{Vienna: combining conservative architecture with an unconventional urban edge}
The gigantic and quite romantic “castle” you see in the picture is a landmark in Vienna city center, that probably many of you been in Vienna did not happen to notice as it’s a bit away from tourist attractions. Anyway though looking as a fairy tale building, in fact this place was first built as a barracks. Rossau Barracks are today the headquarters of Austria's Ministry of Defence (strangely enough, the Ministry of Defence also covered Sport until 2018) but the Kaserne - barracks in German - is also a historic reminder of the 19th century architecture and also the turmoil in the middle of that century. It was built following the Austrian Revolution of 1848 when government wanted to protect the inner city from the proletariat revolts. It was then known as the Kronprinz-Rudolf-Kaserne.
The building has had plenty of varied uses during its history: part of it has been used as apartments for the homeless, part as a garage and part as a museum for a renowned Austrian infantry regiment.
It was then handed over the Vienna police after WW2, who now share it with the Ministry of Defence and part of the Vienna City Council.
Quick fact: The barracks was the subject of a painting by Hundertwasser called “Lände mit Rossauerkaserne” painted in Vienna in 1944.
The huge building rises between Schlickplatz and the #donaukanal quay and from down the banks you get a nice perspective of the barracks. The Donaukanal banks are also a perfect place for a nice stroll. The concrete walls aligning the #danube canal are like one long blank canvas, inviting underground artists to make their mark. Bridges and walkways are covered with splashes of color! For some of the best and most interesting works, check out the stretch between Schwedenplatz and Schottenring.
Extra tip: for nightlife lovers, down on the towpath of the Danube canal, you can find the #flex a leading indie venue and club since the ‘90s. You can experience all kinds of electronic music, its also famous for hosting small concerts from rap, indie rock, hip hop and all other kinds of music that will make you want to jump around a whole lot
{futuristic pompousness}
I’ve always been fascinated by contemporary architecture though I grew up in Rome, a city we all know doesn’t have a special inclination for contemporary/futuristic architecture; maybe my interest has something to do with the fact that I grew up in the most contemporary neighborhood of Rome, the EUR district, maybe it helped me a bit to have a deeper insight on more modern stuff..who knows! Anyway...when I’m visiting other cities I always try to put together some sightseeing and urban exploration to see new designs and technologically advanced buildings. And Vienna always gave me much gratification in this regard, this city knows definitely how to combine the old and the new.
I share with you some pics I took few days ago of the library and learning centre by @zahahadidarchitects one of the buildings that make up the new campus at the Vienna University of Economics and Business (Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien) where the most distinctive feature is Zaha Hadid's 28,000-square-metre building and its large black volume perched over the roof and cantilevers out across a public square at the main entrance.
This structure houses the main library, as well as function rooms, cafe, and is clad externally in glass fibre-reinforced concrete panel. You can enjoy a walk around here, have a drink in one of the WU campus cafeterias and go poking inside the Zaha Hadid spaceship building!
Posting here again after 5 months of unplanned silence, despite so many new discoveries, new adventures, new meetings that I could have shared...BUT you know sometimes offline life do not merge with online life ➖➕
It’s been quite natural I have to say, as if I were suddenly tired of this media, tired of posting, tired of your posts and “lives” through a screen, through a filter, tired of your strategies, advertising, your daily “ode to self”, of you creating your own corner of influence.
I was probably sick of myself being here.
Social media provided a global connectedness, they say it has given us as individuals more control over our and others’ lives and how we express ourselves. But that is not working for me probably.
I’ve seen and learned so much from the troubled world outside in the past 5 months, and though I need social media for my travel blogging life, I’ve learned and appreciated working behind a screen, developing strategies, developing proposals and synergies, not necessarily been on the front line, not necessarily being here and share content.
So if being absent from social media - especially when you’re a travel blogger or writer - may be perceived as a non-professional behavior, I experienced that if your ideas and values are quality oriented and creative enough, you are free to be away from here, if you want to.
And honestly this place and its inhabitants won’t miss you.
Let’s stop overthinking now, I'm finally at ease and happy to come back here and share some thoughts and beautiful photos with you of all the nice places I happen to discover. 📸 Took this pic at Copenhagen airport few weeks ago; Kastrup is one of Europe's busiest airports, with a flight taking off every 2 minutes 🛫
Love this neon installation...could be my life motto #thejourneyison
Voglio spendere l’intera giornata per le strade di Rio de Janeiro e voglio che sia lenta, ma densa. E’ domenica, la giornata migliore per farlo. A Rio di domenica si respira un’aria diversa, di festa, e la città ha molto da offrire, dal lungomare che viene chiuso al traffico, fino ai tanti bei mercati colorati, dal food all’artigianato.
A pochi passi dalle conosciutissime Piazza Farnese e Campo De Fiori, si cela uno di quei luoghi indimenticabili, uno degli innumerevoli tesori nascosti di Roma, che ho avuto la fortuna di visitare e di cui mi sono innamorata. E’ il bellissimo Palazzo Spada.
Nell’elegante parco di Villa Torlonia, uno dei più frequentati dai romani, ma non così noto a chi viene in visita a Roma, è possibile addentrarsi in un luogo blindatissimo e sotterraneo, che offre uno spunto per ripassare un po’ di storia e fare un viaggio indietro nel tempo, è il Bunker di Mussolini.
Finalmente Bari! La pescosa, come la definì Orazio – che sebbene sia una delle città del sud meno avvezze al turismo, custodisce succulenti angoli da scoprire…su tutti, il centro storico: sì, lei Bari Vecchia!
