Gary Curtis

Hello! My name is Gary Curtis, better known as @theoldbuilding and I thought I’d take a moment to tell you a little about myself. I started this account in 2018 to share my love of historic architecture and celebrate the world I so deeply enjoy. I’m passionate about our built environment and how experiencing beautiful places can enrich our lives — something I hope comes through in everything I post. I live in the charming market town of Stamford in Lincolnshire, UK, a place jam packed with handsome Georgian buildings and timeless character. You’ll often find me wandering its streets with my trusty iPhone, capturing the charm and beauty around me. I also love to travel, exploring and photographing the grand houses and historic streets of Britain and across Europe. Paris remains my favourite city — it never fails to enchant me with its elegance and character. I’m also proud to be an affiliate of @heritagexplore and a member of @thegeorgiangroup @the_victorian_society and @londontopsoc Thank you all for your support — I’m thrilled to share this passion with you. DM to collaborate. - #selfie #historicarchitecture #theoldbuilding

One of my absolute favourite buildings: the Petit Palais in Paris. This building speaks to me not only as a place of immense beauty and elegance, but as one of the final great flourishes of classical architecture as a dominant civic style. The turn of the 20th century saw an extraordinary explosion of Beaux-Arts architecture across Europe and the United States — buildings filled with confidence, ornament, proportion and grandeur. The Petit Palais perfectly captures that moment. It also demonstrates something we seem to have forgotten: that modern buildings could still look beautiful while continuing the architectural traditions refined over thousands of years. After this period, architecture increasingly became functional, stripped-back and utilitarian — and for me, it has never truly recovered. Built for the Exposition Universelle and designed by architect Charles Girault, the Petit Palais blends classical majesty with modern structural innovation. Today it houses the City of Paris Museum of Fine Arts and remains one of the great treasures of the Belle Époque. While deeply rooted in classical design, the structure was highly progressive for its time, making extensive use of steel framing, reinforced concrete and vast glass openings that flooded the galleries with natural light. The building is filled with extraordinary craftsmanship: gilded ironwork, monumental murals, marble mosaics by Italian artist Facchina, and the great sculptural tympanum by Jean Antoine Injalbert. Every surface feels considered. Every detail feels designed to elevate the experience of simply being there. For me, the Petit Palais is not just a museum — it is a reminder of a moment when cities still believed public architecture should inspire awe. Something we could still learn from today. - #paris #historicalarchitecture #travel #history

Rising above the winding streets of Český Krumlov, the Church of Saint Vitus is one of the town’s most striking landmarks. Built between 1407 and 1438, this remarkable late-Gothic church has dominated the skyline for more than six centuries and remains at the heart of the town’s historic character. Dedicated to Saint Vitus, the church is known for its soaring vaulted interiors, elegant Gothic windows, and distinctive tower, reflecting the wealth and importance of medieval Český Krumlov. Over the centuries, various alterations introduced later architectural influences while still preserving much of its original Gothic beauty. Today, the church stands not only as an active Roman Catholic place of worship, but also as one of the Czech Republic’s most important historic monuments. In 1995, it was declared a National Cultural Monument, recognising both its architectural significance and its place within the beautifully preserved UNESCO-listed town, which still feels wonderfully untouched by time. No. visit as part of my @vikingcruises cruise along the Danube - #ceskykrumlov #travel #history

The stunning architecture of Richmond Green stole my heart. I adored strolling along the park’s edge, taking in its breathtaking beauty. These beautiful houses were built between the late 17th and early 18th centuries for high-ranking officials, merchants, and those close to the royal court at Richmond Palace. Even though the palace is mostly gone, its influence remains, and the area remains exclusive to this day. The mix of architectural styles is visually appealing - red and brown brick townhouses with classic proportions, sash windows, and elegant doorcases reflecting early Georgian style, alongside some earlier buildings with a unique character. Many are Grade II listed, with some at Grade I, highlighting the row’s significance. What I found particularly striking was the eastern edge’s uniformity. The buildings complement each other perfectly - a truly wonderful walk. - #london #historicarchitecture #history

Stamford life lately. It’s been a mixed bag of weather, but still managed to get out and enjoy the town, drink tea and work from my favourite cafes. I hope it’s been a good gentle week and you all have a good weekend ahead. - #stamford #historicarchitecture #travel

