#comos discovery exhibition

[konrul]

Lombardy razionalismo italiano tour (post in which will be less architecture and more tour, because my films are waiting to be sent to developing)

So our first base was in Bergamo. A most atmospheric town. If you are in love you must go there. The same if you like stairs and funiculars. The lower station of the first funicular may be crowded and there could be a line of people (you should use the bus if this is the situation) but one morning it was just me, the conductor and his buddy.

I feel that in a couple of years Bergamo may be overridden by tourists, now it were mostly Central European ones and blond people.

Bergamo - Città Alta

Luckily the former Casa Littoria was open to the public for a boring exhibition. However you couldn't really enjoy the Affresco celebritivo per Antonio Locatelli because they put some reflectors next to it that just blinded you.

From Bergamo you can go to Como by train. You must change in Milano or Monza, but you will arrive in a couple of hours.

You can't visit Terragni's building, but the Guardia di Finanza people will let you step in and take a photo like this:

Also in Como you can observe some interesting half measures at the stadium in front of the monument for the fallen ones, where at the main gate (?) the fasces were made unrecognizable but were left untouched at the other gate.

Also from Bergamo you can reach Milano in about an hour. We went there only because my other half wanted to see the Duomo. So I didn't research any rationalist buildings because there were too many.

(this is where I post from image)

However just going from the cathedral to a pasta place unwillingly went through the Piazza San Sepolcro and bumped into interesting architecture. Also from the top of the cathedral you can see that brutalist building that you have already seen on this hellsite.

If it wasn't raining we probably wouldn't go into the Camparino in Galleria (but luckily it did):

(image from the Internet)

You must really go and drink some Campari with seltzer.

After Bergamo we moved our base to Brescia (also around one hour distance by train). So what to do in Brescia? Besides the architecture We are interested in there is a photographic machinery museum (free entrance) and the Vittoria alata.

Until October you can se the Boxer at Rest next to her, so to double the aesthetic pleasures.

Also in Brescia you could do some rationalist grocery shopping.

Since in Como I opposed to getting on a boat I had to compensate with a tour of the Isola del Garda owned by the Borghese Cavazzas.

So you are there, you learn about the family's history and you come home. And after a few days you realize that Junio Valerio Borghese's grandmother was Hungarian (blows your mind).

From Brescia you can go to the Vittoriale in Gardone Riviera by bus. This was the time when I learnt an Italian craft. If there isn't a machine to validate your bus or train ticket or it isn't working then you simply write the date and time on it with a pen.

Not much to say about the Vittoriale. I wish all of my dear mutuals to go there. Be aware: the water in the fountain is luke warm. Better drink a Cedrata Tassoni if you are around the lake (also if you want to be in style). When you leave the Vittoriale, then you should go to the small souvenir shop in the small square. They have cheap cold water, interesting souvenirs and curious liqueurs (like one made from pine).

Last day in Brescia. You can still make some culinary discoveries like the capù scapàt that I enjoyed so much. Cabbage leaves filled with a mix of breadcrumbs and cheese.

At the Risorgimento museum there was one more discovery waiting. A copy of a bust made by Adolfo Wildt.

Have seen pizza just one time. Eaten none.

[blogalmariaplus]

Almaria Plus 2020: a gente sente !

"Almaria Plus 2020: A Gente Sente!" is an immersive experience blending culture, innovation, and community spirit. With its finger on the pulse of contemporary society, this event transcends traditional boundaries, inviting participants to truly feel the pulse of the moment. From vibrant art installations to thought-provoking discussions, Almaria Plus fosters connection and dialogue. Cutting-edge technology meets grassroots activism, offering a platform for voices often unheard. Through music, dance, and interactive exhibits, attendees embark on a journey of discovery and empathy. Almaria Plus 2020 embodies the essence of "a gente sente" – a celebration of diversity, empathy, and the human experience.

