Welcome 2010.

Tomorrow is the last day of 2009! Can't believe! Everything went so fast, as always.
This has been a year to catch up with myself in every single areas of my life. And I must say I am very happy, indeed. Small, yet good things have happened and I’m ready to accomplish what 2010 has to give.

Now it’s time to assess 2009 and plan 2010.

Things I didn't do in 2009 but I wanted to:
- Go to EXD 09 in Lisbon.
- Visit MUDE in Lisbon.

Things I’ve done without planning (and turned out to be fantastic):
- Open my blog, this blog.
- Short Course in Baroque Interiors and Decoration at The V&A.
- Short Course in Digital Photography and Photoshop at CMS.
- My first photograph shown in a Private Exhibition. You can see it here (That Boy).
- My new professional challenge at Minotti London by EDC


Things I have to do in 2010:
- Visit New York City.
- Hand sketch at least once a week, even if it's only a square (which I do all the time). So next year this day I have to post 53 sketches.
- Develop further my doilies concept for an accessories summer collection.
- Develop a project I have for some time in my design drawer (update you later).
- Work on a photography project I have in my photography drawer (called The Inventory Of My Home Town).

Things I would love to do in 2010:
- Visit the Salone Internazionable del Mobile, Milan
- Visit the Maison Object, Paris

Somewhere... Wherever you want to be...

2010 is going to be a great year.
Think big. Act accordingly.
Happy 2010.

Give It Some Colour.

In my design the underline is always “give it some colour”. I love colour – it’s energy, elegance, personality and that final touch everyone looks for when we’re talking about aesthetics.
The followings pictures were taken last week in Portugal. This building is pretty old, architecturally very Portuguese and the colour just outstands every single detail. It’s a perfect example of how colour is so important in design and architecture.
A façade to remember forever.



The surface has an interesting texture/roughness which gives even more detail and personality.

The windows frame in brown doesn’t only standout but make the façade even brighter.



The pavement “Calçada Portuguesa” is the perfect scenario for such building – It looks like a doily.

Welcome!

It used to be quite popular to have the owner’s initials engraved on the door frame. Something interesting to bring back to design and architecture. (I like the idea of material ownership visual to everyone).

The surroundings.

Aesthetically the building is interesting as a whole: asymmetric architecture painted in vibrant hue and white frame, dark brown doors and windows. Perfect combination.

Give it some colour in 2010. It’s going to be a bright and energetic year for all of us!

Merry Christmas.

Christmas is time to gather with family, friends and everyone important in our lives. I wish you Merry Love, Merry Family, Merry Friends and of course Merry Christmas. All our wishes to come true. Hughug. Kisskiss. Eliana.


My home town, 2006.
Photo published in The Guardian. 2007.

In Portugal, With Love - Santa Rita, Maceira

This is the last of five posts about spaces and other spaces I like to spend time at. The first was about Braga, then Porto, after Coimbra, of course Lisboa, and the last but never the least my beautiful home town Santa Rita-Maceira.
This is the only space I can get some rest. Even though I know everyone and everyone knows me, I’m able to switch off from the world and recharge all energies I need to feed my cosmopolitan life.

I don’t think I can describe with words this little corner in the world. Have a look at the following photos and let me know what you would do at such beautiful space.

To be very honest with you, I don’t really know the story of this cross, but I find it quite powerful the way it stands on the hill.

The road I take for a morning walk (every time I can).


The same road as above, but very close to the sea.

Sunset on Christmas day in 2007 – One of the most beautiful pink sunsets I’ve never seen.
(The photo was taken with my mobile, therefore quality is quite low)


Summer sunset.

My favorite beach in the world.

Where the river meets the sea.

My favorite view.

What you see along the walk to the beach.

PS – I keep calling places spaces as for me they fit my “other spaces” category.

In Portugal, With Love - Lisboa

“Since 1147”.

Lisboa, or Lisbon if you prefer, is a city on its own especially if we’re talking about architecture and design. It’s a mélange of styles, colours, textures, scales and materials.

The photos I’ve selected are very personal to me. There’s so much to talk about the Portuguese capital, but I rather share little moments of inspiration. I hope you like it.

A city to walk everywhere, up and down the hill.

City’s detail.

Interior’s details.

Downtown when the sun goes down.

Night colours.

Yellow inspiration.

Beautiful space, isn’t it?

My favorite snack.

Sharing the moon night with a very special friend (from her flat’s balcony).

Book recommendation - O Ano da Morte de Ricardo Reis / The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis by José Saramago.
Saramago describes and details the city beautifully. Enjoy!

PS – Lisboa is a fantastic City Break.

In Portugal, With Love - Coimbra

Coimbra served the country's capital during the First Dynasty (12th Century) and remains home to the University of Coimbra, the oldest academic institution in the Portuguese-speaking world and one of the oldest in Europe since 1290.
Instead of posting photos on the old city’s architecture I thought it would be interesting to share the contemporary side of it. Coimbra’s riverside has been regenerated and the outcome is just perfectly well blended. Hope you like it.

