Monday, May 31, 2021

Raffaele Rubattino

Monument to Raffaele Rubattino by Augusto Rivalta, Piazza Caricamento, Genoa

Monument to Raffaele Rubattino by Augusto Rivalta, 1893
Piazza Caricamento
Genoa, April 2016

“Raffaele Rubattino (10 October 1810, Genoa – 2 November 1881) was an Italian entrepreneur and colonialist who started a shipping company that ran merchant ships on the routes to the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. He was also a founder of the Italian navy.” (Raffaele Rubattino, Wikipedia)

Sunday, May 30, 2021

U Szkota

U Szkota (At the Scot), Chlebnicka, Gdańsk

U Szkota (At the Scot)
Chlebnicka
Gdańsk, September 2018

Saturday, May 29, 2021

Francesc Cambó

Monument to Francesc Cambó by Victor Ochoa, Carrer de Ramon Mas, Barcelona

Monument to Francesc Cambó by Victor Ochoa, 1997
Carrer de Ramon Mas
Barcelona, March 2017

“Born in Verges in 1876, Francesc Cambó was a wealthy conservative politician, lawyer, author, philanthropist and Catalan nationalist. He founded the Regionalist League, was member of the Spanish government, promoted Catalan culture and collected art (a large part of his collection is on display in Barcelona’s MNAC museum). Shortly after the Second Spanish Republic was proclaimed in 1931, Cambó fled to France where he later raised money to help fund Franco’s army during the Spanish Civil War. Some biographys say that Cambó sided with Franco because he believed that a Republican victory would lead to Spain becoming a communist state controlled by the USSR. Others suggest that he was unaware of Franco’s true intentions and the genocide which was taking place in Spain. Some sources go further and accuse Cambó of being an informer who collected information about Republicans in exile. Others simply avoid the subject completely by ending in 1936!” (Monument to Francesc Cambó, Barcelona Lowdown)

Friday, May 28, 2021

La moglie del Gigante

La moglie del Gigante (The wife of the Giant) by Diego Sarti and Pietro Veronesi, Scalinata del Pincio (Pincio Staircase), Piazza XX Settembre, Bologna

“La moglie del Gigante” (The wife of the Giant) by Diego Sarti and Pietro Veronesi
Scalinata del Pincio (Pincio Staircase)
Piazza XX Settembre
Bologna, June 2015

Thursday, May 27, 2021

Świętokrzyski Bridge

Świętokrzyski Bridge, Wybrzeże Kościuszkowskie, Warsaw

Świętokrzyski Bridge
Wybrzeże Kościuszkowskie
Warsaw, September 2018

“The Świętokrzyski Bridge (Polish: most Świętokrzyski, English: Holy Cross Bridge) is a bridge over the Vistula river in Warsaw, Poland linking Powiśle neighbourhood with Praga Północ district. It is a cable-stayed bridge, 479 m long, with two lanes for vehicles, a pavement and a cycle path each way. The single tower, 90 m high, located on the right (eastern) river bank, has 48 cables attached supporting the deck. Near the left (western) bank the bridge is supported by two piers. The bridge was opened on 6 October 2000 after two years' construction. The bridge's name comes from Świętokrzyska Street, which forms part of the access route from the city centre. According to the data from Stołecznego Zarządu Dróg Miejskich (Capital City Road Authority) in 2018, on average 23,418 vehicles passed the Świętokrzyski Bridge daily.” (Świętokrzyski Bridge, Wikipedia)

Wednesday, May 26, 2021

Fire Flash

Fire Flash fire boat, Albert Embankment, Lambeth, London

“Fire Flash” fire boat
Albert Embankment
Lambeth
London, September 2014

“A fire engine on the water. Our current fire boats were specially built for London Fire Brigade. They are a class of boat called a ‘Wave Patroller’, and each has a slightly different specification. Fire Dart and Fire Flash are both fast twin-engined, single-hulled landing crafts. They have been designed with shallow draft – a flat bottom – for use on rivers and inland waterways. Both have a reinforced keel, so we can ‘beach’ the boats on the Thameside and lower our access ramp without harm.” (Fire boats, London Fire Commissioner)

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Detail of the facade

Detail of the facade, Cattedrale di San Lorenzo (Cathedral of Saint Lawrence), Piazza San Lorenzo, Genoa

Detail of the facade
Cattedrale di San Lorenzo (Cathedral of Saint Lawrence)
Piazza San Lorenzo
Genoa, April 2016

