Ordenspalais in Berlijn 1868 - 1870

This is a photograph of the Ordenspalais in Berlin by Johann Friedrich Stiehm. Observe the rigid symmetry of the Palais, and the unadorned windows. These features echo across time, reappearing in Renaissance palaces and even ancient Roman architecture. The emphasis on symmetry, in particular, conveys a sense of balance and order, but also control. This architectural style, embraced by many cultures, is often employed to project power and stability through its very form. Think about the Roman fascination with the grid layout of their cities or the Renaissance obsession with perfect proportions. Such deliberate designs speak to our collective memory, evoking feelings of authority and permanence. Consider how a government building might echo these very designs to project solidity and trustworthiness. It is this cyclical progression, the constant resurfacing of motifs, that fascinates me, highlighting how history, memory, and emotion intertwine.