Pedro and Inês Footbridge.
In 2006 it was completed a footbridge designed by Cecil Balmond from ARUP with Engineer António Adão da Fonseca. The Pedro and Inês Bridge is named after an age-old story of love.
“Pedro, son and heir of King Afonso IV, was forced to marry Princess Constanza of Navarre even though he was in love with Galician noblewoman, Inês de Castro. Constanza died while still young and Pedro fled to live with Inês in Coimbra. However, the king disapproved, believing that her family was a potential threat to the Portuguese throne. He had Inês murdered in Coimbra's Quinta das Lágrimas Palace in 1355, breaking Pedro’s heart."

"On the king's death, Pedro succeeded to the throne and took immediate revenge on the two killers by having their hearts torn out. He then announced that he had secretly married Inês and had her corpse exhumed and crowned. The court was forced to acknowledge her as queen by kneeling before her and kissing her decomposed hand. Their tombs now lie in the abbey at Alcobaça where, at Pedro's wish, they are placed foot to foot so that when they arise on the Day of Judgment, the couple will immediately see each other."

"The essence of the tragic tale of Pedro and Inês could be metaphorically seen by the people of Coimbra in the two walkways that push outwards from the opposing banks towards the centre of the river but then curve away from each other, destined never to meet. Only the addition of a central meeting point enables pedestrians to cross the river.” – ARUP

For more info on this beautiful bridge, check The Guardian’s article.

Bridge’s North View.

Bridge’s South View.

Part of the Regeneration City’s Program.
(Unfortunately I don’t know who’s this project is)

In perspective.

City’s Detail.

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Related Articles
Poetry of Design

PS – Coimbra is a fantastic City Break.

In Portugal, With Love - Porto

For Porto’s post, I’ve decided to share my two favorite contemporary spaces: Casa da Música and Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art. They’re both iconic buildings designed by iconic architects. The first by Rem Koolhaas and the following by Álvaro Siza. Get inspired…

Casa da Música.The building - The icon.
(the scale between human body and building is amazing)

Engaging space.

Casa da Música surroundings.

Reflections on surroundings.

Some of Koolhaas' interior spaces are covered in traditional Portugueses hand-painted tiles.

Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art.
Entry

Siza's architecture is truly poetic. One of my favorite shots.

In perspective to the Museum's collection.

Scale...

Museum's Garden.

Serralves Villa constitutes an important extension of the Museum of Contemporary Art, reserved for presentation of temporary exhibitions.
Originally designed as a private residence, the Villa – which is a unique example of Art Deco architecture – and the park – inspired by the modernists – were commissioned by the second Count of Vizela, Carlos Alberto Cabral. The building was constructed on the outskirts of Oporto between 1925 and 1944.
In both architectural and landscape terms, the property constitutes a notable and harmonious complex – a unique building in Portugal and Europe. In view of their important architectural interest, the buildings at Serralves were jointly classified as a “Building of Public Interest” in 1996 - Serralves.

Villa's Garden.

Richard Serra's Installation.

PS – Porto is a fantastic City Break.
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Related Articles
Serralves Museum. Porto.

In Portugal, With Love - Braga

As I’m going to Portugal on holidays to spend Christmas with family and friends, I thought it would be nice to post about my favorite places and spaces in there. I’ve chosen 5 places that I really love to spend time at: Braga, Porto, Coimbra, Lisboa and my hometown Maceira / Santa Rita.
The photos selection has been a bit difficult as I have so many, but following my blog’s philosophy, I’ll post only about spaces, spaces within spaces and other spaces. Hope you like!

Braga is a one of those cities we feel very welcome the minute we get there. Everyone has always a nice smile to give you. And I just love their accent, the northern accent.

My favorite building in Braga: style, detail and of course the colour. And the sky reflected on those windows just make me fly.

City of Angels.

Everything is very tidy and clean.

Medieval traces on the back.
I find this photo very inspirational: the layers these buildings create and their geometry have such interesting layout.

Municipality of Braga – Building from the 18th century.



A Brasileira – A Classic!

A Casa do Passadiço is now a beautiful interior design shop. The house was mainly built in the 18th century and today it's a reference whether you’re looking for contemporary interior details, or if you want to enjoy the architecture richness of what was once a manor house.

Every public space is carefully designed, especially when it comes to interiors.

For architecture and engineering lovers: Braga Stadium by Souto Moura.
Souto Moura and Álvaro Siza worked together on the Summer Pavilion at the Serpentine Gallery in 2005, when I actually moved in to London. Click here to admire the stunning space they’ve designed to such prestigious British Gallery.

More info on the Stadium project, click here

This photo makes me wonder whether I’m looking at architectural or engineering details.

It’s always a pleasure to visit this city (not to mention the lovely friends I have in there). See you soon.

PS - Braga is a fantastic City Break