Read more : https://blogalmariaplus.com/almaria-plus-2020-a-gente-se-sente-como-voce/

[moan-zine]

THE HIDDEN TALENT AT THE MET GALA: William Dill-Russell

Por Florencia Faraone / 5 de Junio de 2019

Recently featured as the youngest designer part of  Met’s newest exhibition,Camp,  William Dill-Russell is crafting clothing both theatrical and wearable for all genders. For the designer, putting together a collection is like writing a script. His inspiration comes from the streets, film, vintage soap operas but mainly, from characters, the construction of a complex human being and its way of being. His clothes are hand-crafted by William and produced largely on commission, real couture-level gowns; albeit available to purchase via non-couture means of payment plans."I'm trying to think of new ways to sell my pieces, but it takes time. I don't want to just release  just to do so”, he claims.

Above all, the relevance of his work relies in the target costumer.Most of his audience belong to the queer community, it speaks to as many different people as possible, and to all ways of life. Design came to Dill-Russell's world as a form of discovery of his own gender identity.Clothing has a lot to do with talking, we are indeed, what we wear.  It's time to embrace it (always has been).

***

Recientemente introducido al mundo de la moda como el diseñador más joven participante de la exposición más reciente de MET, William Dill-Russell confecciona ropa maximalista, teatral, y para todos los géneros. Para el diseñador, armar una colección es como escribir un guión. Su inspiración proviene de las calles, el cine, las telenovelas, pero sobre todo, de los personajes, la construcción de un ser humano complejo y su forma de ser. Su ropa está hecha a mano por William y se produce en gran parte a comisión,hablamos de prendas de alta costura; asimismo, disponibles para comprar a través de medios de pago no tan "High Fashion"."Estoy tratando de pensar en nuevas formas de vender mis piezas, pero lleva tiempo. No quiero simplemente lanzar algo por el hecho de hacerlo", afirma.

Por sobre todo, la relevancia de su trabajo radica en sus clientes. La mayoría de su público pertenece a la comunidad queer, habla a la mayor cantidad posible de personas y a todas las formas de vida. El diseño llegó al mundo de Dill-Russell como una forma de descubrimiento de su propia identidad de género. La ropa tiene mucho que ver con hablar, de hecho, somos lo que usamos. Es hora de abrazarlo (siempre lo ha sido).

[thespiralstaircasewriter]

JUNE 5 - WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY

Look what I got from these young artists.

They’re Italian, from my area, and you will hear more from them, as I’ve recently translated the catalogue for another upcoming exhibition of theirs… but no spoilers about that.

Just look at this video: those clever hands, that curly head: Caravaggio’shop boy? No, an artist, young artists. I see their heads and their hands shaping the Planet, not just this work.

The sculpture was produced for the open air exhibition We Planet – Cento globi per un futuro sostenibile, A Hundred Globes for Sustainable Future (27 August - 7 November 2021, in Milan and other cities in Italy). The video shows the ‘making of’ the globe that will be representing Como, and it was produced in April, after which the result was briefly displayed in town, as a teaser for the general exhibition.

The finished work is called Dry Jourt A Planet Made of Plastic.The authors are Evelina Maralla, Pietro Turati, Edoardo Brambilla and Luca Metta. You can see them at work in the video, which was also produced by Pietro.

The sponsor of their artistic project in this case is the ‘Fondazione Volta’, an organization inspired by genius loci Alessandro Volta (1745-1827), a scientist, a physicist and a chemist. He loved exploring the marvels of Nature. Along with other discoveries and experiments, he was the inventor of the electric battery. Not by chance, the environment commitment chosen by the Foundation is “Alessandro Volta: from Como, energy for the Earth”.

The globe from Como is illuminated internally at night, thanks to sun-powered batteries installed on it. Isn’t it good to see that? Someone’s home in the Planet.

(ITALIAN TRANSLATION FOLLOWS)

5 giugno: Giornata Mondiale dell’Ambiente

Ecco cosa mi hanno mandato questi giovani artisti. Sono italiani, della mia zona, e sentirete ancora parlare di loro, visto che ho appena tradotto il catalogo della loro prossima mostra… ma niente spoiler.

