No mention of the Pentagon?
The French Army Is Building Renaissance-Style Fortresses in Africa
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Re: The French Army Is Building Renaissance-Style Fortresses in Africa
#12On the same vein, US embassy in Tunis is closer to a fortification than to a diplomatic building. It even has a turret. It seems that other US embassies around the world became fortifications after 2001.
Re: The French Army Is Building Renaissance-Style Fortresses in Africa
#13Similar concept, lot more stars: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Bourtange
Actually not similar, only the shape is similar. The trick with the "trace italienne" is that each tower (edge of the star) can reach and attack people below the other towers, so each tower is protected by its neighbors.
As far as I can tell, Fort Bourtange never had towers for defense but rather relied on it's walls to protect it enough.
Re: The French Army Is Building Renaissance-Style Fortresses in Africa
#14Saint Barbara is entirely appropriate for a sapper[1] regiment, but it's disappointing their motto is "Sapeur suis, para demeure" instead of "Bâtis ou crève" ...
Nous croyions nous aimer pour la vie
Mais hélas les beaux jours sont si courts
Re: The French Army Is Building Renaissance-Style Fortresses in Africa
#15On the same vein, US embassy in Tunis is closer to a fortification than to a diplomatic building. It even has a turret. It seems that other US embassies around the world became fortifications after 2001.
Diplomatic buildings have often been strong points designed to keep staff safe in uncertain times. This is true even in safer locations; the new US embassy in London is very much a fort although the defensive features (like the water-filled moat/pond, and bollards hidden in the hedges) are well integrated into the landscaping.
The new site is probably considerably harder to assault than their old building, even though that looked more like a military building. The Grovesnor Square building was so ugly that even the official picture on the US Embassy website tries to hide it from view behind some trees!
https://uk.usembassy.gov/our-relationship/policy-history/rcg...
Re: The French Army Is Building Renaissance-Style Fortresses in Africa
#16No mention of the Pentagon?
Why would you mention it? It's not the same shape if you haven't noticed.
Re: The French Army Is Building Renaissance-Style Fortresses in Africa
#17European Renaissance civilization...
And noone is asking what the french are doing there.
Re: The French Army Is Building Renaissance-Style Fortresses in Africa
#18European Renaissance civilization... And noone is asking what the french are doing there.
It says so in the article if you care to read it.
Re: The French Army Is Building Renaissance-Style Fortresses in Africa
#19On the same vein, US embassy in Tunis is closer to a fortification than to a diplomatic building. It even has a turret. It seems that other US embassies around the world became fortifications after 2001.
Diplomatic buildings have often been strong points designed to keep staff safe in uncertain times. This is true even in safer locations; the new US embassy in London is very much a fort although the defensive features (like the water-filled moat/pond, and bollards hidden in the hedges) are well integrated into the landscaping. The new site is probably considerably harder to assault than their old building, even thoug…
Some people are unable to recognize great architecture when they see it. Saarinen's building is applauded as one of the finest modernist structures in Britain and is rightly Grade II listed.
https://www.economist.com/prospero/2017/09/26/the-american-e...
Re: The French Army Is Building Renaissance-Style Fortresses in Africa
#20For those interested, you can look up "Vauban" or "Vauban fortifications", in reference to Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban, an important military figure under Louis XIV.