Sunday, 4 January 2015

40 Incredible Secret Places Most Travelers Don't Know About. The Last One Blew Me Away...

Mark Pygas

The Eiffel tower, Golden Gate Bridge and the Colosseum may be amazing in their own right, but there's something special about going to a spectacular location that few travelers venture to. Take a virtual journey with me to these secretly underrated places...

Ristorante Grotta Palazzese, Italy

Ristorante Grotta Palazzese, nestled in the caves of Polignano a Mare beach, is one of the greatest places to eat in all of Italy, if not the world.

Chichilianne, Rhone Alpes, France

The breathtaking Mont Aiguille is nearly 7,000 foot tall and offers amazing views of the French Prealps.

Tiger’s Nest Monastery, Paro Valley, Bhutan

Source: tigersnestbhutan.com

This 17th century temple sits on the edge of a cliff 3,000 feet above the Paro valley. The holy site was built to protect the cave in which Guru Padmasambhava, a leader of Buddhism, meditated for three years, three months, three weeks, three days and three hours.

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Dubrovnik is a medieval city is still largely intact. So much so, that parts of the city are used as King’s Landing in Game of Thrones. The city is brimming with amazing architecture and surrounded by the Mediterranean on one side and walls on the other.

Albarracín, Aragon, Spain

Albarracín is a beautifully preserved medieval village in Northern Spain. The rock paintings in the cliff-foot caves of the Albarracin Cultural Park (some of the most important evidences of the Levantine prehistoric art of Spain) and the "Picaportes" (door knobs) are something to marvel at!

Bagan, Burma

Source: http://iliketowastemytime.com

Bagan is an ancient city hidden deep inside Burma. At the height of the Kingdom of Pagan, the city had over 10,000 Buddhist temples. Today, over 2200 of these are still standing, making it an amazing place to visit.

Aescher, Switzerland

Aescher hotel is so high up on the Appenzellerland mountains that you have to hike or get a cable car to reach it. Amenities are intentionally basic but the food is hearty and the nearby trails lead to exhilarating adventures.

Haiku Stairs, Hawaii

Known as the Stairway to Heaven, this fairly unknown hiking trail can be found on the island of O’ahu. The trail is steep and ends at a peak 2,800 feet above the sea, which offers amazing views of the island.

Þingvallavatn Lake, Iceland

Found deep within this huge National Park is the boundary between North America and Europe. Lucky divers can swim in between the tectonic plates of these two continents, which is getting 2 centimeters wider every year.

Chefchaouen, Northwest Morocco

Source: Sandra Jordan

Chefchaouen is best known for its blue buildings, painted in a spectrum of soothing hues. If you want to escape the city, make sure to check out the nearby Rif mountains and the Cascades d'Akchour!

Lord Howe Island, Australia

Source: all-that-is-interesting.com

This beautiful island is mostly untouched by man, with a tiny native population and only 400 tourists being allowed to visit each year. The limit is in place to protect the amazing natural landscape of Howe Island, which is home to a beautiful crystal lagoon and coral reef.

Bishop Castle, San Isabel National Forest, Rye, Colorado

Bishop Castle is undoubtedly one of the craziest castles in the world, created by the one-man castle builder Jim Bishop. It's an incredible place to get married or just to visit for inspiration.

Huacachina, Peruvian desert

Huacachina is a tiny village of just over 100 people built around a lush oasis in an otherwise barren desert. For a few bucks, you can rent sandboarding equipment and try one of the locals' favorite thrills.

The Bastei Bridge in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, Germany

Visit also Lilienstein, one of several small mesas in Saxony - it's surreal to watch the fog roll over.

Cappadocia, Turkey

Cappadocia is a historical region in Central Anatolia, best known for its unique moon-like landscape, underground cities and cave towns. All of which is best seen from the sky, with dozens of hot air balloons offering amazing bird eye views.

Hallstatt, Austria

Hallstat is a medieval village which is home to less than 1,000 people. High in the mountains of Hallstat, you can explore prehistoric mines that were some of the first in the entire world.

Leptis Magna, Tripoli, Libya

Leptis Magna was once a major city of the Roman Empire. Now, its ruins act as an adventurer's playground. If you want to experience the amazing sights of ancient Rome, but avoid competing with the crowds, this is the place to go.

The Alcázar of Segovia, Spain

The Alcázar of Segovia is a stone fortification, located in the old part of the city. It's one of the most distinctive castles in Spain by the virtue of its shape – like the bow of a ship.

Alter do Chao, Brazil

This town straddles the Amazon rainforest and an amazing beach known as the Island of Love. Only a few meters from the beach is a huge lagoon, Lago, Verde, which is home to myriad animals and can only be explored by canoe.

Hotel Moulin de Roc, France

Deep in the province of Dordogne, you'll find an old mill transformed into an amazingly quaint hotel on the banks of a peaceful river, with nothing around for miles. It's also home to the renowned Michelin Star restaurant, with plenty of outdoor seating.

The peacock room in Castello di Sammezzano, Tuscany

Within the abadonded castle Castello di Sammezzano you can find the Peacock Room. A hidden jewel features intricate Moorish designs and a breathtaking assortment of patterns and colors. The beauty of the memorizing interiors is simply beyond comparison.

