Tuesday, December 24, 2024
Victor House
Victor House by CZWG Architects
Stoney Street / Clink Street
London, May 2023
“For nearly six centuries, the kitchen of the great hall of the Bishop of Winchester’s London residence stood at the corner of Clink Street and Stoney Street until 1814, when a great fire which swept along Clink Street caused it to be demolished and replaced with a flour mill. More than a century later, fire struck again in the form of a Second World War incendiary bomb, and the site lay empty for nearly 60 years. It has now been developed in the form of Victor House, an eight-storey apartment building with a ground floor restaurant, carefully designed to preserve intact the archaeological remains of the ancient monument beneath it. The design seeks to restore the historic character of the streets as narrow, cart-width canyons by jettying out over the footway where possible whilst still allowing a penetration of daylight and sunshine. The form is sculpted by light angles and composed of robust geometric forms to complement the engineering vocabulary of the adjacent Victorian railway and wharf architecture – two four-storey brick cubes, one sat on the ground in Clink Street, the other poised above an overhanging steel jetty in Stoney Street, are hinged at the corner by a tall glass silo. A second squatter glass vat is halved to effect the transition of the building line of Clink Street and signal the entrance to the apartments.” (Victor House, CZWG)
Monday, December 23, 2024
San Leonardo in Arcetri
Church of San Leonardo in Arcetri
Via di San Leonardo
Florence, January 2024
“San Leonardo in Arcetri is a Romanesque-style, Roman Catholic church located on Via di San Leonardo #25, a few hundred meters southeast of the Porta San Giorgio of Florence, Italy. A church at the site appears founded just after the year 1000, with a typical hemicircular apse. The facade is made from rustic stone bricks. In the late 19th-century, the church had much of the baroque accretions removed, reverting the interior to reveal the sparse Romanesque elements. The facade has a round oculus in the tympanum. The interior houses a 13th-century pulpit, formerly in the church of San Pier Scheraggio, and transferred here in 1782. That church was demolished during the construction of the Uffizi.” (San Leonardo in Arcetri, Wikipedia)
Sunday, December 22, 2024
Isla de Poniente
Isla de Poniente
Puerto Marina
Avenida del Puerto Deportivo
Benalmádena, March 2024
“Benalmadena Marina is one of the most amazing port and residential complexes in the world, with exemplary facilities and very attractive and unique architecture. It has twice been awarded the ‘Best Marina in the World’ in 1995 and 1997. Since 1987 it has also been awarded the European Blue Flag for the quality of its services and waters. With over 1,100 moorings for boats up to 6 metres long, Benalmadena Marina has quality facilities and offers a full schedule of activities and events due to the privileged climate of the southern Mediterranean. Boasting over 320 days of sunshine per year, with an average annual temperature of 23° C, it is perfectly suited to maximise all types of tourism, recreation and leisure activities.” (Puerto Marina, Málaga Travel Guide)
Saturday, December 21, 2024
Welsh Congregational Chapel
The Borough Welsh Congregational Chapel, 1870
Southwark Bridge Road
London, May 2023
“The Borough Welsh Congregational Chapel (Welsh: Capel-y-Boro) is the mother chapel of the Welsh Congregational church in London, England. It is located at 90 Southwark Bridge Road in Southwark, a district also known as ‘The Borough’. The roots of the congregation date back to 1774. There has been a Welsh chapel on the current site since 1806, although the present building dates from 1870. About 1870 the freehold for the ground on which the chapel stood was purchased and a new chapel was built on the site. The foundation stone was laid on 31 July 1872 by Samuel Morley (MP) a famous Congregationalist, who donated £500 to the new chapel which was opened on Sunday, 23 February 1872. The Chapel today stands in the same place as the old chapel but instead of the entrance facing Little Guildford Street, it now faces Southwark Bridge Road. On 8 August 1881, David Simon Davies from Carmarthen College was ordained as the first Minister. In the Burns' Day storm on 25 January 1990, part of the roof and two chimneys fell into the Chapel causing a great deal of damage. It took six months to rebuild the gallery, and during this time services were held in the vestry. The Chapel was re-opened on 22 November 1990.” (Borough Welsh Congregational Chapel, Wikipedia)
