A group of five teams of architects from Spanish and Portuguese origin have assumed the task of submitting proposals to realign the entrances to the Alhambra, in what they consider a challenge complicated by the difficulties any intervention on the most visited monument in Spain.

These are the five groups that have been selected from 41, 10 nationalities have taken part in international competition for ideas to rearrange the input and output area of the Alhambra, and on Tuesday visited the monument to meet with representatives of Board at an early touchdown before undertaking the preliminary design to be submitted.

These include the Portuguese Alvaro Siza, for whom the topography of the area and the flow of visitors to the Alhambra, which receives an average of two million tourists, a project becomes “very difficult.” Read the rest of this entry »

The Villa is set designer houses, a draft GmbH and the studio of Daniel Libeskind. The Villa is a German prefabricated house is built with the finest raw materials, a sculptural home that meets the highest standards of design, development and sustainability. The Villa Series are unique in where they are seen, providing maximum insulation and durability, innovative technology and meeting the highest standards for energy savings worldwide. La Villa, which can be shipped and assembled anywhere, including a solar thermal system and a sauna in the basement.

According to the sellers of La Villa, is available as a limited edition of 30 homes around the world and comes with regional exclusivity. It’s the future owner who strongly on the location, but whether an urban setting, a beautiful coast or a mountain landscape, the Villa will become one with their environment and ultimately, a focal point in itself. Read the rest of this entry »

I visited the museum to Oteiza Alzuza Navarra. On a promontory surrounded by nature, it dominates the area of Pamplona which is 9 kms. This foundation was designed by the architect Francisco Javier Saenz de Oiza to present the personal collection of Jorge Oteiza (1908/2003) complete artist and also one of the greatest sculptors of the twentieth century.

I was impressed by the museum to more than one way: by the interest and the wealth of works on display (I will return in another post) by the interior spaces of the museum (ocher red and black, I will come back too), the quality of architecture and how Francisco Javier Saenz de Oiza designed the museum.

He wanted to create this building “a sense of simplicity and balance between content and container”. He kept the housing occupied by Oteiza, a traditional stone house, and totally integrated in its architecture.

Two strong colors dominate: the ocher stones, concrete and black soil, walls and metal structures.

After visiting the museum, includes the work of the architect, longtime friend of Oteiza, in perfect harmony with the work of the artist. Read the rest of this entry »

Under a hazy sky and a temperature of spring that I rediscovered in Burano Italy, and colorful houses. The decor has little changed  since my last visit there a decade. The facades are still as colorful or more houses still dainty.

The story goes that it was women who were responsible for painting the walls while the men were at sea of brightly colored houses were a sign of recognition when they joined their off island.

As you can see from these photos, the streets are quiet, almost non-existent tourists: the ideal time to visit this region of Italy, the Venice lagoon.

Okay, now remains to sort the hundreds of photos taken during these few days… Read the rest of this entry »

We will visit buildings normally closed as the steeple of the church of Santa Maria del Pi and the viewpoint of Rei Martí Barcelona. (EUROPA PRESS). Barcelona will devote this weekend to enjoy the architecture through the initiative 48H Open House, which opens to the public 130 buildings in all districts, which in many cases can be visited in the company of its architect.

This has been organized ten routes corresponding to the ten districts of the city (Ciutat Vella, Eixample, Gràcia, Horta-Guinardó, Les Corts, Nou Barris, Sant Andreu, Sant Martí, Sant-Montjuïc Sarrià-Sant Gervasi).

The buildings represent all ages and types. Thus, in the Gothic building opened normally closed, as the steeple of the church of Santa Maria del Pi and Rei Martí lookout tower annexed to the current headquarters of the file in the crown of Aragon.

Also open contemporary buildings like the headquarters of Spain’s National Radio (RNE), the Media-TIC building attractive and Hotel Me, Dominique Perrault, all at 22 @. Read the rest of this entry »