also offer a variety of books, mentor services and online classes at Mark Paulda Photography Mentor
All images are available as Museum Quality Photographic Prints and Commercial Licensing. Feel free to contact me with any and all inquiries.
Follow My Once In A Lifetime Travel Experiences at Mark Paulda’s Travel Journal
This is an updated version with newer technology of an identical interior view done 25 years earlier.
My love for Venice is immeasurable.
I help aspiring and established photographers get noticed so they can earn an income from photography or increase sales. My blog, Photographer’s Business Notebook is a wealth of information as is my Mark Paulda’s YouTube Channel. I also offer a variety of books, mentor services and online classes at Mark Paulda Photography Mentor
All images are available as Museum Quality Photographic Prints and Commercial Licensing. Feel free to contact me with any and all inquiries.
Follow My Once In A Lifetime Travel Experiences at Mark Paulda’s Travel Journal
This striking black-and-white photograph captures the elegant columns of the Camera di Commercio (Chamber of Commerce) in Florence, Italy. The image exemplifies minimalist and architectural photography, focusing on the repeating patterns and texture of the stone pillars, which exude a sense of strength and stability. Located in the heart of Florence, the Camera di Commercio is a notable symbol of commerce and history, embodying the rich architectural heritage of the city. This close-up shot isolates the geometry and structure of the columns, offering a timeless glimpse into Florence's architectural finesse. The monochrome tone adds depth, emphasizing light and shadow to enhance the tactile quality of the stone and the serene rhythm of the design.
Rising quietly along Eddy Street in San Francisco’s Tenderloin, the Joan San-Jule Apartments are a fading but still-striking example of Victorian Italianate architecture—a style that once dominated the city’s streetscape before the devastation of the 1906 earthquake and fire. This image captures a dramatic upward angle of the building’s ornate façade, highlighting its detailed cornices, fluted pilasters, and recessed windows with scrollwork brackets—all hallmarks of a bygone era in San Francisco housing.
Though partially boarded and weathered with time, the structure remains deeply expressive. Painted a soft cream color, its wood siding and classical ornamentation stand in stark contrast to the more austere and modern buildings surrounding it. The shadows cast by projecting bays, dentil molding beneath the cornice line, and egg-and-dart details suggest a care in craftsmanship not often seen in contemporary urban development.
The small sign identifying the building as the “Joan San-Jule Apartments” suggests a late-20th-century renaming—perhaps by a landlord, a preservationist, or someone commemorating a family name. Its placement in the center of the narrow façade draws the viewer’s eye up into the symmetrical verticality of the building, where light dances on glass and texture.
San Francisco’s Tenderloin is one of the most architecturally overlooked neighborhoods in the city. While often associated with social services and dense housing, it also hosts a remarkable number of surviving Victorian and Edwardian-era buildings, especially on the quieter blocks just a few steps from Van Ness Avenue. The Joan San-Jule Apartments stand as a rare survivor—a structure that likely dates to the late 1800s and speaks to the city’s past in wood, glass, and paint.
Captured in a sharply vertical composition, this photograph emphasizes the contrast between preservation and decay. Wavy windowpanes, bird netting stretched across the cornice, and the texture of aging paint all reinforce the passage of time. The boarded windows, while unfortunate, add a documentary truth to the image: many such buildings teeter between renovation and ruin.
Yet even in this in-between state, the Joan San-Jule Apartments tell a rich story. They remind viewers that not all history is enshrined in museums—some of it lingers quietly in residential architecture, holding onto its dignity despite the chaos and change that surround it. For urban explorers, architecture enthusiasts, or San Franciscans eager to look past the surface, this building is a modest masterpiece waiting to be noticed.
My love for Venice is immeasurable.
I help aspiring and established photographers get noticed so they can earn an income from photography or increase sales. My blog, Photographer’s Business Notebook is a wealth of information as is my Mark Paulda’s YouTube Channel. I also offer a variety of books, mentor services and online classes at Mark Paulda Photography Mentor
All images are available as Museum Quality Photographic Prints and Commercial Licensing. Feel free to contact me with any and all inquiries.
Follow My Once In A Lifetime Travel Experiences at Mark Paulda’s Travel Journal
The neoclassical dome rises with quiet authority, its symmetry and stonework highlighted in stark contrasts of light and shadow. Stripped of color, the image emphasizes the building’s historic architecture and solemn presence—an enduring symbol of governance and legacy in the heart of Michigan.
