Osborne House

A warm and sunny autumn day on the Isle of Wight. I am always impressed by great architecture and quality workmanship - and this building has it on a grand scale. I set aside misgivings about the extreme and exploitative wealth on display to enjoy the finer side of what that wealth can achieve. I can only assume that Queen Victoria and her family basked in the beauty and quality of the building, its artefacts and its grounds. Such craftsmanship is sadly rare in an age when quality and value are sacrificed on the alter of 'cheap'. The home (and many of the artefacts such as furniture) was built to last out of natural materials. From a sustainability point of view it is a pity we seem unable (or unwilling?) to build sustainable homes for everyone to benefit from today.