Archive for November, 2011
Last Wednesday of the Month Architecture: Bathing Beach Seeburg at Küssnacht am Rigi
GKS Architekten + Partner AG studio from Lucerne, has developed this project at Küssnacht am Rigi, in Switzerland on Lake Lucerne. The project was conceived by the architects in 2006, and it was finally built between 2009 and 2010.
Tjallamalla: supporting emerging Swedish labels since 1994
The word Tjallamalla may not mean much to must of us, but to Anna Nortenius it became the symbol for an entire language. As a child she used to pretend to be able to speak English, and the word Tjallamalla became a key element of this beloved language. Years later, in 1994, the word still felt as an important part of her life, so she decided to open a clothing store by this name, aiming to support and promote emerging Swedish design talent.
Kahlo and Rivera: The Gelman Collection at Göteborgs Konstmuseum
Diego Rivera, Portrait of Natasha Gelman, 1943
They used to say that behind every great man, is a great woman. Although certainly a valid statement in regards to Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, I’d like to extend that line of thinking out of any feminist debate, because particularly when Kahlo’s name is attached, it’s a road so-traveled that we needn’t go down it again. Instead, let’s focus on what lies at that center of that thought, which while certainly being gender-neutral, is by no means neutral in the success of any artist: support. You can certainly make comment about the support system that Rivera and Kahlo had between themselves as a couple and as artists, but without dwelling on that any longer, it simply brings us to another reinterpretation of what stands behind every great artist, and that’s a great story. So, check and double check for Rivera and Kahlo.
New Nordic at Noma
Copenhagen is a delight to write about and offers so much more than one can possibly cram into on a weekend city break! Also, am I really the only one who can’t seem to get enough of all things Nordic? Fortunately I also have a lovely Danish acquaintance, who as an expat, remains very strongly bound to her Copenhagen roots. Her insider knowledge is overwhelming and as she rattled off a list of cultural and culinary delights for me to consider in that fascinating and very endearing Danish clipped tone of hers, I was lost not only in that I couldn’t keep up taking notes as she spoke, but also for sheer choice. How on earth can you decide between “the most superb gourmet restaurant”, “the amazing Louisiana Museum”, “The Chair“ (Wishbone, Carl Hansen) not to mention “the whole Design legacy “ or “the longest sandy coastline in Europe with the most charming seaside harbor houses” and “the beers, of course…” (Carlsberg and Tubourg)? I know there’s more but I decided to focus on the first item that she mentioned, Noma, as it was delivered with such enthusiasm that I even chose it in favour of The Chair (shhh, don’t tell him indoors). Well I love a good meal and I was instantly captivated by the restaurant’s beautifully simple interiors.