Black-and-white photo of two women standing by Lake Balaton, with a lakeside building in the background, Tihany, Hungary, 1960s.
As evening light softens the streets of Washington, D.C., the Embassy of Argentina stands stately and serene at the corner of Q Street and New Hampshire Avenue NW in the Dupont Circle neighborhood. Draped in warm golden tones, the Beaux-Arts façade glows with elegance. Its signature mansard roof, embellished dormers, and iron balconies evoke a Parisian sensibility—fitting for the refined diplomacy that occurs within.
The Argentine flag flutters gently above the building’s central entryway, framed by decorative stonework and wrought-iron gates. A tall cornice adorned with dentil molding and classical detailing crowns the structure, while symmetrical windows march rhythmically across the façade. The street is quiet, with trees bare and traffic light catching just a touch of glow, allowing the embassy's architectural beauty to take center stage.
Built in the early 20th century, this former private mansion now hosts diplomatic events, art exhibitions, and cultural celebrations that bridge continents. Its location along Embassy Row places it among some of the most storied architecture in the capital, yet it retains a distinct identity—welcoming, formal, and unmistakably proud.
This image captures more than architectural splendor. It offers a moment of stillness in a city of power, and a glimpse into the enduring relationship between elegance and international presence. Whether approached as a photographer, a diplomat, or simply a passerby, the Argentine Embassy leaves a lasting impression.
Architectural Survey Appendix (Historic Documentation Format):
Name: Embassy of Argentina
Address: 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, D.C.
Date of Construction: Circa 1913
Style: Beaux-Arts
Architectural Features: Mansard roof, dormer windows, symmetrical façade, stone cartouche, ironwork balconies, heavy cornice, central entry with decorative relief
Building Material: Limestone and masonry with iron detailing
Number of Stories: 3.5 (including mansard)
Historic Integrity: Excellent; largely intact original exterior
Current Use: Diplomatic mission (Embassy)
Contributing Structure: Yes (part of the Massachusetts Avenue Historic District / Embassy Row)
The central train station of the Belgian city of Antwerp, viewed from the Koningin Astridplein square.
15 June 2019
La gare centrale de la ville belge d'Anvers, vue depuis la place Koningin Astridplein.
15 juin 2019
My painting of Saint James on display in the sanctuary of St James’s RC Church, Spanish Place in London W1 - just after the special Mass celebrating the Feast Day of St James, on July 25, 2025.
Sadly, I was unable to attend the evening Mass this year and my attention was drawn to this beautiful photograph - showing my painting of Saint James on display - taken by the Spanish Embassy and posted on Twitter (X.com) - very touching to see.
My 2013 painting was acquired by the church that year and hangs usually in the Rectory connected to St James’s.
See the painting close up via my Flickr post : www.flickr.com/photos/stephenbwhatley/8674366599/in/photo...
The work of Stephen B. Whatley is in collections worldwide & public collections which own his work include the BBC, London Transport Museum, and The Royal Collection of HM King Charles III.
Catholic institutions that have either acquired or commissioned the artist's paintings include The Carrollton School of The Sacred Heart, Miami, USA, The Institute of Marist Brothers, Canada, Newman University, Birmingham (UK), St Anthony Padua Catholic College, Sydney, Australia and the Duchesne Academy of The Sacred Heart in Texas, USA.
My love for Venice is immeasurable.
I help aspiring and established photographers get noticed so they can earn an income from photography or increase sales. My blog, Photographer’s Business Notebook is a wealth of information as is my Mark Paulda’s YouTube Channel. I also offer a variety of books, mentor services and online classes at Mark Paulda Photography Mentor
All images are available as Museum Quality Photographic Prints and Commercial Licensing. Feel free to contact me with any and all inquiries.
Follow My Once In A Lifetime Travel Experiences at Mark Paulda’s Travel Journal
San Francisco City Hall stands as one of the most magnificent examples of American Beaux-Arts architecture—a monument to civic pride, resilience, and urban beauty. Captured here under the glow of evening light, its dome gleams in soft turquoise and gold, commanding the skyline of the Civic Center with timeless grandeur. Completed in 1915, the building was designed by Arthur Brown Jr., the same architect behind Coit Tower and several University of California landmarks. His design replaced the earlier city hall lost in the 1906 earthquake and fire, symbolizing the rebirth of a city that refused to fade.
