world reviewer
George Monkhouse
Member statistics
- Member since
- 20th June 2007
I have a passion for architecture, modern design and travelling the less trodden road...
George Monkhouse's activity
- 01 Apr 2008
George Monkhouse reviewed Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, Syria
According to legend, the head of John the Baptist, a verifiable prophet in both Christian and Muslim beliefs, lives in a shrine of the Umayyad Mosque or Great Mosque of Damascus. The mosque stands on the site of a 1st-century Hellenic temple to Jupiter, …"
- 27 Nov 2007
George Monkhouse reviewed Taos Pueblo in Southwest Desert, United States
In continuous use for human settlement, the Pueblo settlements date from around 1400, and have survived in their original layout. More than 100 people still live here like their ancestors 1,000 years ago. There are two large buildings at the entrance, bo…"
George Monkhouse reviewed Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi in Bhopal, India
The classic stupa shape was most prominent during the Mauryan dynasty in India. Ashoka Maurya Buddhist influence whilst ruler of India helped spread Buddhist philosophy and doctrine in India, its symbolism penetrating Indian art and architecture. Also kn…"
- 21 Nov 2007
George Monkhouse reviewed Krak des Chevaliers in Syria
From the outside this fortress is intimidating in its grandeur and power. The Castle of the Knights, standing 2300ft above sea level, back straight and proud, lies what is arguably the finest fortress ever built. With its command over the valley it appea…"
- 25 Oct 2007
George Monkhouse reviewed C Side Spa, Cowley Manor in Gloucester, United Kingdom
This fine traditional meets ultra-modern boutique hotel in the Cotswolds, inspired by the Villa Borghese in Rome and set on 55 acres, is more a spa hotel than hotel spa, and treats you with such indulgence that it is sure to stick in the memory. The luxu…"
- 06 Sep 2007
George Monkhouse reviewed BackCountry Eco Retreat in British Columbia, Canada
A truly unique retreat in the heart of the Purcell Mountain Range in the Canadian Rockies, this wonderful mountain retreat offers a year-round schedule of nature-loving activity. Along with the option of daily spiritual guidance, massages and reiki at th…"
George Monkhouse reviewed Willka T’ika in Peru
This utterly unique and intensely spiritual retreat, close to the ancient royal retreat that is Machu Picchu in the ‘Valley of the Incas’, prides itself on introducing you to not just the sights, but also the spirit of the land and its native people. Mor…"
George Monkhouse reviewed Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Haridwar, India
One of the most renowned temple and ashram complexes in India, known for its substantial work on Hinduism, it is a school in the breathtaking valleys of Rishikesh laden with stone and golden Hindi statues. Once the most active yoga school, it has little …"
George Monkhouse reviewed Skyros Retreat in Sporades Islands, Greece
With one of the finest reputations in Europe for a holistic retreat since its inception at the end of the seventies, Skyros is an experience that can truly change your health and your lifestyle for good. You can stay amid the pine forest down by the sea …"
George Monkhouse reviewed Maya Tulum Wellness Retreat & Spa in Mexico
One and a half hours from Cancun, this Mayan retreat offers exotica to all senses, and an opportunity to explore, in depth, your body’s wisdom by balancing the elements of air, earth, water and fire – bringing harmony to body, emotions, mind and spirit. …"
George Monkhouse reviewed Ulpotha Village in Eastern Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka
Known in yoga circles simply as ‘paradise’, this is a unique, mountain-ringed village in the heart of Sri Lanka, the retreat concentrates almost exclusively on diet, yoga, ayurveda and massage. Ulpotha makes you live close to nature in simple-but-comfort…"
George Monkhouse reviewed Body & Soul Adventures, Ilha Grande in Amazon-North, Brazil
Occupying the only the fjord in South America, this is a retreat offering the best of panoramic mountaintop views, tropical rainforest and clean, white, sparsely populated beaches. It is an idyllic hideaway, brilliantly organised to encourage successful …"
George Monkhouse reviewed Outward Bound, Anakiwa in South Island, New Zealand
The principle doctrine of Outward Bound is that of experiential learning – education is incompetent without understanding through experience, a very wise philosophy long held by the Chinese. One of 47 schools operating internationally and with great prof…"
George Monkhouse reviewed The Ashram in Los Angeles, United States
To discover its beneficial qualities, one need only understand that the Ashram is perpetually at full capacity, despite no marketing for 30 years. This is an experience for those wishing a regimented and demanding schedule – a method of chasing your own …"
- 12 Jul 2007
George Monkhouse reviewed Haj Terminal in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