Guardate il video. Quelle mani abili, quella testa riccioluta: un ragazzo di bottega di Caravaggio? No, un artista, sono giovani artisti. Vedo le loro teste e le loro mani dar forma al Pianeta, non solo a questa scultura.

L’opera è stata prodotta per la mostra open air We Planet – Cento globi per un futuro sostenibile, (dal 27 agosto al 7 novembre 2021 a Milano e altre città italiane). Il video mostra il ‘making of’ del globo che rappresenterà Como, ed è stato prodotto in aprile, dopo di che l’opera è stata brevemente esposta in città, come anticipazione della mostra principale.

L’opera finita è intitolata Dry Jourt Un Pianeta di Plastica. Gli autori sono Evelina Maralla, Pietro Turati, Edoardo Brambilla e Luca Metta. Si vedono al lavoro nel video, anch’esso prodotto da Pietro.

Lo sponsor del loro progetto artistico in questo caso è la ‘Fondazione Volta’, un ente ispirato al genius loci Alessandro Volta (1745-1827), scienziato, fisico e chimico. Amava la natura ed esplorarne le meraviglie. Con altre scoperte e ricerche, inventò la batteria elettrica. Non a caso, il motto dell’impegno per l’ambiente scelto dalla Fondazione è “Alessandro Volta: da Como, energia per la terra”. Di notte, il globo comasco si illumina dall’interno, grazie alle batterie solari di cui è dotato. Bello vedere che sul pianeta c‘è qualcuno in casa.

[pardeepsharma-posts]

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Taking an international vacation is a perfect way to see the world, reconnect with your family and create delightful memories. While planning these moments is exciting, paying for them shouldn't dampen your holiday spirit. You can ensure that your vacation in the United States is easy on the pocket by choosing an affordable destination and taking a travel loan to finance your holiday.

Take a personal loan for travel from NBFCs for speedy approval and disbursal. This loan allows you to start planning your vacation immediately. What’s more, you can make use of the Flexi Loan facility to pay for unexpected travel and medical expenses. With this feature, you can borrow as you need and pay interest only on the amount that you use. Besides, you can pay interest-only EMIs and repay the principal at the end of the tenor.

But first, take a look at some affordable destinations in the US where you can enjoy your vacation.

Niagara Falls

Take your family on a vacation of a lifetime by visiting Niagara Falls. What’s more, if you are adventurous, you can hike to observe the stunning landscape. In order to make the most of this vacation, buy a Niagara USA Discovery Pass. This pass gives you access to not one, but 5 attractions. These attractions include the Aquarium of Niagara along with the Maiden of the Mist, and the pass itself comes at a discounted price. Enjoy the free Niagara Power Vista with a 4D movie, or try STEM activities that your children are sure to enjoy and also learn from.

Wisconsin Dells

Also known as the ‘Waterpark Capital of the World’, Wisconsin Dells in Wisconsin offers the ultimate waterpark experience for your children. You can save by purchasing a Passport to Savings card that gives you access to multiple attractions including the Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf and Noah’s Ark. With 2 wave pools, multiple slides and 4 play areas, Noah’s Ark is an excellent way to spend a day. Choose from 2-dozen waterparks and beat the heat in style.

Minneapolis

If your family loves the great outdoors, Minneapolis in Minnesota is the destination for you. Visit the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden or spend the day relaxing at the artist-inspired mini golf course. Share your love for animals at the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, or simply rent bikes and cycle through the city. This is a great way to explore the area as per your convenience and celebrate the lush landscape.

St. Louis

This destination in Missouri has all the makings of a wonderful family holiday. Home to the St. Louis Zoo, St. Louis Science Center, interactive pet exhibits and more, your family is bound to enjoy holidaying here. The City Museum is another popular attraction that features a 30-foot rooftop Ferris wheel, 10-story spiral slide, and a gigantic ball pit.