At 307 feet high, the dome is taller than the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., and remains the fifth-largest dome in the world. Its gilded detailing glimmers at night, while floodlighting reveals the crisp articulation of Corinthian columns, sculptural reliefs, and triumphal arches. Every line of the structure was designed to convey order and dignity—principles that mirror the city’s ambition to stand as both a center of culture and democracy on the West Coast.
In the calm of night, when traffic slows and the Civic Center quiets, City Hall takes on a different kind of majesty. The interplay of shadow and illumination gives its marble surfaces a painterly depth. The faint glow through the arched doors hints at life within—weddings, celebrations, and public meetings—reminding viewers that this monumental space continues to serve the people it was built for over a century ago.
The building’s symmetry and precision reflect the Beaux-Arts emphasis on harmony between architecture and civic ideals. Its façade, framed by ornate pilasters and anchored by strong horizontal lines, draws the eye upward to the dome, which symbolizes unity, openness, and aspiration. The design also demonstrates an understanding of proportion and perspective rare in modern civic architecture.
City Hall has witnessed history both triumphant and tragic: from the swearing-in of mayors and the mourning of public figures, to the wedding of Mayor George Moscone and the subsequent assassinations of Moscone and Harvey Milk in 1978, events that forever shaped the city’s character. Today, the building remains not only a functioning seat of government but a beloved gathering place for civic expression—its steps often adorned with flags, flowers, or lights in solidarity with global causes.
Under the night sky, San Francisco City Hall becomes more than architecture—it becomes a beacon. It represents both the endurance and elegance of a city defined by reinvention, its luminous dome a quiet reminder that beauty and democracy can coexist in stone and light.
My love for Venice is immeasurable.
I help aspiring and established photographers get noticed so they can earn an income from photography or increase sales. My blog, Photographer’s Business Notebook is a wealth of information as is my Mark Paulda’s YouTube Channel. I also offer a variety of books, mentor services and online classes at Mark Paulda Photography Mentor
All images are available as Museum Quality Photographic Prints and Commercial Licensing. Feel free to contact me with any and all inquiries.
Follow My Once In A Lifetime Travel Experiences at Mark Paulda’s Travel Journal
The Royal Albert Hall is one of the UK's most treasured and distinctive buildings, recognisable the world over. Since its opening by Queen Victoria in 1871, the world's leading artists from every kind of performance genre have appeared on its stage. ----------- (LON_DSCN6900 - Image copyrighted).
A stormy sky broods over Bordeaux’s most iconic ensemble: the majestic Place de la Bourse, perfectly mirrored in the Miroir d’Eau. Built between 1730 and 1775, this architectural masterpiece was a bold statement of royal authority and urban elegance, designed by Jacques Gabriel and his son Ange-Jacques Gabriel—who also worked on Versailles. The central pavilion originally housed the Bourse (stock exchange), flanked by the Hôtel des Douanes and the Palais de la Bourse.
In the 21st century, the addition of the Miroir d’Eau—the world’s largest reflecting pool—brings the classical facades to life with modern flair. Created by landscape artist Michel Corajoud in 2006, it alternates between shallow water and mist, drawing photographers, children, and flirtatious flâneurs alike.
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🇫🇷 Un ciel menaçant plane sur l’ensemble le plus emblématique de Bordeaux : la majestueuse Place de la Bourse, parfaitement reflétée dans le Miroir d’Eau. Construite entre 1730 et 1775, cette œuvre d’architecture classique incarne l’autorité royale et l’élégance urbaine. Elle est signée Jacques Gabriel et son fils Ange-Jacques, également connus pour Versailles. Le pavillon central abritait la Bourse, encadrée par l’Hôtel des Douanes et le Palais de la Bourse.
Au XXIe siècle, l’ajout du Miroir d’Eau—le plus grand miroir d’eau du monde—insuffle une touche contemporaine. Conçu en 2006 par le paysagiste Michel Corajoud, il alterne entre film d’eau et brume légère, séduisant photographes, enfants et flâneurs… parfois mouillés, souvent ravis.
