Volkswagen Beetle
What was your first car? Mine was a 1965 java green VW Beetle, and what a great little car it was. I passed my test and bought it in 1973. These were and are incredible little cars. A basic design from Dr. Porsche as commissioned by Adolf Hitler. Millions were made, and many still survive. They were still made in Brazil until relatively recently.
They’re really a genuine classic. A piece of landmark design, and something that has a functionality that shames many modern cars. I wonder how many will be around and how they’ll be viewed in another 100 years or so.
I hope our stone fireplaces are around for many hundreds of years too, though I don’t expect to sell even a tiny fraction of the number of VW beetles!
Timeless and functional design almost always looks good, no matter in what era it was produced. If something works well, and does the job for which it was designed without and trouble and problems, then invariably it will look ‘right’ and will be around for a long time.
Stone fireplace design hasn’t really changed. They may be decorated in different ways, and made from different stones, but essentially they’re the same as they’ve ever been. That’s why we stick to the traditional shapes and designs. The old antique stone fireplaces still look right, so if we imitate them, then ours are sure to look right too.