The original design was inspired by traditional pilgrims’ tents used in the desert, the translucent ‘fabric’ of the tents, Teflon-coated fibreglass membrane, allows natural ventilation and soft lighting. It received the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in…"
George Monkhouse reviewed Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem, Israel
"Monumental landmarks of the earliest Hebrew architecture center around the celebrated temple built by King Solomon in the tenth century B.C. on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem. When ancient Israel was conquered by the armies of Babylonia serving under Nebucha…"
George Monkhouse reviewed Gandhi Labor Institute in Ahmedabad, India
“...Again Doshi refuses to think of functions as being discrete: the institute's activities flow freely into one another in a way that is deliberately ambiguous. The composition is distinguished by its studied contrast of regularity and irregularity. Axe…"
George Monkhouse reviewed Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia
Recognised as one of the world’s three most iconic modern buildings along with the Eiffel Tower and Empire State Building, and as iconic for Australia as the pyramids for Egypt and Colosseum for Rome, the symbolism is of a ship at full sail. Costing $AU1…"
George Monkhouse reviewed Ryoanji Temple and Garden in Kyoto, Japan
‘The Temple of the Peaceful Dragon’ is a Zen temple best known for its rock garden, built on the once family estate of the Fujiwaras. Raked gravel is interrupted by 15 moss-edged boulders, which allow only 14 to be seen from any perspective (except, says…"
George Monkhouse reviewed Church of St Francis in Belo Horizonte, Brazil
"Planning a church has proven an involved problem for contemporary architects. The general tendency is to go back to the old, well worn forms, because of some strange inhibition created by the subject itself. The Pampulha Church, however, had, of necessi…"
George Monkhouse reviewed Temple of Kom Ombo in Kom Ombo, Egypt
Kom Ombo is unique in that it has an unusual ground plan, unifying two adjacent temples. One is dedicated to the crocodile-headed Sobek, god of fertility and creator of the world, the other to the falcon-headed Horace (an aspect of Horus), the solar war …"
George Monkhouse reviewed Sultan Hassan Mosque in Cairo, Egypt
Founded by Sultan Al-Nasser Hassan bin Mohammed bin Qala’oun as a mosque and school, there are four sects of Sunnism (Shafite, Malikite, Hanefte and Hanbalite) that teach individually but pray together. It is considered, in terms of style, the most cohes…"
George Monkhouse reviewed Tokyo City Hall in Tokyo, Japan
This massive structure houses the Governor and Metropolitan Assembly, similar to the GLA in London, as well as an army of bureaucrats, dominating the central Tokyo skyline. Despite the colossal scale of the buildings themselves, only three years of const…"
George Monkhouse reviewed Suleyman Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey
Suleyman the Magnificent demanded that a mosque be built that was fitting to his majesty, whereupon this structure was erected, soon considered the supreme model of Ottoman architecture in Istanbul. Its graceful and simple design appropriates meditation …"
George Monkhouse reviewed Temple of Bacchus in Lebanon
The temple of Bacchus is so impressive thanks to its state of preservation. The temple was dedicated to Bacchus (Dionysus), the Roman God of wine, but was traditionally referred to as the ‘Temple of the Sun’. One of the best preserved Roman temples, it h…"
George Monkhouse reviewed Burj Al Arab in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
This 1994 $1.5b baroque structure, with its own artificial island, is the tallest hotel in the world (claimed as ‘7’ star), taking the form of an Arabian boat dhow. Symbolising Dubai’s urban transformation, several features demanded complex engineering. …"
George Monkhouse reviewed Waterside BA Headquarters in London, United Kingdom
A modern Scandinavian design, based on 6 basic shapes, the building is an architectural feat in that the desired and resulting effect works fundamentally on social engineering in the work place. The architect, Niels Torp, is a champion of humanist modern…"
George Monkhouse reviewed Taj Mahal in Agra, India
Of Mughal architectural design, the Taj Mahal is a true wonder of the world. It was built by Emperor Shah Jahan to commemorate his second wife and inseparable companion, Arjumand Banu Begum, (Mumtaz Mahal – ‘Chosen of the Palace), who died in childbirth,…"
George Monkhouse reviewed Reichstag in Berlin, Germany
Originally designed by Paul Wallot (completed 1894), the history of this awe-inspiring building is intertwined with its noble architecture. A monumental building with four immense facades, it has a huge portico with eight Corinthian columns in front. Su…"
George Monkhouse reviewed Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia
