Plattegrond van het kasteel Trompette in Bordeaux c. 1690 - 1700

This is an anonymous plan of the Château Trompette in Bordeaux, rendered with pen and watercolor. The star-shaped fortress is not merely a feat of engineering, but also a symbol, echoing motifs of protection and power found across time and cultures. Consider how the star form, often associated with divine guidance and celestial strength, is here transformed into a bastion of earthly authority. Such architectural expressions reappear throughout history, from ancient citadels to Renaissance fortresses, each echoing a primal need for security and dominance. This shape, embedded in our collective memory, elicits a deep, often subconscious response. It is the desire for safety and control, manifested in stone and earth. Notice the compass rose, a universal symbol of navigation and destiny. In the context of this fortress, it suggests not only physical orientation but also the charting of one's fate. The interplay between the micro—the fortress as a contained space—and the macro—the compass pointing to broader horizons—creates a tension that resonates even today. This plan invites us to reflect on the cyclical nature of history, where symbols persist, evolve, and resurface, carrying echoes of past anxieties and aspirations.