Monday, May 24, 2021

Dragon head

Dragon head roof gutter, Wawel Castle courtyard, Wawel Hill, Kraków

Dragon head roof gutter
Wawel Castle courtyard
Wawel Hill
Kraków, September 2018

Sunday, May 23, 2021

Fountain at Plaça d’Espanya

Monumental fountain by Josep Maria Jujol, Plaça d’Espanya, Barcelona

Monumental fountain by Josep Maria Jujol
Plaça d’Espanya
Barcelona, March 2017

“The 33m high neoclassical fountain was designed by Josep Maria Jujol and represents Spain through references to the country’s 3 most important rivers; Ebro, Guadalquivir and Tajo. The sculptures which adorn the fountain include collaborations by Miquel Blay, Miquel & Llucià Osté and Frederic Llobet. The fountain is most impressive at night when it is floodlit.” (The Fountain at Plaça d’Espanya, Barcelona Lowdown)

Saturday, May 22, 2021

Porta Galliera

Porta Galliera, Piazza XX Settembre, Bologna

Porta Galliera, 1661
Piazza XX Settembre
Bologna, June 2015

“Porta Galliera was a gate or portal of the former outer medieval walls of the city of Bologna, Italy. It is the most ornamented of all the remaining gates. The gate was built during 1659-1661 by designs of the architect Bartolomeo Provaglia. The interior portal has a scenic Baroque facade, while the external portal accentuates the defensive military role of a gate. The road from here led to Ferrara. In 1330–1333, the Cardinal Bertrand du Pouget ordered construction of a castle near this gate as part of a siege. By the twentieth-century the walls were torn down, and the gate isolated. Restorations were pursued in 1926 and in 2001–2003.” (Porta Galliera, Wikipedia)

Friday, May 21, 2021

Prison Tower

Prison Tower, Targ Węglowy, Gdańsk

Prison Tower
Targ Węglowy
Gdańsk, September 2018

“Originally built as part of the city’s fortifications in the second half of the 14th century, the complex was rebuilt by Antoni Van Obberghen between 1593 and 1604 with the smaller of the two buildings becoming a torture chamber and courthouse while the larger tower became the prison. It was here that executions were carried out until the middle of the 19th century. Damaged during WWII, it now houses the Torture Museum.” (Prison Tower & Torture Chamber, In Your Pocket)

Thursday, May 20, 2021

One Canada Square

One Canada Square, Seen from Westferry Circus, Canary Wharf, London

One Canada Square
Seen from Westferry Circus
Canary Wharf
London, September 2014

“One Canada Square is a skyscraper in Canary Wharf, London. It was completed in 1991 and is the third tallest building in the United Kingdom at 770 feet (235 m) above ground level containing 50 storeys. One Canada Square was designed by César Pelli with Adamson Associates and Frederick Gibberd Coombes. The design and shape are based on earlier precedents buildings that include Brookfield Place and Elizabeth Tower. The building is clad with durable stainless steel. One of the predominant features of the building is the pyramid roof, which contains a flashing aircraft warning light, a rare feature for buildings in the United Kingdom. The distinctive pyramid pinnacle is 800 feet (240 m) above sea level. One Canada Square is primarily used for offices, though there are some retail units on the lower ground floor. There is no observation floor. It is a prestigious location for offices and as of October 2017 was completely let.[18] The building is recognised as a London landmark, and it has gained much attention through film, television, and other media as one of the tallest buildings in the United Kingdom.” (One Canada Square, Wikipedia)

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

Stained glass window

Stained glass window, Cattedrale di San Lorenzo (Cathedral of Saint Lawrence), Piazza San Lorenzo, Genoa

Stained glass window
Cattedrale di San Lorenzo (Cathedral of Saint Lawrence)
Piazza San Lorenzo
Genoa, April 2016

Tuesday, May 18, 2021

Water lilies

Water lilies, roof garden, Biblioteka Uniwersytecka w Warszawie (University of Warsaw Library), Dobra, Warsaw,

Water lilies, roof garden
Biblioteka Uniwersytecka w Warszawie (University of Warsaw Library)
Dobra
Warsaw, September 2018

“The distinct new building includes a botanical garden, located on the roof. The garden designed by landscape architect Irena Bajerska, has an area of one hectare, and is one of the largest roof gardens in Europe. It is freely accessible not only to the academia, but also to the public. The upper part of the garden consists of four parts: the Golden Garden (to the north), the Silver Garden (to the east), the Crimson Garden (to the south) and the Green Garden (to the west). It is available from April to October while from 1 November to 31 March only the Lower Garden is open.” (University of Warsaw Library, Wikipedia)

Monday, May 17, 2021

Arenas de Barcelona

Arenas de Barcelona, Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, Barcelona

Arenas de Barcelona
Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes
Barcelona, March 2017