Friday, December 20, 2024
Via di San Leonardo
Paved street between stone walls
Via di San Leonardo
Florence, January 2024
“Go back to Via del Forte di San Giorgio and turn right into Via di San Leonardo, probably the most beautiful street in Florence, defined by old stone walls and magnificent houses on either side. Perfect for pictures, Via di San Leonardo can be a bit scary when a car flies by, so be very careful when a vehicle comes around the corner. Continue straight on this lovely cobblestone road until you reach the tiny Church of San Leonardo in Arcetri, which has been serving the community since the 11th century. Keep walking and stuff your eyes with wonder: this street is a never-ending succession of Tuscan country houses, villas, cypresses and olive groves.” (The City's Southern Hillside, Ciao Florence)
Thursday, December 19, 2024
Pedro de Mena
Bust of Pedro de Mena by Virgilio Galán Sánchez, 2010
Calle Afligidos
Málaga, March 2024
“Pedro de Mena y Medrano (August 1628 - 13 October 1688) was a Spanish sculptor. Pedro de Mena was born in Granada, Andalusia. He was a pupil of his father Alonso de Mena as well as of Alonzo Cano. His first success was achieved in work for the convent of St. Anthony Granada, including figures of St Joseph, St Anthony of Padua, St Diego, St Pedro Mentara, St Francis, and St Clare. In 1658 he signed a contract for sculptural work on the choir stalls of the cathedral of Málaga, this work extending over four years. Other works include statues of the Madonna and child and of St Joseph in Madrid, the polychromatic figures in the church of St Isodoro, the Magdalena and the Gertrudlis in the church of St Martin (Madrid), the crucifixion in the Nuestra Señora de Gracia (Madrid), the statuette of St Francis of Assisi in Toledo, and of St Joseph in the St Nicholas church in Murcia. Mena traveled to Madrid in 1662. Between 1673 and 1679 Mena worked at Córdoba. About 1680 he was in Granada, where he executed a half-length Madonna and child (seated) for the church of St. Dominic. Mena died in Málaga, city where he spent most of his life, and where he had a sculpture studio for thirty years until his death in 1688.” (Pedro de Mena, Wikipedia)
Wednesday, December 18, 2024
Tuesday, December 17, 2024
Daniele Manin
Daniele Manin by Urbano Nono, 1890
Piazzale Galileo
Florence, January 2024
“In 1862 the Venetians, who after the reconquer of Venice by the Austrians (1859), were exiles in Florence, decided to build a monument to their compatriot Daniele Manin (1804-1857), as a tangible sign of gratitude to the city that had hosted them and a due tribute to the patriot, a prominent figure of the Italian Risorgimento. With the liberation of Venice in 1866, the project was suspended but not forgotten, and it was resumed twenty years later, thanks to a new committee of Venetians living in Florence. Having completed quickly the competition to award the work (1888), the statue was commissioned to the Venetian sculptor Urbano Nono, who built it in 1889, the year in which it was cast in Micheli plant in Venice. Sent to Florence at the beginning of the following year, after careful testing done by the sculptor Soranzo and the director of the Regia Accademia delle Belle Arti (Royal Academy of Fine Arts) in Venice, Luigi Ferrari, the statue was provided with a suitable base and inaugurated during a solemn ceremony on 9th February 1890, placed at the centre of piazza Ognissanti, which since 1860, was entitled to Daniele Manin. In 1931 the monument was then moved, at request of architect Alfredo Lenzi of the Ufficio di Belle Arti of the Municipality of Florence, to one side of piazzale Galileo, because it limited the enjoyment of the ancient architectures.” (Monumento a Daniele Manin, Florence I Care)
Monday, December 16, 2024
Monument to the Peseta
Monument to the Peseta by José Gómez Guerreo, 2007
Paseo Maritimo Rey de España
Los Boliches
Fuengirola, March 2024
“Our ‘Monument to the Peseta’ was the first one in Spain dedicated to our former currency, though nowadays there are others in some Andalusian towns like Estepona (Málaga) or Roquetas de Mar (Almería). It has been 10 years since we said bye-bye to our pesetas and we welcomed the euro, but there are still some nostalgics who miss them as it was the currency of Spain for over a hundred years.” (Monument to the Peseta, Hotel Yaramar)
Sunday, December 15, 2024
Full of scorpions
“O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife.” by Layla Andrews