Deception Island, Antarctica

This ring shaped island is so remote that it can only be accessed by tour boats. The inside of the island offers sanctuary from storms and icebergs for a host of creatures, including hundreds of penguins. If you want to escape the cold, the island is situated on an active volcano and home to hot springs galore.

Melissani Cave, Kefalonia, Greece

In Greek mythology, nymphs (female nature deities) inhabited this breathtaking cave and lured men in with their beauty. Under a high sun, the amazingly blue is illuminated for any lucky swimmers.

Meghalaya, India

The hills of Meghalaya receive nearly 40 feet of rain every year, meaning that the valley floors of this beautiful but remote forest are often transformed into rivers. Complex series of skybridges help you to navigate the environment.

Craco, Matera, Basilicata

The medieval village of Craco is part of an incredible region with undulating shapes and vast farmland. Since the sudden abandonment of the village, rumour has it that the ruins have become inhabited by ghosts.

Quinta da Regaleira, Sintra, Portugal

Quinta da Regaleira is an estate located near the historic center of Sintra, classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Make sure to check out the Gruta do Labirinto (the Labyrinthic Grotto) and it's mysterious wishing well! This 27 meter deep well resembles an inverted tower. Depending on the direction you choose, either a journey down into the depths of the earth, or a climb out of the darkness into the light awaits.

Weißgerbergasse, Nuremberg, Germany

Be sure to also visit the small town of Bamberg and the Altenburg castle, which sits on the tallest of the seven hills, overlooking the city!

Procida, Italy

Procida is a beautiful Mediterranean island paradise. Terra Murata is the highest point on the Island aswell as its heart.

Lofoten Islands, Norway

The Lofoten Islands are a group of islands found in Northern Norway, within the arctic circle. The islands are home to seductively quaint fishing villages, the world’s deepest coral reef and amazing views of the Northern lights.

Cocos Island, Costa Rica

Source: underseahunter.com

Cocos Island is an uninhabited island located 300 miles off the shore of Costa Rica. As a national park, the island is untouched by civilization and acts as one of the best scuba diving spots in the entire world because of its spectacular marine fauna.

Rock tombs in Myra, Lycia, Turkey

After visiting the tombs you can go to the real Saint Nicholas Church. The perfect place to go to ask Santa why he got you the wrong gift last year.

Herrenchiemsee New Palace, Lake Chiemsee, Germany

In 1873 King Ludwig II of Bavaria acquired the Herreninsel as the location for his new Royal Palace. Modelled on Versailles, this palace was built as a "Temple of Fame" for King Louis XIV of France, whom the Bavarian monarch fervently admired. And trust me - Ludwig II was absolutely crazy - the "mad king" even had a “magic table” inspired by the Grimm’s Fairy Tale in his dining room!

Fès, Morocco

You're looking at the Leather Souq, the oldest leather tannery in the world. Don't miss the marvelous Bab Boujloud (the blue gate) as well!

Blagaj, Bosnia and Herzegovin

Blagaj stands at the edge of the beautiful Buna river.

Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic

This town was first founded in the 13th century and little has changed since then. Stepping into the castle grounds is like going back in time, specially if you go during the Renaissance festival which is held every June.

The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, Saint Petersburg, Russia

You should go inside, I have never seen such a colorful church in my whole life! The city has so much more to offer, like the State Hermitage Museum or the inaugurated Amber Room in the Catherine Palace!

Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland

Both pronouncing and getting to Ittoqqortoormiit can be difficult, but it’s totally worth the effort. From the capital of Iceland, you’ll need to get on a once-weekly plane to Greenland and then get a helicopter ride to this small, colorful town which sits by the longest glacial river system in the world.

Mount Ai-Petry, Crimea, Ukraine

Located on the Kastron mountain, the fortress of Cembalo is also nice to visit. It's a facade of spectacular views overlooking the sea off the Bay of Balaklava.

Marsaxlokk, Malta

Home to Marsaxlokk fish market, a sprawling and endless market held each Sunday in town!

Monument Valley, Utah

If you think this valley seems familiar, it’s because the area was commonly used as a filming location in the heyday of Western movies. The vast sandstone structures dominate the landscape of this vast valley which is far quieter than similar sights like the Grand Canyon.

source

Friday, 2 January 2015

A Single Light Bulb Adorns an Entire Room with Lacy Shadows

A single light bulb may not sound large enough or bright enough to decorate the entire interior of a large room, but artist Anila Quayyum Agha accomplished just that. Her installation, Intersections, was the winner of Artprize 2014 at the Grand Rapids Art Museum in Michigan.

The piece consists of a 6.5-foot laser cut wooden cube hanging from the ceiling. The wood is punctured with intricate lacy patterns across every surface. A single light source hangs in the middle of the cube, illuminating it from the inside.

This single light throws spectacular shadows that decorate every surface of the room the sculpture is in. Among the many wonders of this piece is the fact that it will change and give an ever-so-slightly different effect in every space depending on the architecture of that space.