Texas Hill Country River Region

What a better way to enjoy the summer in Texas than by cruising on the crystal-clear Frio River! You can enjoy the greenery lining the banks, some of the largest trees in Texas, as you indulge in tubing, kayaking, canoeing or rafting. You can also opt for the Frio Bat Flight Tour to watch 10 million bats leave the Frio cave as the sun sets.

So plan your next family escapade in the US today and enjoy the holidays. You can go for an instant financing option If needed.

Must Read: 7 International Holiday Destinations Under Rs.8 lakh

[fotografobcn]

Resultados de los Sony World Photography Awards 2019

Ayer tuvo lugar la gala de entrega de premios de los Sony World Photography Awards, a la que asistimos en directo desde Londres.

Producidos por la World Photography Organisation, los Sony World Photography Awards, ya en su 12ª edición, son uno de los concursos fotográficos más grandes y mejor valorados del mundo. La edición de 2019 recibió el récord de 326.997 fotografías de 195 países.

El codiciado título de Fotógrafo del Año y el premio de 25.000 $ se concedió al artista italiano Federico Borella por su serie Five Degrees.

Borella fue seleccionada entre los diez ganadores de la categoría del concurso Profesional que se anunciaron junto con los del 2 ° y 3 ° lugar en cada categoría profesional. Los ganadores generales de los Premios Open (la mejor imagen individual), las competiciones Youth y Student también se dieron a conocer, durante la prestigiosa ceremonia de los Premios de Londres, donde el reconocimiento a su contribución a la fotografía de 2019 (Outstanding Contribution to Photography) fue para el artista Nadav Kander que estuvo presente para recoger su premio. Todos los ganadores han recibido equipos de fotografía digital de Sony, su trabajo se ha publicado en el libro de los ganadores y se mostrarán como parte de la Exposición de los Premios de Fotografía Mundial de Sony 2019 en Somerset House, Londres.

Federico Borella fue elegido como fotógrafo del año con su proyecto Five Degrees.

La serie Five Degrees se centra en el suicidio masculino en la comunidad agrícola de Tamil Nadu, en el sur de la India, que enfrenta la peor sequía en 140 años. Basado en un estudio de la Universidad de Berkeley, que encontró una correlación entre el cambio climático y el aumento de las tasas de suicidio entre los agricultores indios, Borella ha explorado el impacto del cambio climático en esta región agrícola y su comunidad a través de una mezcla conmovedora y poderosa de imágenes que representan el paisaje agrícola, los recuerdos. de los campesinos fallecidos, y retratos de los que quedaron atrás.

Mike Trow comenta: “A medida que el calentamiento global cambia el rostro de la vida cada vez más rápidamente, especialmente en países en desarrollo y subdesarrollados, el trabajo de artistas como Borella se hace cada vez más necesario”.

Máximos galardones para dos artistas españoles

Álvaro Laiz – 1er puesto, categoría Portraiture por la serie The Edge

El concurso Professional premia series sobresalientes de cinco a diez imágenes que demuestren destreza artística en diez categorías diversas.

La serie ganadora de Laiz ofrece una visión cautivadora de los chukchis, una tribu paleosiberiana del lado ruso del estrecho de Bering. El fotógrafo está muy interesado en la genética poblacional de los nativos americanos y demuestra ese entusiasmo en su trabajo. The Edge consta de retratos en blanco y negro que intentan resaltar “los vínculos entre nuestro pasado lejano y nuestro futuro cercano”.

La categoría Portraiture desafía a los fotógrafos a presentar trabajos que transmitan expresión, emoción y personalidad. El jurado buscaba retratos sólidos y evocadores. La jueza Isabella van Marle (jefa de relaciones con expositores de Unseen, Países Bajos) explica por qué este trabajo ha sido el ganador de la categoría Portraiture: “Cuando vimos los retratos, tenían mucha fuerza. Puedes sentir la identidad de las personas retratadas. El uso del blanco y negro hace que la serie sea incluso más sólida. La distancia entre las personas retratadas en la serie y el artista es la correcta. Se nota que esas personas lo han aceptado y se sienten cómodas cuando él les está haciendo fotos”.