The monumental entry arch at San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts is a masterpiece of Beaux-Arts architecture, adorned with grand Corinthian columns and sculptural friezes. Originally designed by Bernard Maybeck for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, this structure remains one of the city's most iconic landmarks. Rich red and beige stonework contrasts against a soft overcast sky, highlighting the texture and depth of the Roman-inspired design. Visitors stroll beneath the massive archway, dwarfed by its scale, making it a favorite for photographers, architecture enthusiasts, and tourists seeking a timeless slice of classical grandeur along the Marina’s northern waterfront.
Just off The Embarcadero in San Francisco, this curved pink building stops you in your tracks. With its rounded corners, horizontal bands of windows, and row of circular porthole details along the roofline, it’s classic Streamline Moderne—like a building that thinks it's a ship. It feels like a relic from the 1930s that somehow still belongs in today’s city. Nestled between glassy towers and a brick neighbor from an earlier era, it quietly holds its own. It’s not trying too hard, but it’s got style. A little retro, a little elegant, and totally San Francisco. You can’t help but smile at it.
Stonebraker’s Bakery and the Fancy Goods storefronts on Shenandoah Street in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, offer a fascinating glimpse into the town’s rich commercial history. These well-preserved structures reflect the bustling marketplace that once served travelers, locals, and visitors arriving by train or canal boat during the 19th century.
Stonebraker’s Bakery, a charming pale stone building, proudly displays its sign above the shop’s original windows and doors. The bakery originally supplied fresh bread, cakes, and other baked goods to the community, catering to soldiers, townsfolk, and travelers alike. Today, it serves as a historical exhibit maintained by the National Park Service, allowing visitors to step back in time and imagine the smell of freshly baked bread wafting through the air. Its classic architecture includes black shutters, wrought iron balcony railings, and a dignified cream façade that speaks to the style of the 1800s.
Next door, the two-story Fancy Goods building, with its inviting white porch and prominent blue signage, once housed an array of goods and essentials for visitors. During Harpers Ferry’s heyday, this type of establishment provided customers with imported items, small luxuries, and souvenirs—a small piece of the world brought to West Virginia’s mountain crossroads. Its preserved signage and front porch capture the feeling of 19th-century Americana, when local stores were the lifeblood of a thriving town.
Both Stonebraker’s Bakery and the Fancy Goods store are located on Shenandoah Street, a thoroughfare steeped in history. Harpers Ferry itself was a strategic town during the American Civil War, changing hands multiple times between Union and Confederate forces. The buildings here have witnessed the comings and goings of soldiers, abolitionists, and townsfolk alike. The town’s association with John Brown’s 1859 raid, the abolitionist movement, and the fight for freedom makes it a cornerstone of American history.
Today, visitors can walk along the cobblestone streets of Harpers Ferry and experience the town’s preserved architecture, learning about its history through guided tours and National Park Service exhibits. These buildings stand as a testament to the resilience of the community and its dedication to preserving the stories that shaped the nation.
Whether you’re a history buff, architecture enthusiast, or simply a curious traveler, Stonebraker’s Bakery and the Fancy Goods storefront offer a window into Harpers Ferry’s vibrant past. Their carefully maintained façades and interpretive displays invite you to imagine the sounds of bustling trade, the aroma of baking bread, and the excitement of small-town commerce that once defined this remarkable corner of West Virginia.
1940s view of Budapest Parliament across the Danube River, framed by a bridge with a man in the foreground.
Constructed 1873
At first I uploaded this photo in landscape (which was how I took the pic) but I've changed it to portrait as I think it actually works better in that orientation. Sorry if I've confused anyone ;-)
"Amongst the memorials and things of fame that bring renown to the City of Bendigo few, if any, bear such honourable, enduring and stately testimony to the wealth and magnificence of the city, as does the Masonic Hall in View Street".
This extract from a book published in Melbourne in 1902 describes exactly the place held by the former Masonic Hall, now The Capital - Bendigo's Performing Arts Centre, in the City of Greater Bendigo.
The Masonic Hall was designed by two prominent Freemasons, W.C. Vahland and his partner, Robert Getzschmann. The foundation stone for the building was laid on 24 June, 1873. It was the most ornate building in the City; the magnitude of its proportions and the classic beauty of its architectural design was regarded as an ornament not only to the City but to the State of Victoria.