Intersections was inspired by the artist’s childhood as a Muslim woman growing up in Pakistan. She describes her life as one of “wonder and exclusion.” The piece is inspired by a pattern from the Alhambra, a Mosque where Islamic and Western influences intersect, and it displays the interplay between shadow and light, public and private, and static and dynamic.

Thursday, 4 December 2014

The top 10 contemporary homes in Toronto

Posted by Chris Bateman

The top contemporary homes in Toronto serve as a reminder that fans of modern architecture are spoiled for choice in this city. Take a stroll around neighbourhoods like Rosedale and Cedarvale (two areas with residents rich enough to hire a designer and build their own homes) will reveal a dramatic modular home that overlooks a steep ravine, a Mad Men-era mansion, a $30 million palace with a 150 seat concert venue, even a home that looks suspiciously like an iPhone.

Here are my picks for the top contemporary homes in Toronto.

194 Roxborough Drive - Integral House
No list of modern Toronto homes would be complete without a mention of the Integral House, concert violinist and mathematics whizz James Stewart's massive Rosedale mansion. It has five floors, a 150-person indoor music hall, numerous gadgets, and reportedly cost in the region of $30 million. The best features, however, are on the outside. The curving glass and wood exterior blends nicely with its bucolic surroundings.

18 Thelma Avenue (iPhone house)
Ever thought how great it would to live inside a house that looked sort of like a smartphone? It will cost you $3.2 million, but there is an option in Toronto. 18 Thelma Ave., just north of Spadina and St. Clair, is the iPhone house. Its glossy back exterior and window arrangement make the home look like a giant Apple product poking out of the ground.

95 Ardwold Gate - Richard G.W. Mauran House
One of Toronto classic single dwelling examples of modernist architecture, The Richard G.W. Mauran House at 95 Ardwold Gate was built in 1968 for the founder of restaurant chain Harvey's on the site of an Eaton family mansion. It still manages to look futuristic at almost 50.

207 Ava Road - Cedarvale Ravine House
A descendent of the Richard G. W. Mauran House, 207 Ava Road has a similar appearance to its 1960s counterpart, but with more glass. Built in 2012 out of impressive cantilevering blocks, this house features polished concrete floors and ceiling-height windows that look out over the Cedarvale Ravine.Architecture critic John Bentley Mays calls it "intelligent, deft and refined."

48 Heathdale Road
Another modern Cedarvale abode, 48 Heathdale Rd. appears relatively rustic compared to its stark neighbours. Exterior wood paneling, an earth-toned frame, and an uneven roof line lend the two-storey home, which was completed in 2005, a hint of nature. Like the Ravine House, below, 48 Heathdale appeared in the movie Chloe.

375 Shaw Street
The exterior of 375 Shaw St., located a short walk north of Trinity-Bellwoods Park, gives away little of the strangeness within. When it was last on the market in April this year, prospective buyers were no doubt confused by the substantial swimming pool that dominates the kitchen and living area. Step straight from the stove to the giant tub, if that's what you're in to.

40R Shaftesbury Avenue - The Laneway House
That any house has been built on a laneway in Toronto is something of a planning miracle, let alone one as aesthetically refined as the Superkül Inc. house. The former blacksmiths workshop on Shaftesbury Ave. has an exterior of artfully rusted metal, a little rooftop patio, and numerous skylights. Amazingly, the footprint is just 83.6 square metres. Perfect for fans of micro living.

24 Heathdale Road - Ravine House
The impressively sectional Ravine House is one of two homes on this list to have appeared in a Hollywood movie, Atom Egoyan's Chloe. The home, built overlooking the Cedarvale Ravine to designs by Drew Mandel Architects, looks like a space ship that could take off into the night sky at a moment's notice. Inside, the property is lined with mahogany panels and glass walls. There's even a rear terrace and "lookout pavilion."

22 Grange Ave - Pachter Residence
Artist and real estate speculator Charles Pachter's house on Grange Ave. stands out among its Victorian neighbours like a spacesuited Neil Armstrong would in a line of chimney sweeps. Built in 2005 in place of a funeral home, the combined residence, gallery, and studio space is a neighbourhood landmark. Pachter described in the Star as "clean, elegant and quiet ... it is an oasis. It's a joyful place -- a serious Pee-wee's Playhouse."

108 Crescent Road
It takes guts and determination to drop an modern home like 108 Crescent Rd. into a notoriously conservative Victorian neighbourhood like Rosedale. The two-storey brick and wood box wasn't easy to build; neighbourhood and city groups had to be convinced the home would respect its surroundings and, as a result, numerous nods were made to the Rosedale aesthetic, including dark wood cladding and several brick exteriors.

source

Tuesday, 2 December 2014

30 INCREDIBLE SINKS YOU DON’T SEE EVERY DAY

We all want to be creative in our homes but often lack the ideas to make something unique. Have you ever thought about upgrading your bathroom sink into something really amazing? If the answer is yes, then you may well find some inspiration from this collection below. If the answer is no, then the chances are you'll probably change your mind when you see how incredible some of these designs are! Ranging from sleek and sophisticated to practical and eco-friendly, there's bound to be a design to suit every taste.