THE COOLEST BUILDINGS—MY FAVS PART 2

YESTERDAY, WE VISITED an ancient movie set, a chapel in saintly red rocks, and a Czech “Fred and Ginger.” Today in Part 2 we continue trippin’ around Europe and then return to the U.S. for easy parking. As in Part 1, our primary sources are The Discoverer and TARADIGM.

Casa Milà/La Pedrera, Barcelona, Spain. I’ve visited La Pedrera, Catalan for “The Quarry,” a luxurious apartment complex built by Antoni Gaudí. Indeed, it has already appeared here at SimanaitisSays as a favorite of mine.

TARADIGM describes, “Casa Milà or La Pedrera in Barcelona is world renowned Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi’s last civil work. The Catalan modernist style building began construction in 1906 and was completed in 1912.”

Casa Milà/La Pedrera, Barcelona. Image by Ed Menendez, via Flickr from TARADIGM.  

The website continues, “Built on one of the most exclusive and desired streets in Barcelona, Passeig de Gràcia, the building was designed to turn heads. At the time, Passeig de Gràcia was known for its bold and cutting edge architecture…. Today, La Pedrera is a beloved and revered example of Catalan modernist architecture.”

In “Living in a Tourist Attraction,” SimanaitisSays describes the apartment of Ms. Ana Viladomiu: “about 3750 sq. ft, with large bay windows. In true Gaudi style, its whitewashed walls are artfully curved.” 

Ms. Viladomiu observes, “Gaudi had very clear ideas and a very strong personality, which you just have to respect in order to live here.” Image by Samuel Aranda for The New York Times. 

Bosco Verticale, Milan. “Sustainability is an increasingly important factor in today’s world,” says The Discoverer. “In Milan, it’s hoped that the groundbreaking Bosco Verticale (Vertical Forest) will become a template for similar projects. Located in the Porta Nuova area of the city, the award-winning site comprises two towers, each with staggered balconies.” 

Bosco Verticale, Milan. Image by Audrius Venclova via Shutterstock from The Discoverer.

The Discoverer continues, “Around 800 trees are incorporated into their façades, alongside 5,000 shrubs and countless perennials. This green cloak helps to regulate the blocks’ microclimate filtering the sun’s rays, producing oxygen, and absorbing carbon dioxide in the process. The vegetation changes with the seasons, making this a dynamic architectural environment that begs to be visited multiple times.” 

From time to time SimanaitisSays has featured similarly green façades.

The Biltmore, Asheville, North Carolina. The Discoverer includes The Biltmore in its “The Coolest Building in Every State” listing: “Built from the vision of George Vanderbilt, the Biltmore Estate is America’s largest home. This massive manor was completed in 1895 and is a French Renaissance chateau complete with 250 rooms full of the Vanderbilt family’s original collection of furnishings, art and antiques. More than 1.5 million people trek to Asheville each year to visit the estate and its legendary gardens designed by the father of American landscape design, Frederick Law Olmsted.”

The Biltmore. Image by Zak Zeinhart/Shutterstock from The Discoverer.

Indeed, back in 1991 I was trekking through Asheville as part of my “From Sea to Shining Sea” adventure.

The Biltmore people very graciously offered parking for a Mini Moke happy snap. Talk about Trippin’! ds

© Dennis Simanaitis, SimanaitisSays.com, 2024