A friend of mine sent me a link today to 50 Strange Buildings of the World. Every one of these went onto my long, long list of “things to see immediately.” While I have yet to witness all of them in person I thought I would share one of my favorite buildings in one of my favorite cities in the world. Today we will venture outside of the United States to Prague, a breathtaking old-world city in the heart of the Czech Republic.
The Nationale-Nederlanden building aka the Dancing House aka Tancící dum aka Fred and Ginger proves that just because something is a built for function doesn’t mean it can’t also be art!
Standing tall, overlooking the Vltava River, the building was designed beginning in 1992 by Yugoslavian-born Czech architect Vlado Milunic and architect Frank Gehry (designer of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain; Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles; Experience Music Project in Seattle; and the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago, Illinois, amongst many others).
The curvy, modern glass and concrete building was unveiled in 1996 and has been dubbed “Fred and Ginger” as it resembles the two icons — Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers — embracing “cheek to cheek” in dance. The unusual shape and deconstructivist architecture of Dancing House is not only unique but also in sharp contract to all the surrounding architecture of Prague. In fact, it is just a short bridge walk away from the 9th century Prague Castle (Pražský hrad) which is the epitome of gothic and Romanesque design. Set amongst other Neo-Baroque, Neo-Gothic and Art Nouveau buildings, the non-traditional design caused much public debate at the time it was built.
Luckily they didn’t call the whole thing off because nowadays they just face the music and dance.
Site: Dancing House (Tancící dum)
Location: Rašínovo nábreží 80, 120 00 Praha 2 (Prague), Czech Republic
Cost: Free to see
Hours: Always visible
Date:July 7, 2006
Archive for the ‘Silly World’ Category
Silly World – Prague – Dancing House
Posted by Val on February 12th, 2009 at 7:15 pm | Permalink | No Comments » |
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Silly World – Lisse – Keukenhof
Posted by Val on May 29th, 2008 at 3:04 pm | Permalink | No Comments » |
I’m sure all y’all know by now that I am slightly obsessive over ANYTHING that is considered the “World’s Largest” something…and while this may be a little more “legit” I think you have to give credit where it’s due…so here we are, the World’s Largest Flower Garden!
Keukenhof is a flower garden located near Lisse, The Netherlands. With over seven million bulbs planted annually in the park, it is the world’s largest flower garden — and the most photographed place in the world. And I could definitely see why: flowers there are breathtakingly beautiful.
Site: Keukenhof — the world’s largest flower garden
Location: Stationsweg 166a, 2161 AM Lisse, The Netherlands
Cost: Adults € 13,50
Hours: Open annually from the last week of March to mid-May. 8.00 a.m. to 19.30 p.m. daily.
Date: May 9, 2008
Check the website for current rates and times.
Silly World – Lisse – Keukenhof | No Comments » |
Silly World – Amsterdam – Blauw Jan
Posted by Val on May 20th, 2008 at 3:26 pm | Permalink | No Comments » |
While wandering the winding streets (and canals) of Amsterdam I happened across this silly site one day. I really didn’t know anything about it and didn’t remember hearing anything about it in any of my guidebooks. But it was a silly site indeed: a grassy knoll covered in seemingly life-size statues of lizards.
Turns out that this site is Blauw Jan by sculptor Hans van Houwelingen, named so after Blaauw Jan Westerhof, a 17th century pub owner who had a small private zoo. Erected in 1994, some 40 lizards (monitors, agames and iguanas) dot the grass in Kleine-Gartmanplantsoen, close to the Leidseplein, in the city center of Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Site: Blauw Jan — 40 Lizard Statues
Location: Kleine-Gartmanplantsoen, close to the Leidseplein, in the city center of Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Cost: Free to see.
Hours: Always Visible.
Date: May 10, 2008
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Silly World – Amsterdam – Giant Wooden Clog
Posted by Val on May 14th, 2008 at 4:31 pm | Permalink | No Comments » |
Now, I know that America is full of the silliest sites just waiting to be seen…but sometimes an adventurer has to take a moment to explore the outside world. I just got back from a week in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and thought I’d share with you some “Silly Amsterdam.” I’m kind of sort of EXHAUSTED from a week of culture shock, canals, museums, and…well, let’s face it…partying. So I leave you today with a quick goodie…because you can’t go to Holland without seeing a wooden shoe…
Site: Giant Wooden Clog
Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands — On Damstraat across from the National Monument at Dam Square, in front of a souvenir shop.
Cost: Free to see.
Hours: I believe it was out during the day, but they put it away at night.
Date: May 9, 2008
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