Nolia's Gallery wall
Great Suffolk Street, Southwark
London, May 2023
“In act 3, scene 2 of Macbeth, Macbeth says, “O full of scorpions is my mind… thou knowst that Banquo and his Fleance lives.” The scorpions represent both Macbeth’s uneasiness and his dark desire to murder Fleance and Banquo. The knowledge that Fleance and Banquo are still alive fills Macbeth with anxiety and dread. By saying his mind is full of scorpions, Macbeth means that he cannot rest easy while they are alive. His restlessness comes from the witches’ prophecy that Banquo will have kings in his family line, which is a threat to Macbeth’s throne. Layla Andrews is a Brixton-based artist known mainly for her large scale, figurative and abstract portraits. Whilst people may form the basis of much of her art, family stories, the natural world, and her lifelong love of second hand treasure all inspire and influence her collections.” (O full of scorpions is my mind, Better Bankside)
Saturday, December 14, 2024
Friday, December 13, 2024
El Cenachero
El Cenachero by Jaime Fernández Pimentel, 1968
Plaza de la Marina
Málaga, March 2024
“This bronze sculpture created by Málaga artist Jaime Fernández Pimentel in 1968 represents a typical and traditional figure of Málaga, the ‘Cenachero’ or Fish Vendor. El Cenachero sold fish on the streets of the city while maintaining the balance of the two esparto baskets he carried. These basket are called ‘cenachos’ in Spanish, hence his name. The cenachos were handmade of esparto and filled at the beaches where the central fishing net was landed. Generally, Cenacheros sold anchovies, but also traded in mackerel, sardines or whitebait. The sculpture shows how a traditional cenachero dressed: with a sash, the hanging cenachos and a hat to protect him from the heat. In honour of the twinning of the cities of Málaga and Mobile, Alabama, Málaga City Council donated a replica of this sculpture to Mobile, which has been erected in a square of this American city.” (El Cenachero, Ayuntamiento de Málaga)
Thursday, December 12, 2024
Lord Nelson
Lord Nelson
Union Street, Southwark
London, May 2023
“Anyone who remembers this place from a decade ago is in for a shock. The former estate pub looks like it's been stormed by a bunch of students and decorated with every kitsch item they could muster. It's not just that the walls are covered in Teletubbies, fairy lights and gurning animals. Even the beer taps are loaded with toys. You'd have to be a sour-faced goat indeed not to smile at the decor, though.” (Lord Nelson, Londonist)
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
Incontri
“Incontri” (Encounters)
Monument to Paul Harris by Romano Costi, 1994
Viale Machiavelli
Florence, January 2024
“It is a complex of four statues (originally five) by the Treviso sculptor Romano Costi inaugurated in 1994 on the initiative of the Rotary Club of Florence South which at that time had its headquarters in a prestigious hotel nearby. It was a group of bronze statues that moved on their base, pushed by the wind or by human hands. The title of the work (Encounters) symbolizes the meeting between peoples and cultures of the five continents.” (Paul Harris, Osservatore Libero)
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
Generación del 27
“Generación del 27”
(Gala, Emilio Prados, Salvador Dalí, Manuel Altolaguirre)
Calle Castillo del Inglés
Torremolinos, March 2024
“Sculpture of the painter Salvador Dalí and his muse Gala, who between April and May 1930, resided in the Santa Clara Guesthouse, where Dali painted the painting ‘The Invisible Man’. Next to them appear the poets Manuel Altolaguirre and Emilio Prados historiographically attached to the generation of '27.” (Generación del 27, Ayuntamiento de Torremolinos)
Monday, December 9, 2024
Empty car
Monday, 9:30 am
Central Line
London, May 2023
“The Prime Minister has decided to proclaim an additional bank holiday to mark the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III next year. The bank holiday will fall on Monday 8 May, following the Coronation on Saturday 6 May.” (Bank holiday proclaimed in honour of the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III, gov.uk)
Sunday, December 8, 2024
Giardino di Bobolino
Giardino di Bobolino
Viale Machiavelli
Florence, January 2024
“This public park, located on Viale Machiavelli near Porta Romana, is a sloping garden, entirely made up of grassy slopes, steps and gravel yards with pretty green furniture solutions including tanks and artificial caves; the majestic ‘Cedar of incense’ located on the left side of the central flowerbed is worth a mention.” (Giardino di Bobolino, Feel Florence)