“Plaza de toros de las Arenas was a bullring in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Over the years it featured numerous musical artists, including Carlos Santana and Paco de Lucia in 1977. It opened on June 29, 1900, and its last bullfight was held on June 19, 1977. The building was reopened in 2011 as a shopping mall named Arenas de Barcelona. The plaza de Las Arenas opened in 1900. It was mainly used for boxing or free fights. In 1927, when it became the property of rich entrepreneur Pedro Balañá, the Arenas were remodeled into a bullfight arena. During the Civil War, the building was occupied by anti-fascist militias. Bullfights went on during the Franco era. In the 1960s, a North-American and European tourism grew around bullfights in Spain. The last fight taking place in 1977. Bob Marley and The Wailers performed on 30 June 1980 in support of their Uprising Tour (European Leg). In 1989, the first anti-bullfight campaign was led in Catalonia. In 2004, support grew in Barcelona against bullfighting and by 2010, bullfights were voted illegal, however, this law was overturned in 2016. The remodeling work started in November 2009. The developer, Metrovacesa, invested 70 million euros in the project. The architects were Alonso y Balaguer and Richard Rogers. The construction work was handled by Dragados. A public walkway was installed on the last floor all around the building, allowing a 360 degrees view of the city (the mirador). The Arenas opened as a new mall in March 2011. The commercial area is 31.918 m2 and counts 100 stores on 6 floors. In 2015, the mall recorded 10.500.000 visitors. The dome of the building is 27 metres high.” (Plaza de toros de las Arenas, Wikipedia)

Sunday, May 16, 2021

Lamp posts

Cast iron lamp posts, Via Indipendenza, Bologna

Cast iron lamp posts
Via Indipendenza
Bologna, June 2015

Saturday, May 15, 2021

Plac Szczepański

Palac Sztuki (Palace of the Arts), Bust of Jan Matejko by Antoni Madeyski, plac Szczepański, Stare Miasto (Old Town), Kraków

Palac Sztuki (Palace of the Arts)
Bust of Jan Matejko by Antoni Madeyski
plac Szczepański
Stare Miasto (Old Town)
Kraków, September 2018

Friday, May 14, 2021

Cutter head

Part of the cutter head from the tunnel boring machine, Docklands Light Railway extension to Lewisham, Cutty Sark DLR station, London

Part of the cutter head from the tunnel boring machine
Docklands Light Railway extension to Lewisham
Cutty Sark DLR station
London, September 2014

“Docklands Light Railway Lewisham Extension opened 22 November 1999. This is part of the cutter head from the front of the tunnel boring machine used to drive the twin tunnels under the River Thames from Island Gardens to Lewisham.” (DLR extension to Lewisham, London Remembers)

Thursday, May 13, 2021

Risseu

Traditional cobbled paving in the courtyard, Curia Arcivescovile di Genova, Piazza Matteotti, Genoa

Traditional cobbled paving in the courtyard
Curia Arcivescovile di Genova
Piazza Matteotti
Genoa, April 2016

Wednesday, May 12, 2021

Reflections

Haas House by Hans Hollein, Stock-im-Eisen-Platz, Vienna

Haas House by Hans Hollein, 1990
Stock-im-Eisen-Platz
Vienna, June 2018

“The Haas House is a building in Vienna at the Stock-im-Eisen-Platz. Designed by the Austrian architect Hans Hollein, it is a building in the postmodernist style and was completed in 1990. The use of the Haas-Haus is divided between retail and a restaurant. The building is considered controversial owing to its contrast with the adjacent Stephansdom cathedral.” (Haas House, Wikipedia)

Tuesday, May 11, 2021

Estació del Nord

Estació del Nord or Estación del Norte, Carrer de Nàpols, Barcelona

Estació del Nord or Estación del Norte
Carrer de Nàpols
Barcelona, March 2017

“The Estació del Nord or Estación del Norte, is a former main line railway station in the city of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Originally opened in 1862, it was closed as a railway station in 1972. It is now used partly as a bus station, partly as a large multi-purpose sports hall, and partly as a police station. The sports hall is known as the Poliesportiu Estació del Nord, and was a 1992 Summer Olympics venue. The bus station is known as the Estació d'Autobusos Barcelona Nord, and is Barcelona's principal terminal for scheduled medium and long distance coach services. The station lies in the Fort Pienc neighbourhood of the Eixample district of Barcelona, some 1.3 kilometres (0.81 mi) from Plaça de Catalunya. The Arc de Triomf station, served by Barcelona Metro line L1 and Rodalies de Catalunya suburban trains, has an entrance directly in front of the station on Plaça d'André Malraux. The Parc de l'Estació del Nord, laid out on the site of sidings associated with the station, lies to the south-east.” (Estació del Nord, Wikipedia)

Monday, May 10, 2021

Turtle

Fontana delle Tartarughe (Turtle Fountain) by Diego Sarti, Park of Montagnola, Bologna

Fontana delle Tartarughe (Turtle Fountain) by Diego Sarti, 1888
Park of Montagnola
Bologna, June 2015

