Buildings, especially those built with care and caution, retain the power to move the spirit. They are decanters of a sublime potion potent enough to transport one to a different era. They, like artifacts and antiques, possess a timeless quality. The more distant and historic a building is, the more it radiates the timeless quality that can remove one from their immediate surroundings or conditions of life: a building, like an artifact or antique, propels the imagination and enables one to experience past and present simultaneously.
There are a number of buildings that stand erect despite the violence done by man and the elements. These stalwart and silent witnesses of history can be seen on an indifferent street corner, sometimes inviting curious glances or a studied gaze but mostly remain unnoticed. They are like chapters of history that are not always pleasant to read but provide essential clues to the puzzle of life in an era long consigned to oblivion. It's interesting that no matter how incongruous or conspicuous their presence is, they preserve a quality to adapt according to the prevalent tastes. In a way, they both belong and don't belong to the current time but that's exactly what makes them significant - much like a genius, who finds themselves at once alien and native to the society. Perhaps this dichotomy is what makes old buildings charming and timeless.