The main building covers a frontage of 60 metres in length on View Street and is approached by broad bluestone steps. The building is faced with six pillars in the Corinthian Order rising 10 metres in height with the handsome curvilinear entablature of that Order. The pillars are decorated with an ornate frieze and cornices, having pediments at the top with pedestals, vases and a decorative moulded coping. The building is surmounted with an aeroteria, representing a female face and creating an imposing effect, it being 20 metres from the bottom step to the apogee of the pediment.
The Capital Theatre Night Time
Masonic symbols are still in evidence throughout the building. One will note the compasses, the set squares, the all-seeing eye, the celestial globe and terrestrial globe, particularly in the original Lodge Room, the upstairs foyer and the Capital Theatre. The Capital Theatre is the last of the Bendigo theatres. When built this space was the largest hall in Victoria apart from the Melbourne Town Hall. The entire building is listed with the National Trust and Heritage Victoria. The Capital Theatre was closed in the 1970s after almost a century of opera, drama, dance and cinema. The Masons continued in the downstairs Lodge Room until the maintenance of the building became too great a burden on the resources of the members.
During the years when the Capital Theatre was closed there had been constant attempts by the community to have the theatre reinstated. There was strong resistance from some quarters to this proposal and a committee was formed to endeavour to bring about a consensus.
In late 1987 three of the five Bendigo municipalities, Marong, Strathfieldsaye and Eaglehawk purchased the building from the Masons. With the financial support of State and Local Government, private and public subscriptions and overwhelming community support, renovations, costing around $6 million, started in 1989 and the building was officially reopened by the former Premier, Mrs. Joan Kirner on 26 April, 1991.
In 2003-2004, a Federal Government Grant allowed The Capital to undertake further upgrades throughout the venue. Advancment to backstage facilities and the structural development have improved the venue for local and commercial hirers. The Capital Theatre itself has been repainted in a darker colour, so that in the words of one patron, "it actually feels like a real theatre now!" The Box Office has been upgraded and enlarged to accommodate the growing number of patrons, and heritage experts were consulted to advise on the traditional heritage design carpet laid throughout The Capital."
Standing tall at 801 Market Street, the Pacific Building is a masterwork of early 20th-century Beaux-Arts commercial architecture in downtown San Francisco. Completed in 1907, just a year after the devastating earthquake and fire, the structure symbolizes the city’s rebirth—an embodiment of resilience rendered in brick, terra cotta, and marble. Designed by the renowned firm Reid & Reid, the same brothers behind many of San Francisco’s grand post-1906 reconstructions, the Pacific Building’s ornate façade bridges the energy of the Edwardian era with the enduring strength of neoclassical form.
The building’s symmetrical façade commands attention with its vertical rhythm of red brick pilasters and white terra cotta trim. Every detail of its composition—modillions, garlands, dentils, and cartouches—reflects the opulent Beaux-Arts style that flourished in the aftermath of the city’s rebuilding. At street level, a grand arched entrance framed in carved marble leads the eye upward to a magnificent clock cresting the central bay, a subtle reminder of San Francisco’s forward momentum through time.
Inside, the Pacific Building originally housed offices for shipping companies, insurance firms, and other enterprises critical to the city’s commercial revival. Over the decades, its interior adapted to changing needs, but the exterior has remained remarkably intact—a tribute to the craftsmanship and permanence that defined early skyscraper design. The deep red brick façade, punctuated by pairs of arched windows and layered ornamentation, stands as a living document of urban evolution and historic preservation.
Architecturally, the Pacific Building holds its own among Market Street’s more famous landmarks such as the Flood Building and Call Building (now Central Tower). Its proportions are deliberate, its decorative elements restrained yet confident. The rhythm of the fenestration, alternating with crisp terra cotta detailing, creates a sense of vertical elegance while grounding the structure in classical order.
Photographed under clear morning light, the building’s warm textures and intricate masonry are heightened by shadow and contrast. The golden entrance doors glint softly against the pale stone, while reflections from adjacent modern structures play across the street—a quiet conversation between past and present.
As San Francisco continues to evolve, the Pacific Building endures as a monument to architectural grace and civic optimism. Its Beaux-Arts embellishment, balanced with the dignity of structure, captures a moment when architecture was both art and aspiration—a cornerstone of the city’s architectural identity that still inspires awe more than a century later.