Como ganador de la categoría Professional, Laiz ha volado a Londres para asistir a la ceremonia de premios y ha recibido equipos de imagen digital de Sony, además de ser publicado en el libro de los ganadores. El trabajo ganador será también incluido en la Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition 2019 de Somerset House (Londres), antes de realizar una gira mundial.

Sergi Villanueva, Student Photographer of the Year por su serie La Terreta

Villanueva, un estudiante de 25 años de la Universidad Jaume I, ha ganado el prestigioso premio Student Photographer of the Year.

En el concurso Student, diez estudiantes de fotografía de todo el mundo fueron elegidos como finalistas por una primera serie que tenía que girar en torno al tema “Evolution”. Todos los estudiantes finalistas recibieron equipos de Sony para crear una nueva serie de fotografías sobre el tema “Belong”, que fue con la que compitieron por el premio final. Villaneuva fue preseleccionado por su primera serie, Hooked on their Mobiles, y ganó el premio general por su segunda serie, La Terreta.

La Terreta, que en valenciano significa “orgullo por la tierra en la que vives”, proporciona una visión personal de la tierra natal del fotógrafo. El estudiante captura una plantación de naranjos y el trabajo y la cultura cotidianos que giran en torno a ella. La serie fotográfica es diversa, pero sigue una narrativa clara, con imágenes que van desde los agricultores que cosechan la fruta hasta las mujeres que trabajan en el almacén para distribuir las naranjas. Todo ello captura la esencia de lo que Villanueva identifica como hogar e identidad.

Al hablar de su trabajo ganador, Villanueva explica: “El naranjo es la esencia de mi tierra, mantiene el sentimiento de pertenencia y deja la puerta abierta a las generaciones futuras, difundiendo un mensaje sobre el valor de cuidar lo que la naturaleza nos da como parte de nuestra identidad”.

Por ser el ganador, Villanueva recibe 30.000 € en equipos fotográficos Sony para su universidad y también ha sido invitado a la ceremonia de premios de Londres.

Categoría profesional ganadores y finalistas.

Architecture:

Winner: Stephan Zirwes, Germany for series Cut Outs – Pools 2018

2º Tuomas Uusheimo, Finland / 3º Peter Franck, Germany

Brief:

Winner: Rebecca Fertinel, Belgium for series Ubuntu – I Am Because We Are

2º Christina Stohn, Germany / 3º Edward Thompson, UK

Creative:

Winner: Marinka Masséus, Netherlands for the series Chosen [not] to be

2º Leah Schretenthaler, USA / 3º Pol Kurucz, France

Discovery:

Winner: Jean-Marc Caimi & Valentina Piccinni, Italy for the series Güle Güle

2º Boyuan Zhang, China Mainland / 3º Karina Bikbulatova, Russia

Documentary:

Winner: Federico Borella, Italy for series Five Degrees

2º Brent Stirton, South Africa / 3º Mustafa Hassona, Palestine

Landscape:

Winner: Yan Wang Preston, UK for the series To the South of the Colourful Clouds

2º Marco Kesseler, UK / 3º Kieran Dodds, UK

Natural World & Wildlife:

Winner: Jasper Doest, Netherlands for the series Meet Bob

2º Christian Vizl, Mexico / 3º Maela Ohana, France

Portraiture:

Winner: Álvaro Laiz, Spain for the series The Edge

2º Massimo Giovannini, Italy / 3º Laetitia Vançon, France

Sport:

Winner: Alessandro Grassani, Italy for the series Boxing Against Violence: The Female Boxers Of Goma

2º Kohei Ueno, Japan / 3º Thomas Nielsen, Denmark

Still Life:

Winner: Nicolas Gaspardel & Pauline Baert, France for the series Yuck

2º Yiming Zhang, China Mainland / 3º Cletus Nelson Nwadike, Sweden

Open Photographer of the Year – Christy Lee Rogers, USA

La categoría Open reconoce el poder de las imágenes individuales. Las imágenes ganadoras se seleccionan por su capacidad para comunicar una notable narrativa visual combinada con la excelencia técnica. Seleccionado entre los diez ganadores de la categoría Open como la imagen independiente más cautivadora, la fotógrafa hawaiana Christy Lee Rogers, con sede en Nashville, es nombrada Fotógrafa Abierta del Año por su trabajo Harmony y recibe el premio de 5.000 $. Rogers es una artista internacionalmente conocida por usar agua e iluminación en sus trabajos fotográficos para crear efectos increíbles.

