Happy House
It is rare to find this kind of buildings in Germany, a country as jealous of its harmonic architecture. Even more in a town like Brunswick (Braunscheweig), located in Lower Saxony, just over 20 kilometers from Hannover.
Brunswick was a great example of this architectural consistency with old postwar buildings and characteristic half-timbered, forming a homogeneous whole.
Until the Happy Rizzi House stood in the historic heart, a five-storey building that contrasts sharply with the other buildings. This is a great work of modern art, full of smiling faces brightly colored, bug-eyed, crazy shapes and asymmetrical forms. Such a psychedelic collage!
Its construction on land that used to be part of the stables and fields of a Ducal Palace, so close to the church of Saint Andrews, caused much controversy and rejection in this population at the beginning. However, its construction continued starting in 1999 and it took two years to complete.
The funny thing is that, once the initial shock, most of the citizens of Brunswick came to love this "happy home" and now would be unwilling to demolish any way. And, to Brunswick, many tourists come just to observe its facade; not inside, which are labor offices, that can not be visited.
The idea came after a conversation of James Rizzi, New York artist and pop art exponent, with Jäschke Olaf, owner of the Aeschke gallery inBrunswick. They had already collaborated in the past but never to undertake a work of such magnitude.
Unfortunately, Rizzi died in late 2011. He was a beloved artist in Germany due to his work left and for his work with charities. Her hallmark were hi of three-dimensional paper sculptures, with prints of children's characters and vivid colors. These designs became translate into everyday objects, from small labels to larger works as a Volskswagen Beetle, trains and even aircraft.
But happy house is surely his most voluminous work, that will make you crack a huge smile when you see it.
Address of the Happy Rizzi House: Ackerhof 1 Braunschweig
Happy Rizzi House por Gerd Evermann | Boing 757 por Gero Brandenburg | Happy House por Magnus Manske | James Rizzi por Alexander Lieventhal
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more infoBarrio de Triana
Exploring the popular Triana district is a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the atmosphere and daily life of this part of Seville, amid the character of its people, its streets, the communal patios, the dance academies, pottery workshops and most iconic buildings.
At the same time, you will be surprised by the most famous stories and legends about the district; especially those related to the time of the Spanish Inquisition. A district full of art and charm, or as the people of Seville say: full of magic. The inhabitants of Triana, have a strong sense of identity. For them, Triana is more than just a district – it is a town with its own personality. Despite the modern buildings that continue to pop up all over the place, Triana has managed to preserve an old feel to it: low houses, geranium-laden balconies and patios. The Parroquia de Santa Ana, a Gothic brick-built temple known as the Catedral Chica is the heart of Triana, but the essence of the district is to be found in its streets, its squares and its inhabitants. Triana is still a district of ever-bustling streets, bars and taverns in which to enjoy tapas and offers dynamic and traditional shopping opportunities with old-fashioned shops. Triana is one of the birthplaces of Flamenco. Numerous Flamenco artists have been born here and there is a distinct Triana way of singing, dancing and playing. The Flamenco atmosphere lives on in the ‘peñas’ and ‘tablaos’ of the Triana district of Seville.
Image:Frobles
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more infoLanzarote Is magic
Lanzarote is a spectacular place, almost magical with its volcanic landscapes that look like other planets, its quiet white sand clear watered beaches, small coves and palm oasis. Declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO for its protection and conservation of nature and the environment, it has natural areas of great beauty and interest, such as the Timanfaya National Park, the Natural Park of the Volcanoes or the Guinate Tropical Park.
An interesting option is to go visit the Graciosa, from which you can take excursions to the islands that belong to the Marine Reserve and their wonderful underwater world. You can also tour the island by bicycle and cross paths that will lead us to the most extraordinary places.
With 21 degrees Celsius on average and 4,800 hours of sunlight every 365 days! That is why Lanzarote has pleasant temperatures for most of the year that invite you to enjoy the sea and practice numerous water sports like surfing and windsurfing. You will also find out about its hospitable people -formerly called conejeros due to the large number of rabbits that were in the island- and their ingrained habits.
César Manrique, international artist, has taken advantage of the charms of the island to make them artworks. His work has been recognized as it should in Lanzarote, and he has the César Manrique Foundation which is in Taro de Tahiche. It is the former home of the artist – he designed it himself – were we can see, as well as representative works of César Manrique’s path, his private collection that brings together authors of the importance of Pablo Picasso, Miró, Chillida or Klee.
Do not forget your food! If you visit Lanzarote you have to try, apart from its delicious cheeses and wines, some of the traditional dishes like Sancocho – with fish, wrinkled potatoes, fish fritters or the bienmesabe-traditional dessert made with almonds, biscuits, egg, sugar and lemon-.
Download here the map of Lanzarote and start planning your trip to this magical island.
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Picture By Pedro caba
more infoPueblo de Navidad de María Pita
On winter, the urban heart of A Coruña changes the aspect to become a Christmas paradise out of a fairy tale.
Despite the cold and the short days, for a few weeks A Coruña shines with warm Christmas lights that illuminate this beautiful city to make us forget the winter inclemency.
From November 28th to January 2nd, María Pita Square – one of the most beautiful and known spots in the city – becomes the Christmas village, with traditional wooden houses with snow on the roof and paths surrounded of firs that seem like the Christmas markets in the rest of Europe.
This place has lot of magic and fun opportunities for the kids, who could enjoy attractions made for them. Leisure activities, stalls for wishing well – benefits go to local charities from the city – and Santa Claus house, where Santa receives the kids and answer their wishes.
This is an activity for all the family, with more than a 100 workshops to learn how to design a Christmas tree or Christmas Cards, among others. These workshops take place daily in the afternoon (from 17:15 to 19:15h.).
For any age there are activities night and day, two or three daily music performances, in the stage in front of the City House.
Near the Christmas village, at the exhibition room of the City House, there is a traditional nativity scene, with the classic reproduction and including other famous people from the history of A Coruña, distributed on 100 m².
To the most remarkable dates of the holidays, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, the hospitality in A Coruña offers many activities to enjoy with your friends. And, of course, on January 5th by the afternoon, the activities are for the kids: the Three Magic Kings parade around the city for the enjoyment of everyone.
With this variety of offers, is not strange that every year thousands of tourists go to A Coruña and the Christmas village of María Pita to enjoy the magic of Christmas.
Picture from entrelazosyabalorios
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