Saturday, December 7, 2024
Museo Loringiano
Museo Loringiano (Loring Museum)
Jardín Botánico-Histórico La Concepción
Camino del Jardín Botánico
Málaga, March 2024
“From its inception, La Concepcion was renowned throughout Europe, though not for the exuberance and beauty of the garden itself; its fame was due instead to the magnificent collection of archaeological remains at the Loring Museum, a Doric-style pavilion built on a Roman mosaic originally discovered in Cartama which depicted the feats of Hercules. For many years, the Lorings strove to restore all of the archaeological remains that they encountered.” (The Loring Museum, Jardín Botánico-Historico de Málaga)
Friday, December 6, 2024
Cooking oil into biodiesel
Cooking oil into biodiesel
Queensway
London, May 2023
“We recycle the used cooking oil from our kitchens into biodiesel, which we use to help fuel our delivery trucks. We do it by collecting used cooking oil from our restaurants. At a processing facility in Liverpool, the oil is left to settle in large tanks. Smaller and lighter particles float to the top, while heavier ones sink to the bottom. The oil is gently heated and spun to remove water and solids. At this point a process called esterification takes place, a chemical reaction that produces biodiesel. Then filtration and distillation take place. At that point, the biodiesel is ready for use in our delivery trucks. ” (How does bio-diesel power your delivery trucks and how many lorries are powered by used cooking oil?, McDonald's)
Thursday, December 5, 2024
Casa dell'Allegoria
Casa dell'Allegoria (House of the Allegory)
Piazza della Calza
Florence, January 2024
“The House of the Allegory is a building in the historic center of Florence, located in piazza della Calza 2r-3r-4r, corner of via dei Serragli and via Romana 102, in the Oltrarno area. The house is scenically positioned as a large wedge between Via Romana (where the entrance is) and Via dei Serragli, in front of the Porta Romana entrance and over time its façade was decorated with allegorical frescoes, the last of which dates back to 1954 and its title is The life of Florence over the centuries by the painter Mario Romoli.” (Casa dell'Allegoria, Wikipedia)
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Puerto Marina
Puerto Marina
Avenida del Puerto Deportivo
Benalmádena, March 2024
"Benalmadena Puerto Marina is very popular and several times winner of the 'Best Marina in the World' award. There are 1,100 moorings for boats up to 6 meters long, Benalmadena Port - 'Puerto Marina' is one of the Costa del Sol's busiest attractions by day and night. A beautiful place to stroll around during the day and in the evening the nightlife carries on in sophisticated bars and clubs." (Benalmadena Marina, Andalucia.com)
Tuesday, December 3, 2024
From Whiteleys to The Whiteley
From Whiteleys to The Whiteley
Queensway
London, May 2023
“The Whiteley is a regeneration project of an entire urban block located in Bayswater/Queensway, framed around the redevelopment of the existing Shopping Centre, comprising of the retention, restoration and enhancement of Grade ll listed facades; new build residential (130 units), retail, leisure and hotel, spanning 9 floors above ground and 3 basement levels. Extensive gardens and amenity spaces are provided at roof level.” (The Whiteley, Urban Systems Design)
Monday, December 2, 2024
San Salvatore al Vescovo
San Salvatore al Vescovo
Piazza dell'Olio
Florence, January 2024
“San Salvatore al Vescovo is a church located in Florence, Italy. It was first built in the 11th century and has had several subsequent modifications. The lower portion of the facade is built in a Romanesque architecture style with bi-colored marble decorations.” (San Salvatore al Vescovo, Wikipedia)
Sunday, December 1, 2024
Casa Palacio
Casa Palacio (Stately Home)
Jardín Botánico-Histórico La Concepción
Camino del Jardín Botánico
Málaga, March 2024
“Originally built as a holiday home for Jorge Loring and Amalia Heredia following their purchase of La Concepcion in 1855. Designed by the German architect August Orth, this classical-style villa stands atop a hill which affords views of the whole estate, as well as of Malaga Cathedral and the Mediterranean Sea. Inside, the rooms are arranged around a central patio that is two storeys high, with the upstairs rooms also looking out onto the fountain below.” (The Stately Home, Jardín Botánico-Historico de Málaga)
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