The Grumpy Building

This building woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

Juergen Berkessel
Accidental Aesthetics
2 min readAug 17, 2024

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Grumpy looking building in the Orkney Islands
A grumpy-faced building in Stromness, Orkney Islands, Scotland, blending into the stark landscape.

In Stromness, Orkney Islands, Scotland, we came across a building with a distinctly grumpy expression. Or is it just me?

The architectural features aligned to give it an almost human look of displeasure, blending seamlessly into the stark landscape.

The dour farmhouse in Stromness was an intriguing example of how our environment can (seemingly) communicate with us. I started looking for more.

Seeing Faces in Buildings: The Psychology of Pareidolia

Have you ever looked at a building and thought it seemed to have a personality, maybe even an expression like a scowl or a smile?

This phenomenon is called pareidolia, where we see familiar patterns like faces in inanimate objects.

It’s a psychological occurrence where the mind responds to a stimulus, typically an image or sound, by perceiving a familiar pattern where none actually exists.

Superimposing Our Experiences

When we see a building that looks grumpy, what’s really happening is that we’re projecting our own experiences and emotions onto the structure.

This projection is not random. Our brains are constantly trying to make sense of the world by using past experiences and emotions as a reference. If we’re feeling particularly grumpy ourselves, we might be more likely to see that emotion reflected in our surroundings.

This superimposition is a way of making the world more relatable and understandable. By attributing human characteristics to inanimate objects, we create a narrative that makes our environment seem more familiar and less chaotic.

This can be comforting and even entertaining, but it also says a lot about our state of mind and our need for connection. Well, I am speaking for myself here.

Influence of the Environment

The starkness of the landscape, particularly in places like the Orkney Islands, can enhance our receptiveness to pareidolia. The Orkney Islands are known for their rugged, austere beauty.

The landscape's simplicity and minimalism allow the mind to wander and notice details it might otherwise overlook.

In such a setting, the contrast between the natural surroundings and human-made structures can stand out more sharply.

At least it did so for me.

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Accidental Aesthetics
Accidental Aesthetics

Published in Accidental Aesthetics

Accidental Aesthetics, where every photo tells a story. Journey through whimsical, Wes Anderson-inspired travel scenes paired with evocative tales. Explore symmetry, serendipity, and hidden gems. Join us for a visual and narrative adventure!

Juergen Berkessel
Juergen Berkessel

Written by Juergen Berkessel

Blending art and technology. Podcasting agency ingénue @Polymash. Artist, Musician, ex-pro Photographer. Helping entrepreneurs implement digital strategies.

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