When my boyfriend and I decided to spend a week in Milan, the first thing that came to my mind was: “we must visit Villa Necchi!” On a rainy day in July 2019, we made our way to the iconic villa which you can only visit with a guided tour. Lucky for us, we were the only visitors that morning and received a private tour, where we discovered everything there is to know about the villa’s rich history.
Villa Necchi Campligio, Via Mozart, 14, 20122 Milan, Italy - website - instagram
In the summer of 2019, the boyfriend and I traveled to Italy by train for two weeks of pasta, sun, friends and… architecture! I may not work as an architect anymore, my love for architecture never faded. Luckily my boyfriend is always down to discover another magnificent building! In Milan we visited some of the classics (more on that later!), but the one that made the biggest impression was a bit of the beaten track. (Half an hour outside of Milan by public transport to be exact!) The Gallaratese Quarter was designed in 1967 by Aldo Rossi and Carlo Aymonino, as an answer to the housing shortage after the Second World War. It’s a huge complex, including open-air decks, interconnecting bridges and an amphitheater, all in an exquisite color pallet of browns, reds, yellow and blues. With surprises after every corner and countless interesting views (and square meters!) it’s so easy to get lost in, and a must-visit for anyone with a heart for architecture. Even though you get only one hour to discover the premises (the guard at the entrance will ask your ID in exchange), it shouldn’t be a surprise that I easily filled up my camera’s memory card.
Oh, if you love these images as much as I do – I’ve added some of them to my print shop! Don’t hesitate to contact me if you can’t find the photo you’re looking for, I’ll gladly upload it for you!
Gallaratese Quartier, Via Francesco Cilea, 106, 20151 Milano, Italy
Some things on your bucket list disappoint when you can finally cross them off, others are exactly what you hoped they would be. Then there are those that leave you speechless and let you return home with hundreds of photos to edit… La Muralla Roja, or “the red wall”, is definitely in the last category. The housing complex in Calpe was designed by Ricardo Bofill at the end of the sixties and is an abundance of pink, red, purple and blue, poured into geometric shapes and complimented by luscious green here and there. With its countless bridges, staircases and vistas (inspired by traditional casbah architecture), wandering through La Muralla Roja is a true adventure. Not only does there always seem to be a new staircase or view to discover, the building seems to change with the sun and the clouds, surprising you time in time again. Complete with a rooftop swimming pool, solarium, sauna and rooftop terraces, Bofill‘s design was well ahead of its time and a dream come true for any fan of architecture with a dash of pink!
If the picture overload in this blogpost convinces you to pack your bags and travel to the Costa Blanca yourself, please note that you’re only allowed to enter the site of La Muralla Roja when you’re staying there. Several apartments in the building are for rent through airbnb, I’ve included the one we stayed at below. Its interior is not as jaw-dropping as the building itself, but it has everything you need. Even though you will undoubtedly run into other tourists exploring the building, it’s a quiet place to stay and if you’re lucky (as we were) you have the rooftop pool all to yourself!
La Muralla Roja, e - airbnb (click here for a discount if you're a first time user) - Ricardo Bofill
Ever since I turned photographing interiors from a hobby into a career, this blog has been a bit neglected… but that doesn’t mean I’m not still very fond of my own little internet corner! So, to breathe new life into this blog of mine, I wanted to share one of my favorite interiors shoots of the past few months. At first sight, it’s hard to pinpoint when this house was built, as this single story house designed by late architect Eddy Francois feels timeless while also referencing those typical bungalows from the seventies. With its green surroundings, interesting mix of materials and textures and owners Alexandra and Peter’s impeccable selection of furniture, this home is high up on my list of dream houses. If you’re curious to find out more about the house and its owners, have a look at the original feature here (only in Dutch). For related interior inspiration have a look here and don’t forget to follow me on Instagram for regular updates!
It’s early in the afternoon when I cross Campo Clara, a square which is home to the famous flee market Feira da Ladra twice a week. When I lived in Lisbon a few years ago, I spent many hours wandering this market, looking for second hand treasures, but today I have a different goal. I’m heading to Santa Clara 1728, a hotel hidden in an old convent on the often busy plaza. Once I step foot inside the majestic entrance hall, the lively city couldn’t seem further away though.
Santa Clara 1728 - Campo de Santa Clara 128, 1100-473 Lisbon - website - facebook - instagram
The city of Lisbon might be known for its colorful facades and picturesque street views, that’s not all it has to offer when it comes to architecture. Because I can never resist brutalist architecture with its geometric shapes and intriguing use of materials, I did a little research on brutalism in Lisbon before my last trip to my favorite city. A google search led me to the Palácio da Justiça, the courthouse of Lisbon which was designed by Januário Godinho & João Andresen in the sixties. This mastodont of a building ticks all the brutalist boxes, so if you’re a lover of all things architectural, it is definitely worth a detour from your average tour of the Portugese capital. In that case, don’t forget to checkout my Lisbon city guide for more must visits!
The combination of plants and rough concrete is one that is always a win in my book and Lisbon‘s Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian proves my point with conviction. This brutalist museum houses the art collection of the foundation named after businessman and philanthropist Calouste Gulbenkian. While the ancient and modern art collection is supposed to be impressive (I have to admit I only ever visited the library), it’s the surrounding gardens that truly make my heart beat faster. The fragments I’m sharing in this blogpost should give you an impression, but why not plan a trip to Lisbon and visit the Gulbenkian yourself? In case you do: boredom won’t be an option because I’ve updated my Lisbon city guide…
If you’ve been following along on Instagram, you have without a doubt noticed I spent the end of the year in my beloved Portugal. Before meeting up with my family for the holidays, I spent 5 days on my own in Lisbon, doing what I love to do most. I revisited my favorite places from when I used to live here, discovered new places and wandered the streets of my favorite city with my camera in hand. I’ll soon blog about my favorite discoveries, but first I wanted to share a few images of the MAAT, Lisbon’s museum for Architecture, Art and Technology. Last year, the majority of the museum was closed to the public, but this year I had better luck. While the expositions I visited were interesting, the museum building itself that was the true highlight of my visit. I couldn’t resist snapping a few new pictures of all the different textures on the billowing facade and the extraordinary view over the Tejo.
During my last visit to Lisbon, I made a quick stop at the CCB in Lisbon’s parish Belém. I visited this cultural center once before, during my Erasmus in 2012, and absolutely loved it, so I couldn’t resist paying it a second visit after I discovered the MAAT. Unfortunately I didn’t have time to go inside and check out the current exhibition (I had a plain to catch), but I did take a closer look at the architecture and was pleasantly surprised. Due to the winter light, the building seemed to be dressed in soft pink tones, which worked beautifully with the CCB’s surrounding greenery and the building’s composition. Just in case you have plans to visit Portugal’s capital, don’t forget to check out my city guide for more tips on what to do in (and around) Lisbon.
Ever since I read about the new museum for architecture, art and technology in Lisbon, or the MAAT, I couldn’t wait to visit this impressive piece of architecture on the bank of the river Tagus in Lisbon’s district of Belém. Unfortunately, I was only able to visit the foyer of the museum, as the new exhibitions were still a work in progress. However, the architecture itself did not disappoint. The tiled facade, curving towards the river, beautifully reflected both the sound of the waves and the play of light on the water surface. On the undulating rooftop, the balustrades and stairs collided into a playful composition of lines. I hope these images give you an impression of Amanda Levete’s design and encourage you to leave Lisbon’s city center for its Belém district. For more must-visits in the wonderful city of Lisbon, have a look at my city guide here.