Harmony es una imagen de la serie Muses del artista que se inspiró en la belleza y la vulnerabilidad de la humanidad. En esta imagen, Rogers ha utilizado los contrastes de luz, oscuridad, color, movimiento y cuerpos submarinos en cascada para crear una escena etérea que recuerda a la pintura barroca.

Hablando de su victoria, Rogers dice: “Es un honor ser reconocido como fotógrafa, ya que durante muchos años la mayoría de las personas se referían a mí como una pintora o algo así. ¡Y estoy muy agradecido de ser parte de la comunidad de la fotografía y de ganar este hermoso premio!”

Youth Photographer of the Year – Zelle Westfall, USA, edad 18 años

La estudiante estadounidense con sede en Atlanta Zelle Westfall fue galardonada por su imagen Abuot, una sorprendente imagen única en respuesta al tema “Diversidad”. Hablando de su trabajo ganador, Westfall dijo: “Abuot es mi amiga de la escuela y ella es una de las personas más divertidas que conozco. En la sociedad actual, con los productos para blanquear la piel y el colorismo inundando los medios, es importante resaltar la belleza de las mujeres de piel oscura a las que a menudo se les dice que son “demasiado oscuras”. La categoría Youth está abierta a todos los fotógrafos de entre 12 y 19 años.

Student Photographer of the Year – Sergi Villanueva, España, Universidad Jaume I, edad 25 años

Sergi Villanueva fue elegido por los jueces de presentaciones en todo el mundo por su serie fotográfica La Terreta, un retrato evocador de su tierra natal a través del proceso local de cultivo y cosecha de naranjas. Villanueva representó a la Universidad Jaume I y ha ganado 30.000 € en equipos de fotografía de Sony para su universidad.

Outstanding Contribution to Photography – Nadav Kander

Como uno de los fotógrafos contemporáneos más destacados del mundo, el artista londinense Nadav Kander está considerado como uno de los fotógrafos más exitosos de su generación. Sus trabajos abarcan una amplia variedad de géneros, desde paisajes atmosféricos hasta retratos de celebridades. Los Premios reconocen a Kander por su contribución versátil, potente y reflexiva al medio.

El ganador de los premios nacionales (de España) ha sido Manuel Enrique Gonzalez Carmona.

Se pueden consultar todas las fotos participantes y ganadoras en la web de World Photography Organization https://www.worldphoto.org/

El post Resultados de los Sony World Photography Awards 2019 fue publicado por primera vez en DNG Photo Magazine.

http://bit.ly/2KYpZIK via Fotografo Barcelona

[cawamedia]

In Switzerland, travel to Lugano Paradiso and stay in a nice comfortable hotel (Novotel Paradiso) and from there walk some 100 meters to the Funicular San Salvatore. It’s will be a day of new discovery, and a visit never to forget. You choose on the summit to descent by funicular again, ore by nature & hiking trails.

Experience the The Sugarloaf Mountain of Switzerland – Monte San Salvatore  –  Quote: “You need to have been up there in person, if you want to get an idea of its greatness and magnificence, and then that moment will become one of the most beautiful and unforgettable experiences in your whole life.” C. C. Lorenz Hirschfeld.

Way back in the year 1200 pilgrims made their way up to the mountain summit on foot in order to pay their respects to the Son of God, who according to ancient legend took rest here afore his heavenly ascent.

