November 3, 2012

10 photos of the most amazing building in Vienna, Austria



This amazing house is named after his designer. Hundertwasser House is a residential building located in Vienna designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser with original co-author Josef Krawina (architect). Built in the years 1983–1985, designed in harmony with nature. 

Friedensreich Hundertwasser started out as a painter, but early 1950s he became more focused on architecture. In 1972 he visualized his ideas about forested roofs, tree tenants and window rights. What’s the window rights? Below you can read Hundertwasser’s manifesto clearing the subject. Check if he was right… 




Photo by Szilveszter Farkas

Photo by Jens Jeppe

Photo by Barnyz

Photo by Allesok

Photo by Ulf Liljankoski

Photo by Movaxdx

Photo by Miroslav Pietrasko

Photo by Charlott

Photo by Richardzinho

Photo by Jens Jeppe



“Window Dictatorship and Window Right”

Some people say houses consist of walls. I say houses consist of windows.

When different houses stand next to each other in a street, all having different window types, i.e., window races, for example an Art Nouveau house with Art Nouveau windows next to a modern house with unadorned square windows, followed in turn by a Baroque house with Baroque windows, nobody minds.

But should the three window types of the three houses belong to one house, it is seen as a violation of the racial segregation of windows. Why? Each individual window has its own right to life.

According to the prevailing code, however, if window races are mixed, window apartheid is infringed. 

Everything is there: racial prejudice, racial discrimination, racial policy, racial ideology, racial barriers, with fateful impact of window apartheid on man. The apartheid of window races must cease.

For the repetition of identical windows next to each other and above each other as in a grid system is a characteristic of concentration camps.

Windows in rank and file are sad, windows should be able to dance.

In the new architecture of satellite towns and in new administration buildings, banks, hospitals and schools, the levelling of windows is unbearable.

Individuals are never identical and defend themselves against these standardising dictates either passively or actively, depending on their constitution. Thus either with alcohol and drug addiction, exodus from the city, cleaning mania, television dependency, inexplicable physical complaints, allergies, depressions and even suicide, or alternatively with aggression, vandalism and crime.

A person in a rented apartment must be able to lean out of his window and scrape off the masonry within arm’s reach. And he must be allowed to take a long brush and paint everything outside within arm’s reach. 

So that it will be visible from afar to everyone in the street that someone lives there who is different from the imprisoned, enslaved, standardised man who lives next door.


September 16, 2012

Drying Tomatoes Today





I appreciate what brings autumn, drying tomatoes today at last moment.
If you have not yet dried tomatoes at home, it might convince you what my kid recently said while eating home dried tomatoes "Have you soaked them in something for a better taste? Is this special variety of tomatoes? "
Not soaked. And tomatoes are not special.
Dried tomatoes are an essential ingredient in my kitchen. Few years ago, I discovered that home dried are a whole lot tastier. Since then I dry tomatoes  every year, but usually they dont last long. So tasty.
Until now, I was drying tomatoes in the oven and I was happy even though it was hard to guess if the temperature was right. It cannot be too high, because then the tomatoes lose some nutritional value, nor too low, because then drying takes forever.
Drying in the sun appeals to me very much for ideological reasons - the use of renewable free energy. But we had so few sunny days on the weekends, and as  I'm a working class, in the week I do not have time for this.
This year I have finally decided to buy a food dryer. It is called dryer for mushrooms and fruit - ha ha ha.

I am pretty happy with it and I keep wondering how you're drying vegs and fruits?

June 17, 2012

8 photos of most impressive green roof building at Floriade 2012

Last week I’ve visited Floriade, an international flower exhibition hosted in Netherlands every 10 years. Each time the expo is in different location - this year it’s in Venlo (close to German and Belgian border), southern part of Netherlands, 50 km away from Eindhoven.

Today’s photos show my completely subjective choice of best and most green designed pavilion at Floriade – Belgian Pavillion. Have a look and judge by yourself.

Looking at 500 photos I took last weekend at Floriade and thinking what to show you first, I’ve decided to share with you this uniquely designed pavilion with amazing green roof.










From April 5 through October 7, the city of Venlo turned 163 acres of land into a garden and flower festival.
You can discover stunning mosaics created out of flowers, attend educational activities - perfect place to bring children with you.  There is also 5 themed worlds and more than 100 gardens and pavilions with unique flowers and plants from around the world - lot’s of inspiration.

As the Floriade website says "Everywhere you go there is something new and surprising to discover. Together we will make Floriade 2012 a world of fascination. Spectacular and relaxing. Educational and fun. Active and contemplative.”

The expo is expected to attract 2 million visitors.

There was only one disappointing thing. Not like in other exhibition and festivals – there is not much to buy except some souvenirs, few plants, bulbs or garden accessories. I was expecting much more in that regard as Netherlands is the capital of plant trade in Europe.
Beside that it was one full day best spend.

Some more photos will follow in next posts.

I wish you a happy weekend!!!

Xoxo!

Ewa

June 3, 2012

Chelsea Flower Show 2012 - Best in Show Winner

Wonderful designer Cleve West won the Best in Show prize again this year at Chelsea Flower Show. Have a look at video - you can explore all important elements of the garden.
I adore the delicate balance between symmetrical design and fluffy, feathery and ostensibly unruly herbaceous planting, not to mention water features. Have a look!







Photos courtesy of Karen Roe, Swamibu

May 2, 2012

10 Beautiful Ideas for Herb Garden


Shall I say that herb garden is a must in any garden whether it’s a modern villa or urban balcony. You benefit from your own herb garden more than just pleasing eyes with the beauty, but you nourish your body with herbs that are:
  • fresh - opposite to dried,
  • organic  - opposite to treated with pesticides and fertilized artificially,
  • cheap - grown by yourself and in constant supply.    
You may not want to get all the chores of vegetable garden, but herb garden is easier - can you resist it this season?
I hope you can find inspirational idea among those 10 pictures and apply it to your own garden. 

 Photo by Jim Linwood

Photo by Suzettesuzette

Photo by Sarahgb

Photo by Olds College

 Photo by Hmmlargeart

Photo by Marjolein

Photo by KateMonkey

Photo by pbev

 Photo by Kansas Explorer

 Photo by HardWorkinHippy

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If you would like to improve your garden to a beautiful paradise, let me help you to design it. We can work online. Contact me at ewamariasz [at] gmail [dot] com.

Happy Gardening!


Ewa
 

February 15, 2012

Vegetable market images - Stockholm

Vegetable market images taken in Stockholm at night - beautiful, colorful view while gray, black, dark around.
Open to the chaos of darkness within to invoke the mistery of life to begin....




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