ECAL @ Appartement 50, Citée radieuse
Although Jean-Marc Drut and Patrick Blauwart have obsessively restored this flat to its original state (see their website here), and are graciously opening it to the public on appointment; they don’t intend it to become a museum but a living project. Their clever approach to this challenge is to invite a designer to furbish it...
Appartement 50, Citée Radieuse, Marseille
Thanks to Jean-Marc Drut and Patrick Blauwart, who bought and meticulously restored this well preserved « E1/inferieur/monofacade » apartment in the mythic Citee Radieuse; one can discover an apartment in its original state; a must for anyone with interest in architecture and Le Corbusier’s work. I must here pay tribute to the owners altruism, as not only...
Miami Art Deco district
We used to fly to Miami back in the early 90’s when living in NY, to escape the polar cold of Manhattan… back them it was still a bit rough, and South beach was just starting to come back to life, only a handful of hotels were refurbished and there was an melancholic feel to...
Academie du spectacle équestre
Going back to my first love: horses, and become fast nostalgic about the hours spent on their back as a teenager. A good alternative to the Chateau and it’s miles of queues, the Academie des Arts Equestres, directed by Bartabas, is an ode to the Horse and music to the ears of any horse lover,...
Palacio Fronteira, Lisboa
A patch of peace just at Lisboa’s edge, it’s a little out of the way, but the mini trip is very worth it.. Time has stopped in this XVIIe century Palace, still the home of the marquis De Fronteira. The italian gardens are absolutely wonderful as are the azulejos and seashell pavilions. The back of...
Casa da Musica, Porto
Major concert hall designed by Rem Koolhaas, it also houses a restaurant and a cool terrace
Casa do Conto, Porto
Conchita Wurst would approve about this project, rising from it’s ashes is what it’s all about, and it’s as daring and unconventional as the new winner of Eurovision! See link here for it’s history We did too, thoroughly enjoyed the architecture, spaces, breakfast and inspiration..
Alcobaça and Batalha Monasteries, Portugal
If, like me, you hadn’t heard of Portuguese gothic, you shall be up for a surprise… an actually grand surprise! Both monasteries are on the UNESCO world heritage list. Alcobaça Monastery is the first entirely gothic building in Portugal, built from 1178, it was later renovated in baroque style, thus the classical style of the...
Cooking and nature emotional hotel, Alvaros, Portugal
Although the name is not very glamorous, the place is absolutely perfect, and in the end, the title does describes it, partially. What it doesn’t say, is how well designed is the place, how large and cosy are the common spaces, and how glam the rooms actually are with floor to ceiling walls opening on...
Sensing Spaces @ Royal Academy of Arts, London
The RA invited 7 architectural practices from around the world to express themselves with no prerequisite but the way they express themselves through architecture. The resulting show was fascinating in the bright and grand space of the Royal Academy. Pezo von Ellrichshausen, despite their name, they are from Chile… Chichichi-lelele!! This practise is known for...
1925, quand l’Art deco séduit le monde, Cite de l’architecture
Of course there is an assumed nostalgia about the time when France was within the worlds leading countries…. but you can’t help being nostalgic about about a modernity that joyful and worry less… And times when women after being put to work during WWI, decided they were not going to go back to their kitchens...
Musee d’Orsay
I’d rather not say how long ago I went to Orsay last, cause it makes me feel really old.. But back here on a rainy Parisian day, it was nice rediscovering this grand building and it’s treasures, also a good spot to go back to the roots of industrial look. Yes I know, those...