I am a paradiser.

“I suddenly realized that we were on borrowed time, that time is always borrowed, and that the lending agency exacts its premium precisely when we are least prepared to pay and need to borrow more…” ― André Aciman, Call Me by Your Name

© Ferdinando Scianna

Alfama, Lisbon Portugal

georges hobeika | couture fall ‘17

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Three young women eat spaghetti on inflatable mattresses at Lake of Capri, 1939 (AP Photo / Hamilton Wright)

Alfama. The oldest district of Lisbon with its very narrow, cobbled streets and what is most striking to a visitor from further north in Europe, with the life that happens in them. We are used to people walking in the streets and shopping in the streets, but it was very interesting and nice to see people chatting with neighbours, preparing food in the streets and eating it together. Often cities isolate us from each other despite or because of the density. Here the closeness brings people together. While writing it I asked myself why, and the answer seems to come in the form of the architectural patterns. Try reading A Pattern Language by Christopher Alexander and you will see what I mean. It’s a little gem of a book with black and white photographs, ink sketches and warmly written stories explaining the patterns humanity created in cities, towns, streets, places and individual houses over millennia. Patterns that make us feel good. A knowledge many contemporary architects choose to ignore, as impressing us is more important to them, than creating spaces in which we would feel well. Enjoy Alfama.

Audrey Tautou (via wordsnquotes)

F. Scott Fitzgerald (via silk-dreams)