On a recent cruise to Italy, Greece and Turkey, I was struck by not only the unbelievable beauty of the Mediterranean scenery and incredible architecture, but also by just how much we have taken from the innovations of the people who lived there thousands of years ago.
- These beautiful marble and mosaic floors were created over 2000 years ago in Ephesus, located on the west coast of Asia minor in Selcuk, Turkey, a town that has been both Greek and Roman occupied. Ephesus was home to the Artemesium, a colossal Ionic temple dedicated to the goddess of fertility, Artemis, and one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
It got me thinking about the concept of original designs and ideas. As a designer, my designs become my intellectual property, belonging to not just the home owner, but to me, for I created it. I use furniture, colors, textures and materials together in a way that is fresh and original so my designs are unique to me and so each client gets their own special space. Even so, I am constantly using products inspired by the designs of my ancient counterparts. If you walk through the showrooms at the merchandise mart today, you will find hundreds of different mosaic tiles, stone floors, bronze chandeliers, colorful woven rugs and intricately carved furniture. Although these pieces are new, the modern designers had some help from the ancient Romans, Greeks and Turks. For the next few weeks I will show you the beautiful pictures from my trip and how the ancient cultures influenced our modern design sensibilities. Stay tuned! In the meantime, here are some pictures of the stunning architecture both created by, and influenced by ancient man.
More amazing mosaic floors at Ephesus
The domed ceiling of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.
Beautiful.