In 1213, the Bishop of Como, Lord and Master of Vallugano sold his property in Ciona and the mountain known in ancient times as “Bellenio” to the Chapter of San Lorenzo in Lugano. In those years, at the top of the mountain there was already a small chapel dedicated to San Salvatore (hence the name). The canons of San Lorenzo soon turned it into a small church.

Reference to the church’s original appearance dates back to 1414: a piece of parchment kept in the archives at the municipality of Carona, describes: “A white mountain against a shady blue backdrop. On the summit the church of San Salvatore with its steeple”. During the Feast of the Ascension in 1680, the Chapter of San Lorenzo transferred ownership of the church and the summit to the Confraternity of St Marta and the Good Death.

After 23 years, in 1703, the Confraternity decided to demolish the original church and to build a new one. The following year the foundations were laid and in 1719 the building works were completed. In 1722 it was decided to complete the building beneath as a residence with a tavern next to it in order to set up an “inn”.

Over the last two centuries the history of the area has provided us with a wealth of information on the many efforts made by the Confraternity and later the Funicular Company as, respectively, the owner and guardian of the site. On 26 March 1890 the Funicular began operating, and in 1943 the Lightning Research Centre was set up.

Mankind has always been fascinated by this universal phenomenon and has long tried to unveil its mysteries. “Tracking down lightning” is the title of this new exhibition. Through the history of the lightning research centre, a world-renowned laboratory equipped with sophisticated technology for monitoring and measuring lightning which operated on the summit from 1943 to 1982, directed by Professor Berger of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, the exhibition illustrates the unusual activities that for nearly 40 years defined the history of the mountain. The current from direct lightning strokes where collected by two towers on mount San Salvatore and grounded via a shunt resistor. Special cables transmit the voltage signal to the oscilloscopes in the laboratory. Tower 1 is the todays Swisscom TV transmitter, and tower 2 is located further north on mount San Carlo. The measuring instruments where located inside a Faraday cage made of fine wire net, which served to protect instruments and observers. A cathode ray oscilloscope and the exhibited mirror-galvanometer oscilloscope recorded the current of direct strokes to the towers. Other instruments recorded the negative and positive coronal discharges known as St. Elmo’s fire. Thunderstorm detectors enable precise statistics to be compiled of all such activity in the vicinity of this mountain peak. Special cameras also recorded the chronological development of lightning flashes. Every year each of the two towers was struck by lightning up to about 100 times.

In 1969 Swiss Post Office television and radio antennae were erected. Last but not least, in 1999 the two organisations established the San Salvatore Museum, illustrating the proactive role they both still play today.

Around these important structures, year after year, the Confraternity managed to enrich and beautify the church on the summit. It became a focal point for the faithful and of great significance for the entire Lugano area. This was reconfirmed in 1900 with the erection of a huge iron cross, historic testimony to the importance of the mountain for the Funicular Company and the Confraternity of St Martha and the Good Death.

Enjoy your lunch ore dinner at The Ristorante Vetta with open air terrace and a panoramic veranda can welcome over 200 people. It offers gourmet menus inspired by Mediterranean cuisine, with healthy products of the season, fresh from the market. It is comfortable, practical and ideal for lunches, aperitifs, coffee breaks and snacks, or for relaxing and enjoying the breathtaking views on the summit of the beautiful Monte San Salvatore.

  Monte San Salvatore – Lugano In Switzerland, travel to Lugano Paradiso and stay in a nice comfortable hotel (Novotel Paradiso)

[connorrenwick]

The BMW Concept 8 Series: An Architecture of Luxurious Athleticism

I’m standing in a capacious warehouse situated in an industrial section of Milan, just a stone’s throw from the Fondazione Prada with the convivial Marc Girard, Head of Design Concept Cars at BMW. Under a scaffolding of seraphic studio lights illuminating his team’s yet to be unveiled creation, we stand before the BMW Concept 8 Series, a dormant predator glowing softly for the moment.

BMW is keeping mum about specifics, noting this concept is primarily an expression of intent.

