A FLEETING GLIMPSE
the ordinary
Late afternoon with the sun starting to recede the average residential construction site sprung to life and I became fixated at the wonderment before my eyes. The striking aquamarine coloured sisalation paper, wrapping around the perimeter of the structure had caught the late afternoon sun and had literally lit up the structure like a magic lantern. Previously observing the building progress, from the cement slab to the progress of the structural framing, it was a seemly average design and applicable to a suburban lot. Standing alone in a ground cover of sand. (like the beach) The first building on a section of vacant land waiting for further development. I had my daily walk from the wide stretches of sand on the beach through the bush walk and on passed the new building in progress. Such a variety of visions. Always delighting on daily observations whether beach, birds, bush or the built environment with shadows cast by the beams.
STUDS, RAFTERS Beams , columns, trusses, and bracing systems. STRUCTURAL FRAMING is the skeleton of a building, designed to support loads, provide stability and shape the structure. It plays a vital role in distributing weight throughout the building., preventing stress concentration and potential failure points. It impacts everything from design flexibility to project safety.
catching the
structure
THE PHOTOGRAPHERS EYE
All images : © Marlene Sarroff 2025
My Imaginary Cosmos / aqua
From my Exhibition :
My Imaginary Cosmos 2007
FROM THE ORDINARY TO
THE EXTRAORDINARY
AQUAMARINE : A colour known for a sought after GEMSTONE. (not usually contributed to a building product.) Named after the mineral with the colour, aquamarine is a delicate mixture of green, cyan, and blue. It evokes beautiful pristine beaches and as result, is popular in swimming pools and similar outdoor settings. Aquamarine is soothing, calming and peaceful. The name ‘aquamarine’ comes from two latin words : aqua meaning ‘water’ and marina, meaning 'of the sea.’ What’s more ancient mariners believed that aquamarine had superpowers. They thought it could calm waves and keep sailors safe at sea.
Momentarily taking an opportune moment to meditate on the colour aquamarine. Ironically started by a structure wrapped in a plastic on a building site. Of which possibly by the time of writing this blog the entire colour would have disappeared by the building being completed with its exterior cladding.
catching the light
THE PHOTOGRAPHERS EYE
All images : © Marlene Sarroff 2025
All images : © Marlene Sarroff 2025
mythology
In Roman times with the construction of bath houses throughout the empire, mosaic art achieved primacy in the depiction of water deities. Foremost of these were scenes of the Triumph of Poseidon (or Neptune), riding in a chariot drawn by Hippocamps and attended by a host of water deities and fish-tailed beasts. Large mosaic scenes also portrayed rows of sea-gods and nymphs arranged in a coiling procession of intertwined fish-tails. Other scenes show the birth of Aphrodite, often raised in a conch shell by a pair of sea centaurs, and accompanied by fishing Erotes (winged love gods). It was in this medium that most of the obscure maritime gods of Homer and Hesiod finally received standardised representation and attributes.
Being inspired by a fascinating light filled building site at sunset has led this story to not only celebrate the colour aquamarine, but the sought over gemstone its meaning and connecting the blue of the ocean. A meandering round trip, going where the mind takes me and where photography opportunities are always leading the charge.
MARLENE SARROFF
Hope you enjoyed my journey into AQUAMARINE