 The wintry evenings have a way of looking magical. The hazy blue evenings quickly meld into nightfall, where golden lights take centre stage. It happened to be a particularly cold and blustery February evening that I ventured into the city. Undeterred, icicle-like fingers snapped away at the expansive skyline. It was easier to take the focus off the chill piercing through my gloves, with many a structural feat surrounding me.
 One of the tallest buildings in Europe, The Shard's colour and mood are constantly changing according to the weather and seasons. The outward facades perform differently with variations in light and heat. Walking from London Bridge station to the river bank, the city takes on a different composition, where the same building adds to different layers, depending on where you are.
 A stunning maritime scene of London Bridge illuminated the waters. Attention is also drawn to the various iconic buildings of the landscape. 20 Fenchurch Street, or the Walkie-Talkie building as it's better known, houses quite the sky garden. Incorporating an abundance of sunshine and greenery, it's a nice change amidst the concrete jungle. The airy space also reminded me of the giant glasshouse-like igloos which camped along the Thames, It's all serving up inspiration for a future greenhouse! I thought back to last Spring when me and my sister strolled through Angel. We came across Bourne & Hollingsworth, with the decor comprising lush foliage against a white backdrop. Talk about a green dream.
 Dusk brings out a range of busy colours from car and street lights, as well as myriad lit windows. The emerald tip of Tower 42 is an eye-catching, yet subtle flash in the sky. Capturing the cityscape on paper, the iridescent green strand beads mirror the vivid building. The bokeh effect glow was captured with multiple silver gems strewn across the silhouette.
 A hub of fashion, the London lady has an eclectic style. Choosing a classic look with a touch of power-dressing, a Ralph Lauren jumpsuit keeps up with the busy pace of central London. With clean lines, minimal statement pieces add a modern feel. The metallic elements on the underground mimic the silver hardware. An industrial edge is shown through a mix of materials, ranging from speckled marble to grey slate. A marble-effect suitcase at hand...she means business.
 Finding myself at Liverpool Street station, 30 St Mary Axe, or the Gherkin, just peaked in from around the corner. One of my favourite visual styles is Art Deco and it was evident in the ornate outdoor lamps and repetitive triangular motifs. Taking apart the shapes, it's fascinating how each individual glass pane works in harmony to form vast structures. The sparkling lights created a little illusionary warmth to the cool air.
 A visit to The City Centre allowed the scaling heights to be viewed from a different perspective. The exhibition features the glowing metropolis at a 1:500 scale. The miniature model also gives an insight into buildings that currently have planning permission and may grace the future skyline of London. It's not very often the entire landscape is at the tip of your fingers...it's best to make the most out of the moment. Comments are closed.
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