Munich
It is difficult to sum up such a beautiful city and cultural oasis that offers sensory appeal of just about every kind imaginable. This post is an overview to a city well worth a visit of at least 5 days. In terms of when to visit, the weather is beautiful from May through the summer, and there’s also Oktoberfest in the fall!
Munich’s cityscape is recognized by one of the largest city parks in the world, The Englischer Garten (English Garden, named after the landscaping style). Visitors and locals can be found sunbathing in the green pastures among trees, pathways and the picturesque Kleinhesseloher Lake.
Famous for Oktoberfest, the beer in this Bavarian capital is seriously delicious. If you are not in Munich for the celebration, visit the Hofbräuhaus or a local beer garden to enjoy a fine selection of beer in oversized mugs.
Art lovers: museums are not to be missed. While there are dozens to choose from, The Haus der Kunst provides an excellent selection of rotating modern and contemporary exhibitions. Other contemporary galleries can be found closer to and around the University. Head to the Alte Pinakothek for works by European masters from the 14th to 18th centuries: Dürer, Titian, Rubens, Rembrandt and Tintoretto among others.
Food lovers: you must visit the Viktualienmarkt, or Victuals Market. This large, open-air market located in the city center has an abundance of fresh produce, flowers, seafood, herbs, wine, cheeses and freshly prepared meals.
So what else is there to love about Munich, and Germany overall? Bike lanes! Germany has designated bike lanes that are separate from the road and pedestrian sidewalks. Open air markets, biker friendly and safe, plus large green city parks equals healthy living in Munich (minus the beer and schnitzel, but it all balances out in the end).
Sleepover Tip: stay at Hotel Louis
Englischer Garten
Viktualienmarkt
Bavarian State Chancellery
Palace Nymphenburg
Palace Nymphenburg
Pagodenburg
Pagodenburg
Vica’s own Stefan Steil just received his Masters of Fine Arts in Interior Design from the New York School of Interior Design. His final thesis project is a thoughtful approach to the topic of mourning and burial of the dead.
Stefan says:
This project is a promessionarium composed of a set of interior spaces dedicated to the functions of mourning and caring for the dead. There are many interiors designed to accommodate mourners and this is an integral piece of this design problem, but the larger and more challenging problem is the recognition of death in an interior space, resulting in:
- Interior that evokes an equal, non-denominational feeling
- Interior space that conveys a spirit of tenderness and intimacy
- Space instills a deep sense of awe without inflicting god-fearing terror and pompous ceremonies
This process is reflected in the design which moves from dramatic to lyrical.
Sustainability became an integral part of the project in terms of rethinking the environmental impact of cremation. Green Walls, for example, have been incorporated as a new method of space-saving burial.
For more information, visit: www.stefansteil.com
Hall of Remembrance
Chapel Interior
Meadow walkway
Meadow
Chapel at night
SPOILER: Stefan traveled to 3 beautiful cities in Europe after his graduation commencement. A preview of his chosen destinations will arrive this week, and whomever guesses the right locations gets a lucky penny.
Selldorf Architects’ 200 Eleventh Avenue is nearing completion. Here is a video tour of a duplex.
200 Eleventh Avenue Duplex Tour, Courtesy of Urban Muse/Gaia House from Betty Elrod on Vimeo.
Video courtesy of Urban Muse/Gaia House.
Monet (New York) & Picasso (London)
Gagosian Gallery New York is currently exhibiting works from Monet’s Late Years, while the Gagosian Gallery London displays works from Pablo Picasso’s Mediterranean Years. The Picasso exhibition follows the Picasso: Mosqueteros show at the Gagosian Gallery in New York last spring. These exhibitions were designed by Vica founder Annabelle Selldorf and curated by art historian John Richardson (Picasso shows) and Paul Hayes Tucker (Monet show).
Monet
Late Work
Gagosian Gallery, New York
through June 26
Details: 212.741.1717
For more information, read the press release here
Picasso
The Mediterranean Years (1945-62)
Gagosian Gallery, London
through August 28
Details: 0207 841 9960
For more information, read the press release here
Read the The Guardian review here
Installation view of Monet show
Installation view of Picasso show
Photography: Manolo Yllera. Interior design: Selldorf Architects.
This is a quick, easy and elegant way to add a splash of color to your domestic setting. Colorful textiles liven up your living area and keep you warm this winter.
These textiles from ABC Carpet and Home range from $125- $395. Browse here
By Vajra Tibet
I spend a lot of time wandering the internet. It usually starts while I am on the phone and need something to do with my eyes and hands while my ears and mouth are engaged. This often leads to several minutes of extatic rooting around, collecting images in a folder named ”ideas”, collecting sites in my list of favorites.
The other day, attracted by some colorful images in a Design Observer post I came upon Sheaff Ephemera. This little web museum displays a selection of vintage and antique printed matter collected over four decades by graphic designer Richard Sheaff. They are arranged by genre, or theme, each grouping prefaced by an blurb or essay that leads the visitor by the hand down the path of wonderment. Of the section entitled “People holding Fish” Sheaff says “It seems to me that they reveal something about character . . . of the holder, not the fish.”
The Maupin-Tonchi Residence, a Selldorf Architects interiors project, was featured in Spanish Architectural Digest’s April ‘09 issue. The text was written by Christina Giminez. The interiors were photographed by Manolo Yllera in zen-like silence. He used a digital camera and took long exposures, during which everyone stood still and held their breath. Can you tell that the rooms are illuminated only by natural light from the windows? No additional strobes or floodlights were brought in. Beautiful.
The Vica Herbert Chair in cream leather, and the Vica custom sectional sofa in dark purple velvet.
A Vica Dining Table with a back painted glass top and darkened brass base.
A new spread on this apartment has just come out in the June ‘09 issue of German Architectural Digest! The text was written by Margit J. Mayer. And the apartment was photographed by Todd Selby to the beat of Daft Punk from his assistant’s ipod.
The Vica Herbert Chair in cream leather, and the Vica custom sectional sofa in dark purple velvet.
BTW, Todd Selby has a very addictive blog of portraits and interiors, which he describes (on the blog) as “interesting people in their creative spaces”. I love to see what people collect, and to see people in their homes among all the clutter and trappings of daily life. www.theselby.com
Selldorf Architects Interior, photographed by Patrick Mulligan