Splendid Subtlety

Birmingham has some splendid buildings, including this one, the Victoria Law Courts. I pass it on my way to Aston University, and this time, while thinking about things of interest to photograph, realised that the facade is not brick, but tile. These tiles are both generic and custom-made (bespoke). Some of the bespoke tiles are extraordinary in their complexity, including these curved windowsill tiles, and the precisely molded columns on either side.

In addition, the tiles have developed a subtle coloration over time. There is just a hint of verdigris in the tiles and the mortar - although this is somewhat exaggerated by the camera, which has added a blue cast of its own. Nonetheless, the tiles absorb and reflect light in a very nice way, giving the building a faintly hallucinogenic glow.