I’m here for an early preview of a vehicle destined to be unveiled only a few days later across the storied showcase of Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in Lake Como, an auto event where beauty is paramount over all.

The photo venue’s vicinity to Fondazione seems appropriate considering the vehicle before me – all sinewy, sculptural muscularity in harmonious proportion to the luxurious hallmarks bestowed onto the concept – playing as much with contrast as continuity, modernity pushing against the bounds of the automotive brand’s heritage, a freedom normally afforded to artists, rarely designers. The concept’s silhouette is alluring, every curve accentuated by the aforementioned lighting working its magic across the mesmerizing Barcelona Grey Liquid coat, an exterior finish inflected with iridescence and unique to the vehicle. The desire to touch the paint is unbearable.

Marc Girard, Head of Design Concept Cars at BMW, directs final footage of the interior in Milan.

The 8 Series moniker has been shelved for nearly two decades. BMW ceased production in 1999, a fact Girard is very well aware of – and almost winces at mention of – possibly a reaction in acknowledgment of the expectations that come attached with such a notable absence and anticipated return. 2018 couldn’t come quicker.

The BMW Concept 8 Series is our take on a full-blooded high-end driving machine,” says Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design. “It is a luxurious sports car which embodies both unadulterated dynamics and modern luxury like arguably no other. For me, it’s a slice of pure automotive fascination.

Initially, Girard relaxingly follows a script meant to highlight key features – “dynamic”, “uncompromising”, and “expressive” spills forth in continuity as he walks me around, pointing out the stylized cues of a concept vehicle only millimeters in refinement in certain sections from production, but still every bit a concept show car: the pronounced musculature of metal moulded over the radiance of 21″ light-alloy wheels, trapezoidal exhaust tailpipes deserving of a protractor’s attention, the iconic twin kidney grills now brought together by an unbroken frame to form a single large element, the architectural steps of laser headlights glaring cold and bright with the menacing visage of a shark.

Every angle rewards both an immediate and more studied view, sometimes looking every bit the part of BMW lineage, other times not immediately recognizably so. Unlike many concept cars designed with the intention to surprise fleetingly, there’s no audacity in form, only in the spirit. BMW’s expression here has been given the breathing room to impress discovery with unhurried.

Careful to navigate the team of photographers/videographers gathering the final details for worldwide release, Girard allows me to lean in to inspect the suede soft brown and “Fjord White” interior ambience wrapped across racing-style bucket seats, each cupped by an expanse of sporty carbon fibre, the hand-polished aluminum stretched throughout, and ant lines of eye-catching red stitching hewn across the center and door leather panels. A faceted gearshift lever and iDrive Controller made from Swarovski glass with a smoky quartz sits center, a tactile luxury in a vehicle intended to communicate speed with luxurious spirit. The edited simplicity of the interior presents a statement of luxury through less.

Only once our compulsory walk around is completed does Marc Girard relax to share beyond rote remarks, revealing an interesting detail harbored deep in memory only after we chit-chat about design outside of the realm of the automotive.

“I have a long interest in architecture. So, you could say the [Concept 8 Series] design found some influence from a field trip our team took two years. You’re from Los Angeles…so you know about the Salk Institute in San Diego, right?” leaning in every so slightly in anticipation of affirmation.

Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California. Photo by Jason Taellious/(CC BY-SA 2.0)

I nod in agreement and Girard stares off for a heartbeat in remembrance of the modernist architectural masterpiece of form, function, and landscape.

“The architecture of that place…it was very…you know, incredible. The lines drawing out into the distance, into the ocean. I think it left its mark on us. We all left blown away and I knew afterward what we needed to do.”

Afforded this off-script moment, the Concept 8 Series takes on another layer of experience, defined by something as indescribable as the monumental architecture of Louis Kahn. And just like that,  as all lines of the Salk Institute draw toward infinitely toward the Pacific Ocean, I can now see all lines of Girard’s BMW design team’s work exhibited across the BMW Concept 8 Series pointing infinitely toward the road of possibilities.

via http://design-milk.com/

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