Passing through the heart of a city, I was suddenly inundated with a mélange of buildings, advertisements, clamour of traffic, smell of food stalls and rush of people from all walks of life, unfolding before my very eyes. The various expressions on people’s’ faces, especially those sprawled on the pavement evoked a pang of compassion making me reflect “I’d love to know that person’s life story”. Looking around while dodging the constant stream of people, I was captivated by the classical architecture that seemed to silently stand out, marked by stark simplicity and elegant beauty. Walking in the midst of the city I came across an arcade, formed by an honour guard of Classical Grecian columns adorned with a domed roof of the Renaissance period. In the distance a waiter was preparing tables for the forthcoming day.  I could envisage people sitting in the cafe, chatting over coffee and hugging their cup for warmth on this cold winter day.

Passing through the crowd of people, I calmly walked between the noisy throng, gravitating towards an open space permeated by light. Suddenly, I saw a tower reaching skywards towards a magnificent dome surrounded within an embrace of steel and glass. The sight was both spectacular and strange. The colossus, so tall and strong, seemed striking yet misplaced. I found myself standing in awe. The vibrancy and complexity of civilisation manifested within the architectural themes of cities never ceased to amaze me. It seems that cities continually redefine themselves in their own unique way. The sculptors that provide the energy behind this change are the various people throughout history leaving their influences as determined by the cultural forces at play.

My footsteps echoed ever so softly as I mounted the stairs lightly upon the rich woollen carpet that graced the long hallway and staircase. Turning around I glanced at the winding stairwell, an artwork of symmetry and classical elegance. Before me, the sophistication of European flair, manifested itself powerfully in a masterful combination of architectural forms. I paused deeply in thought, yearning for a bygone era, to experience that which only existed within my childlike imagination.