I walked around a lot the other day in search of those rubbers. I took a few photos, this was an attempt at some doorways which didn’t come out that great, but it was kind of an afterthought.
57 and 59
I found this building on Fulham Road genuinely weird. I couldn't tell if it’s a restaurant or shops or office or what. The stained-glass Michelin Man on the front is quite ugly, almost scary. The painted tiles that adorn the outside of the building depicting pastoral scenes of cycling and motoring are quite cute though.
81 Fulham Rd
The dog was pooped when we got back. She is not exactly in top condition, like these working sled dogs.
It was a long day
The buiding is the original art deco UK Michelin HQ. It certainly used to have a famous restaurant -Bibendum- on the first floor, and a nice shellfish bar on the ground floor. Maybe no longer. Further back, the building contains The Conran Shop, a very stylish home furnishing store owned by Sir Terence Conran, who was a trend-setter in the restaurant ownership business in the 80s and 90s.
A stained glass Michelin Man. Don't knock it. It's actually in the List of Great Architectural Corporate Treasures of the Western World. Right under the mosaic of the Pillsbury Doughboy that was uncovered in New York City somewhere.
Yup.
more on the painted tiles..... "...panels depicting motoring and aviation heroes and races of the early 1900's. They can be seen both inside the building and on the outside walls.The panels were made by Gilardoni Fils et Cie of Paris around 1908-1910 based on the work of Ernest Montaut. The architect was Francois Epinasse..."
Yes, bibendum is the name of the restaurant, and ALSO the first name of the Michelin man. The oyster bar is still out front, but the thing that confused me was the flower stand out front...Kind of made the building feel more like a tube station than a restaurant.
This is just a matter of opinion, but I find the art deco style on a large scale very ominous and gloomy looking. Our previous apt building in London was art-deco. It was tall, large, and creepy looking, despite its pink colour and rounded edges. In this case the likeness of the tire-man on the front only adds to the general spookiness. The details, such as the tiles, the iron work, the lettering, etc... those I find pleasing, but the overall look is a bit over the top.