I don't know about you but I love the idea of a cylindrical hotel. Check out these designs by Swiss artist Guy Dessauges, who was fascinated by cylinders. Semi-circles, he said, have been used in architecture since the Roman times and even further back in caves. So why not circles? There have been quite a few upright cylindrical hotels, but very few that use the sideways tube as the focus of their design.
If you're on the Hudson River this weekend, don't miss the chance to see a curious flotilla of eccentric vessels making their way towards Queens. The Swimming Cities of Switchback Sea are the creation of maverick NYC installation artist Swoon.
At Been-Seen, we're not immune to the charms of private islands. It's just that they're incredibly expensive. Sixty acres of tropical paradise all to yourself? That's all very nice if you're Mel Gibson or Nicolas Cage, but I'm not. Here's an idea that makes island ownership just about feasible: tiny little islands with homes on them. A small outcrop, a house, and just enough room to swing a cat.
Not all blue frogs are poisonous nor found in the jungles of Suriname. Mumbai boasts its own species. Safer to the touch, and silkier on the senses, the restaurant/bar/theater/recording studio hybrid Blue Frog proves itself to be as versatile as the amphibian it is named after.
Andean Bauhaus. Reads like the result of a dadaist poetry game. Besides the consecutive order of their first letters within the Latin alphabet, the association between the two words doesn't easily come to mind. Yet, in the foothills of Chile's Southern Andes awaits the connection, and a memorable one at that -- Hotel Antumalal.
For those of an adventurous spirit, there are certainly plenty of exciting things to do in Central America. One possible activity that is literally unlike anything you might ever experience again is volcano climbing. Yes, that's right – You can actually climb an active volcano!
Prefab houses are so, well, fab these days. A resurgence of the prefabricated housing concept can be seen in the publication of coffee table books and photo essays in slick design and architecture magazines. (Been-Seen is not immune to its charm either). Turning heads at the Walker Art Center a few years ago, and currently wowing the crowds in New York City at the MoMA, prefab is hot.
Stuck in traffic, on the parking lot of a highway that is the 405, I have often gazed wistfully out my window at the passing motorcyclists: what freedom they seem to have! What ease and maneuverability! Unfortunately, (or not, depending on your point of view) I need the safety of fiberglass and metal surrounding me when I'm hurtling down the freeway at 75 miles an hour. Alvino Design has heard my prayers and combined both these elements into the Proxima, aka the Car-Bike.
Hmmm. What is that? Could it be the eye of a hurricane? Jupiter's Great Red Spot turned blue? An ammonite? All acceptable guesses. The phenomenon sits in barren Northwest African terrain of the Mauritanian Sahara. A mystery that has intrigued scientists, geologists, astronomists and laypersons alike since its visual discovery by orbiting astronauts during the dawn of space travel. Le Guelb er Richat, or the Richat Structure.
Last night I traveled through history. I saw something which has never been seen before. And I am so glad I did. An African-American man chosen as the Democratic presidential candidate. I traveled through history and saw the American dream come alive. As a new American, I got a glimpse of the American spirit. I watched America rally - with great emotion - behind a man that nobody (14 months ago) knew could draw such a crowd. Where else in the world is it possible to witness such a spectacle? Where else in the world could this happen during an election? Last night I visited history, but I also visited America.
Ahhh, the day trip. The day trip can be so many different things. A rejuvenating escape. A necessary respite from routine. The trip within a trip. Flirtatious mini-vacation. A daydream. While a few rank high in my personal pantheon, one day trip in particular stands out as the most memorable of all - Sintra.
In the last year, I've been told again and again by various people about this amazing place in Italy called Isola d'Ischia (Ischia Island). If you've seen the movie The Talented Mr Ripley, you've visited Ischia - at least in spirit. If you'd like to see it for real, there are some pretty glamorous hotels to choose from. Let's start with the Albergo San Montano.
