Place Saint-Louis

Posted on February 12, 2014February 12, 2014 Posted in MiscTagged architecture, lorraine, metz, photorgraphyLeave a comment

Above you can see ‘Place Saint-Louis’, which is one of the most charming squares in the city of Metz (Lorraine/France). Built in the 13th century, this is one of the last surviving examples of the city’s vaulted arcades. In the time of the Republic of Metz, major fairs and markets took place here and helped make ‘Metz the Rich’.

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Metz 2014

Werkbundsiedlung Wien

Posted on January 29, 2014 Posted in MiscTagged architecture, design, Photography, style, Vienna, Werkbundsiedlung1 Comment

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Vienna 2013

Above you can see one of the houses of the so-called ‘Werkbundsiedlung’ in Vienna (13th district). This model housing estate was opened in 1932 and is now considered one of the finest examples of Modernism in Austria. The originally 70, now 64 single-family homes were built by 31, now famous architects. The houses appear small by today’s standards. However, an amazing spaciousness was created by functionality, great economy in detail and skillfully set views and visual axes.

Involved architects (extract) were:

Josef Frank, designed the house at Woinovichgasse 32
Clemens Holzmeister, designed the houses at Jagicgasse 8 and 10
Julius Jirasek, designed the houses at Veitingergasse 103 and 105
Ernst Lichtblau, designed the houses at Jagdschlossgasse 88 and 90
Adolf Loos, Heinrich Kulka, designed the houses at Woinovichgasse 13, 15, 17 and 19
André Lurçat, designed the houses at Veitingergasse 87, 89, 91 and 93
Richard Neutra, designed the house at Woinovichgasse 9
Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, designed the houses at Woinovichgasse 2 and 4
Oskar Wlach, designed the houses at Veitingergasse 99 and 101

Front-door

Posted on October 22, 2013October 23, 2013 Posted in MiscTagged architecture, Photography, ViennaLeave a comment

A beautiful front-door in the third district of Vienna

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Vienna 2013

And then, the big snow came …

Posted on January 17, 2013January 17, 2013 Posted in MiscTagged architectureLeave a comment

This house fascinates me every time, I come across, because it is surrounded completely by high-rise buildings. I love it, because it disrupts the uniform architecture and symbolizes a different approach to living in a city.

Guenther Domenig

Posted on January 7, 2013January 7, 2013 Posted in MiscTagged architectureLeave a comment

The so-called Domenig House was designed by the architect Günther Domenig, a key protagonist of Deconstructivism in Austria. It was built from 1975 to 1979 as a local branch of the ‘Zentralsparkasse und Kommerzialbank Wien’ (banking institution).

Today it houses the Echo Media House and a gallery. The reinforced concrete building caused a heated debate when it was opened, because of its convex, crushed looking façade. Inside the building many curved elements can be found, that often had been improvised during construction.

David Chipperfield II

Posted on December 16, 2012 Posted in MiscTagged architectureLeave a comment

Round the corner

David Chipperfield I

Posted on December 16, 2012December 16, 2012 Posted in MiscTagged architectureLeave a comment

The elegant and sophisticated buliding on the left side was designed by David Chipperfield. It is a department store that opened its doors last year.

The grid facade, the bright limestones and the huge windows are a reinterpretation of the so-called curtain wall, that was so typical of the early department stores.

Not all inhabtitants of Vienna are sure if the design is well done, as some think that the buidling is too dominant and rough. Personally I think the worst would be if people would not discuss the building at all …

Oh so noble IV

Posted on December 13, 2012December 13, 2012 Posted in MiscTagged architectureLeave a comment

The photo above shows one of the many chandeliers in former E. Braun & Co. There are some bigger ones, but I thought that this piece is exclusive yet still subtle. Besides I really like the soft bronze colour and the very warm light.