Only God knows how many photos I’ve taken with my various iPhones. The very first one I had was the iPhone 3GS, which I still rate as the best designed iPhone in history. I left it at the back of a taxi on a trip back from Glasgow and the driver never tried to return it. I’ve also had the iPhone 4, which I used till it stopped working, the iPhone 6s and currently the iPhone 7. The only reason I upgraded from the 4 was because it stopped working, and the only reason I moved to 7 is because my 6s sustained water damage.
One thing that I’ve always loved about the iPhone is the camera. So much so, that it quickly replaced my proper cameras as the daily snapper. This is probably the same for many people. As such, so much of my life has been documented with these little carry-around buddies. Looking through my old photos is like a time travel through my life. This is what gave me this idea actually, of the iPhone Time Travel series that I’m embarking on.
THE BALANCING BARN
It was the month of November, 2012, and the Olympic Games had just finished in London. The city was still basking in the recently past glory of the games, while experiencing the massive anticlimax. The signs had started to change slowly from “London 2012” to something else. Some signs now pointed to the Stratford Tube Station saying “Rio 2016”.
Autumn was in full swing, and a break was needed. I had some time off from work, so it was spent in a getaway spot in Suffolk. It was kind of a glamour camping / cabin camp in the countryside. What I love about going to these places, apart from the peace and quiet getaway from noisy London, is the fact that there are so many long countryside walks in nature. Many landlords in the UK allow their lands to be walked on by strangers as part of an agreement with the government. This removes a lot of restrictions and fear of trespassing when doing these long walks in the countryside.
There are limits, of course, but you can often walk all the way to fences and interact with animals - unless forbidden to do so.
 |  |
|---|---|
 |  |
On one of such walks through he Suffolk landscape, through the trees, I adventured upon a strange building. There was a barn that seemed suspended at the edge of a cliff. I assumed it was some kind of abandoned building - due to the dangerous looking situation it was in. On walking to the other side, however, I discovered that it wasn’t abandoned at all. I could see right into it, and it was empty, but there was a vehicle parked in the driveway. There was also a sign board that read “The Balancing Barn”
 |  |
|---|
When I got back to my cabin and did some research on it, it appeared that it was designed that way by a Dutch architect.
"Balancing Barn, designed by the Dutch practice MVRDV, stands on the edge of a tranquil nature reserve a few miles inland from the Suffolk coast, near the historic towns of Walberswick and Aldeburgh. Clad in elegant reflective steel tiles, the house dramatically cantilevers over the landscape, providing views from its huge panoramic windows over woods, ponds and meadows."
Read more about this on the Living Architecture Webstie
It’s some kind of accommodation, which you can book and actually stay in. I found it totally fascinating. It’s to date one of the most randomly awesome things I’ve found.
Peace & Love
Adé