Angkor Wat is the largest temple in the world, and shows off the mastery of Khmer architecture. History, architecture and faith combine to display the peak of a great ancient civilisation. It is the biggest tourist attraction in Cambodia, and one of its …"
George Monkhouse reviewed The Obelisk of Queen Hatshepsut in Luxor, Egypt
“Americans relish their own ‘obelisk’ to General Washington; many have seen the one that pulls together the spaces in front of Saint Peter’s in Rome (in A. D. 37, it was brought to Italy by Caligula); and the fortunate have visited the mightly obelisks i…"
George Monkhouse reviewed Temple of Amon in Luxor, Egypt
From the 12th Ptolemaic dynasty, the temple of Karnak is the largest and the most complicated architecture in Egypt. The centre of the cult of Amon-Ra, the Sun God, has two axes that define the composition of the world of Karnak. The axis east to west co…"
George Monkhouse reviewed Great Wall of China in Beijing, China
Famously one of the only manmade structures to be seen from space, the Great Wall was originally constructed as a defensive measure against tribes of the north and northwest, over thousands of years, causing many deaths and much suffering. The architectu…"
George Monkhouse reviewed Museum of Fruit in Kofu, Japan
Yamanashi Prefecture produces one of the best fruit yields in Japan. The Museum of Fruit is a group of three buildings near Mount Fuji that resemble large globular greenhouses, which Hasegawa used to symbolise spiritual sensuality, intelligence and lust …"
George Monkhouse reviewed Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain
Gaudí’s phenomenal neogothic masterpiece (‘the last great sanctuary of Christendom’), although yet incomplete, contains his greatest discovery, ‘Gaudí’s Column’. Based on the prevalence of vertical lines…"
George Monkhouse reviewed Kansai Airport Terminal in Kobe, Japan
Built on reclaimed land 5kms offshore to protect the local environment and control noise pollution, the architecture is internationally renowned for its blend of artistic and functional features: the roof's design creates an image of soaring, and the gra…"
George Monkhouse reviewed Tikal in Tikal region, Guatemala
Set within the tropical forests of Guatemala, Tikal’s development from a tribal settlements to urban structure occurred at its earliest around 200BC. Mayan architects designed short, broad temples with wide staircases flanked by enormous stucco masks. Th…"
George Monkhouse reviewed Fatehpur Sikri in Agra, India
Primarily constructed in red sandstone, this town was built by Mughal Emperor Akbar. But for a failed water supply, this would have been his new capital. Today it is a virtual ghost city host to a population of 30,000. Despite its lack of practical appli…"
George Monkhouse reviewed The Kingdom Centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
The new 2001-built icon for Riyadh and Saudi Arabia, the unique shape culminates in an inverted catenary arch – the ‘necklace’ of Riyadh, symbolising prosperity – spanned by a 56-metre skybridge with viewing deck. The tower is in direct axis with Riyadh’…"
- 10 Jul 2007
George Monkhouse reviewed Lake Point Tower in Chicago, United States
Sitting, as a skyscraper, largely on its own, away from the cluster of Chicago high-rise buildings, it is a dominating presence in the area. Designed by two students of Mies van der Rohe, John Heinrich and George Schipporeit, and inspired by one of his e…"
George Monkhouse reviewed Price Tower in Deep South, United States
The only skyscraper designed by Frank Lloyd Wright ever built, and he referred to it as a lone tree escaped from the forest, having been a design for residential property in New York until the Depression. The design was literally based on a tree and its …"
George Monkhouse reviewed Chrysler Building in New York, United States
Indubitably one of the world’s most dramatic, beautiful and famous skyscrapers, it is an Art Deco masterwork from architect William van Alen, on commission from Mr. Chrysler. Using stainless steel to plate the spire, it seems to shine with pride and conf…"
George Monkhouse reviewed Gropius House in New England, United States
Architect of the Bauhaus, and founder of the subsequent architectural movement, Walter Gropius was a celebrated German influence on American architecture. This house was his first project in America, choosing to combine traditional New England elements w…"
George Monkhouse reviewed Menil Collection in Houston, United States
Art collector Dominique de Menil was thinking not simply of a new home for her growing collection, but also of a centre for music, literature, theatre and cultural educational activities when she planned this new building in a small park surrounded by lo…"
George Monkhouse reviewed Newport Casino in New England, United States
Home to the International Tennis Hall of Fame, it is one of the finest examples of Victorian shingle-style architecture in the world. Commissioned by James Bennett to Charles McKim. Most lauded of all is the symmetry and balance of the Bellevue Avenue fa…"