Frans W. MAES contributed: > >Picking up the thread on the analemmatic dial discussion a while >back, I think Sara Schechner was quite right in noting: > >"What these dials lack (often) is a sculptural presence. They are >defined by a flat environment, which while attractive and inviting up >close, is typically unrecognizable or invisible from a distance. In >this regard, people are not drawn up to them. They work best >when the spatial environment has some vertical feature to draw the >eye in."
It can also be an advantage where a sundial is required but any vertical feature would conflict with an existing structure. I was recently asked to design a dial which was 'vandal proof' incorporating an international logo. No details of the intended location were given. As you can imagine a 'vandal proof' specification led to a somewhat massive proposal. English Heritage quite rightly responded with "There's no way you're putting THAT in front of XXXXXX" So now they will have an analemmatic instead, probably with bronze medallions deep-set in York stone, and everyone is happy. Tony Moss