“The Park of Montagnola is a public park in Bologna, Italy; it owes the original construction (1805) to Napoleonic rule, who commissioned the park design from Giovanni Battista Martinetti. The base of the park contains the ruins of the 14th-century Castello di Galliera, which then leads to a scenographic staircase (1893-1896), designed by Tito Azzolini and Attilio Muggia. The stairs are decorated by sculptural reliefs and statues inspired by the history of Bologna, completed by the Arturo Orsoni, Pietro Veronesi, Tullo Golfarelli, Ettore Sabbioni, and Arturo Colombarini. The parks central basin was completed for the Exposition of the Province of Emilia in 1888, by design of Diego Sarti.” (Park of Montagnola, Wikipedia)

Sunday, May 9, 2021

Kościół Świętej Trójcy

Kościół Świętej Trójcy (Holy Trinity Church), Świętej Trójcy, Gdańsk

Kościół Świętej Trójcy (Holy Trinity Church)
Świętej Trójcy
Gdańsk, September 2018

Saturday, May 8, 2021

Broadcasting House

Broadcasting House, Langham Street, Marylebone, City of Westminster, London

Broadcasting House
Langham Street, Marylebone
City of Westminster
London, September 2014

“The main building was refurbished, and an extension built to the rear. The radio stations BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 4 Extra and the BBC World Service transferred to refurbished studios within the building. The extension links the old building with the John Peel Wing, and includes a new combined newsroom for BBC News, with studios for the BBC News channel, BBC World News and other news programming. The move of news operations from BBC Television Centre was completed in March 2013. The official name of the building is Broadcasting House but the BBC now also uses the term new Broadcasting House (with a small ‘n’) in its publicity referring to the new extension rather than the whole building, with the original building known as old Broadcasting House.” (Broadcasting House, Wikipedia)

Friday, May 7, 2021

Salita San Matteo

Votive shrine, Salita San Matteo / Vico delle Fiascaie, Genoa

Votive shrine
Salita San Matteo / Vico delle Fiascaie
Genoa, April 2016

Thursday, May 6, 2021

Cormorant on the Wisła

Cormorant, Bulwary Wiślane, Generała George’a Smitha Pattona, Warsaw

Cormorant
Bulwary Wiślane
Generała George’a Smitha Pattona
Warsaw, September 2018

Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Carmela

Carmela by Jaume Plensa, Carrer de Sant Pere Més Alt, Barcelona

“Carmela” by Jaume Plensa, 2016
Carrer de Sant Pere Més Alt
Barcelona, March 2017

“Carmela was created from a photo of a Barcelona teenager. Plensa scanned the photo to create a three dimensional image which he then compressed in one axes before casting it in iron. The result is an enigmatic flattened sculpture which, when viewed from the right angle, looks like a large three-dimensional bust. During the inauguration of the exhibition, Plensa said of the figure: ‘Carmela represents a girl from Barcelona, a Mediterranean beauty, a timeless beauty, from both past and future, who perhaps has not yet discovered that she is interested in art.’ The statue was originally meant to be exhibited outside the Palau de la Musica until September 2016 when it was due to be shipped to Grand Rapids (Michigan USA). Thanks to the public’s reaction, Plensa ceded the sculpture, estimated value €700,000, to the city for an initial period of eight years.” (Carmela Sculpture, Barcelona Lowdown)

Tuesday, May 4, 2021

Nereid

Detail with a lactating Nereid, Fountain of Neptune, Piazza del Nettuno, Bologna

Detail with a lactating Nereid
Fountain of Neptune
Piazza del Nettuno
Bologna, June 2015

“Neptune Fountain has its base on three steps, on which it is situated a tank made of the local boulder and covered by marble of Verona. In the centre of the tank, there is a base where there are four Nereids who holding their breasts, from which jets of water emerge. The base is decorated with pontifical emblems, ornaments that – connected to four cherubs – hold dolphins (which are allegorical representation of major rivers from the then-known corners of the world: the Ganges, the Nile, the Amazon River, and the Danube. In the centre of this base raises the majestic figure of the Neptune sculpted by Giambologna's; the statue is a typical expressions of the manneristic theatricality.” (Fountain of Neptune, Wikipedia)

Monday, May 3, 2021

Tourist information

Tourist information, plac Wszystkich Świętych, Kraków

Tourist information
plac Wszystkich Świętych
Kraków, September 2018

Sunday, May 2, 2021

John Nash

Bust of architect John Nash, Church of All Souls, Langham Place, London

Bust of architect John Nash (1752-1835)
Church of All Souls
Langham Place, Marylebone
City of Westminster
London, September 2014

Saturday, May 1, 2021

Palazzo di Branca Doria

Votive shrine, Palazzo di Branca Doria, Piazza San Matteo, Genoa

Votive shrine
Palazzo di Branca Doria
Piazza San Matteo
Genoa, April 2016