An evening wander through Linz in Austria, as part of my Danube Waltz journey with @vikingcruises I didn’t know much about Linz beforehand, so this was very much a walk of discovery, led by Nikki from Viking, who brought the city to life in such an interesting way. It turned out to be full of charm — attractive architecture, trams and a city that felt lively and welcoming even in late evening. Linz is the capital of Upper Austria and the country’s third-largest city, sitting on the Danube in the far north, just 30km from the Czech border. The highlight for me was the main square — a beautiful open space surrounded by elegant buildings that really capture the character of the city. The ship had docked right in the centre making a little stroll like this very easy and tempting! - #myvikingstory #austria #travel #linz

I am posting this lovely little building because I have never seen it featured on Instagram before. It proves that even the most modest and practical buildings can still possess beauty, elegance, and architectural confidence — something the Victorians understood remarkably well. This is the Lodge at the entrance to Middle Temple Lane on Victoria Embankment, a Grade II listed Portland stone gatehouse built around 1880. Constructed after the creation of the Thames Embankment transformed the riverside, it was designed to control access into the historic Middle Temple. Though small in scale, its classical detailing, arched windows, and handsome pediment give it real presence and charm. - #london #victorianarchitecture #historicarchitecture

I’ve always been a fan of these buildings because they are used as the office of Harry Palmer in The Ipcress File film. Grosvenor Gardens, just south of Victoria Station, is one of London’s most striking mid-Victorian terrace compositions. Built between 1867 and 1871, the terraces were designed in a bold French Renaissance revival style, often compared to the Second Empire architecture of Paris. It’s a deliberate break from the typical stucco-fronted London terrace of the era, leaning instead into something more continental and theatrical. They are defined by mansard roofs, Portland stone façades, rusticated ground floors, and richly carved terracotta and stone detailing. Decorative iron cresting and pedimented windows add to the layered, sculptural feel. Rising four storeys above basement and attic levels, the scale feels grand and confident, with occasional domed corner pavilions punctuating the rhythm. Framed by two triangular gardens, the terraces gain a formal, almost ceremonial setting — a composed Victorian statement of order, elegance, and urban ambition. - #london #historicarchitecture #history

A few years ago, I had the rare privilege of stepping into the private inner courtyard of the magnificent @burghleyhouse — an architectural treasure hidden within its grand shell. Surrounded on all sides by tall, elegant façades, the space felt almost imperial in its stillness and proportion, quietly set apart from the drama of the staterooms and the vast rolling parkland beyond. A wonderful experience. - #burghleyhouse #historicalarchitecture #history

The extremely pretty streets and houses of South Kensington. I love wandering and playing the game of fantasy house shopping! The sunny day really made these look so beautiful. Which area of London do you most enjoy walking? - #london #historicarchitecture #travel

One of my favourite walks in London is the stretch between the Embankment and Fleet Street — a route that feels like moving through layers of time. You begin by the River Thames, where the city opens up, and then slip quietly into the calm, almost hidden world of the Middle and Inner Temple through an ornate entrance. It feels private, serious, and uniquely London tucked away from the noise of the city. Then you emerge into the energy of Fleet Street. The world bursts back — from quiet reflection into the weight and movement of old commerce and public life. Grand buildings line the street, full of confidence and history, from the Old Bank of England pub to the surrounding courts and institutions that once shaped the nation. And then there is St Mary le Strand — elegant, almost delicate, standing in contrast to everything around it. One of my favourite churches, now free from the traffic that once pressed in on it, allowing you to properly admire its classical beauty. To me, this is old London. Empire London. A city of ceremony, power, and beauty layered into one walk. - #london #historicarchitecture #history

Kirby Hall is a Grade I listed Elizabethan country house near Gretton in Northamptonshire, close to Corby. Built in 1570 for Sir Humphrey Stafford of Blatherwick, it was later purchased by Sir Christopher Hatton, Lord Chancellor to Queen Elizabeth I. One of England’s great prodigy houses, it was designed to impress the Queen, drawing on French architectural pattern books and later expanded in a Classical style. In 1599, Elizabeth Vaux attempted to establish a secret Catholic college here, but a Privy Council raid forced her to abandon the plan. The house later hosted royalty, including King James I and Anne of Denmark. By the late 18th century, interior alterations and the family’s move to Eastwell Park marked the start of its decline. Abandoned by the 1880s, Kirby Hall fell into ruin. Today, its roofless walls, intact state rooms, and restored formal gardens create a hauntingly beautiful reminder of its former grandeur. - #kirbyhall #history #historicarchitecture