Exterior window architraves

[mcab2]

Hi everyone,

I have noticed the decorative plastering around some windows outside of buildings are uneven at the top. It is almost as if the ends of the two halves not meet.
I have attached a photo of a considerable uneveness I saw on the street a couple of days ago.

Does anyone know why this happens?
I do notice some cracks between the bricks above. Could the bricks be fixed and the window suround left as is and just painted over? (As it looks to me on this particular photo.)

Thanks!

 

[aockenden]

Wow that looks so weird, almost like a composite image that's been reconstructed from different chunks or like a heat-wave distortion visual effect.

 

[mcab2]

Wow that looks so weird, almost like a composite image that's been reconstructed from different chunks or like a heat-wave distortion visual effect.

I know, right?! Once I saw it the first time, I can't unsee it. Everywhere there are clusters of buildings with those decorations, there is at least one of them with that deffect. What surprises me is how neat the paint work is XD

 

[Stevers]

It's a sort of soldier arch (a 'flat' arch) where the arch is made up of central wedge and trapezoidal shapes each side. Looks like what may be a fairly long keystone has settled. Would have benefitted from a conventional relieving arch above. Arguably an example of fashion over form!