Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica is the backpacking experience of a lifetime. It encompasses the only remaining old growth wet forests on the Pacific coast of Central America, and 13 major ecosystems including lowland rain forest, highland cloud forest, jolillo palm forest, and mangrove swamps, as well as coastal marine and beach habitats.
There is a good chance of spotting some of Costa Rica’s shyest and most endangered inhabitants here; Baird’s Tapirs, Jaguars, Scarlet Macaws, Harpy Eagles, Red-backed squirrel monkeys and White-lipped Peccaries. It is wet, remote and rugged, but the trails are relatively good, and the camping areas near the ranger stations are grassy and well drained.
Prince Leopold of Bavaria takes you on an exclusive tour of the famous castle commissioned by his ancestor, King Ludwig II, who had the castle built in the picturesque landscape of the Bavarian Allgäu in the 19th century. Today, the castle is one of Germany’s most famous tourist attractions and is famous all over the world. On his guided tour, the prince will share 5 lesser-known facts about Neuschwanstein!
Complementing an established art collection, D_Residence is a modern home with an open interiority. Crafted by Carrier and Postmus Architects (CAPA), the serene residence represents a unique approach to interior design and architecture. Located in the maritime suburb of Scarborough in Western Australia,
00:00 – Introduction to D_Residence 00:32 – Behind The Name D_Residence 01:00 – Taking A Journey with Landscaping 01:41 – The Street Presence of the Modern Home 01:57 – The Endemic Landscape Character 02:20 – Separating Interior Design from Exterior Architecture 02:40 – Venturing Through D_Residence 03:03 – Concrete and Brickwork 03:46 – The Range from Brickworks and Austral Bricks 04:11 – Favourite Aspects of the Modern Homes and Proud Moments
D_Residence is named in reference to the nearby sand dunes. A house tour of the modern home begins at its façade, where lush greenery is positioned as a natural barrier between the home and the harsh wind. Utilising light and dark-toned brickwork from Austral Bricks at Brickworks, CAPA gently defines the modern home. Applied at the garage, basement level and entry, the dark-toned brickwork causes the practical amenities to visually recede and create an intimate arrival experience.
Combining with the blockwork which comprises the remainder of the façade, the bricks form a textural backdrop to the initial greenery. As the builder’s chosen medium, concrete is also featured in the modern home, offering a neutral complement to the owners’ art collection. Aesthetically flexible, D_Residence testifies to the impressive design restraint of CAPA. Ultimately determined by the influence of its occupants, the modern home welcomes personal injections of colour, texture and vibrancy.
AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC – THE WORLD’S LARGEST OCEAN AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC LONG BEACH MEET MORE THAN 12,000 SPECIES.
In the Southern California/Baja Gallery, you can meet giant sea bass, leopard sharks, eels, seals, sea lions, white abalone, and other species found locally or in Baja. Explore the cold-water habitats of the Northern Pacific Gallery to meet playful sea otters, diving birds, sea jellies, giant spider crabs, and other animals. Travel through the Tropical Pacific Gallery to see colorful fish and other species that inhabit those warm tropical waters.
Visit the Aquarium’s latest expansion—Pacific Visions. The 29,000-square-foot sustainable expansion includes an art gallery, orientation gallery, the Honda Pacific Visions Theater multimedia experience, and the Schubel Family Culmination Gallery, which features interactives, displays, educational game tables, and live animal exhibits.
American artist Cy Twombly’s engagement with the art and poetry of ancient Greece and Rome played a central role in his creative process. This exhibition explores Twombly’s lifelong fascination with the ancient Mediterranean world through evocative groupings of his paintings, drawings, prints, and sculpture made from the mid-20th to the early 21st century, tracing an imaginative journey of encounters with and responses to ancient texts and artifacts. The presentation includes Greek and Roman antiquities from the artist’s personal collection, on public display for the first time.
Organized by the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities Major support from Jo Carole and Ronald S. Lauder Generously sponsored by
Sitting underneath the eucalyptus trees, a slice of paradise awaits. As an architect’s own home, Jan Juc Studio creates a subtle ease between home and work life, whilst also establishing a humble presence within the surrounding landscape.
Video timeline: 00:00 – Roborock’s S7MaxV Ultra 00:15 – Introduction to Jan Juc Studio 00:41 – The Redevelopment of Jan Juc 01:08 – The Exterior vs. The Interior 01:36 – Creating Openness Through Doors 01:57 – Maximising What’s Available 02:23 – Multifunctional Screens 03:02 – The Materiality of The House 03:51 – Designing on The Move 04:10 – Surveying The Landscape 04:47 – Sun Filtration 05:14 – Architectural Clarity and A Humble Presence 05:52 – Roborock’s S7MaxV Ultra
Eldridge Anderson Architects draws inspiration from the architectural design they saw while travelling through Japan and incorporate nods to the built proportions, finishes and materials they experienced. In establishing an architect’s own home, Eldridge Anderson Architects creates architectural clarity by maximising what already existed.
Surrounding the façade of the home with wide timber screens made of pre-aged wood enables an indoor-outdoor connection. Able to adjust to the changing weather and seasons, the sliding timber screens and opening doors offer a range of different lighting configurations throughout the day.
When opened, the diffusing of light through the bedrooms creates a relaxed start to the day and, by afternoon, the warm golden glow reflects off the blackbutt flooring throughout, creating a gilded living space. Complementing the interior of an architect’s own home, the recycled blackbutt is used for doors and floors which harmonise with the timber façade and the eucalyptus trees surrounding the exterior. Eldridge Anderson Architects engages with an open plan living that allows for an architect’s own home to flow from room to room while optimizing upon liveable space throughout the home.
Encouraging a journey through light diffused halls, Eldridge Anderson’s design emphasises the idea of open plan living with rear doors that slide open to the backdrop of vegetation and landscape of Jan Juc Studio. As the sun dances through the coastal home, timber and humble material choices combine to establish a composed presence.
Striving for architectural clarity, Eldridge Anderson Architects’ Jan Juc Studio presents a refined execution of ideas that were inspired by travelling through Japan, materials that help interchange moods throughout the day and the connection of an architect’s own home to the surrounding landscape.
Having spent his formative years working as an actuary, Ross Russell knows a thing or two about calculated risks. As such, there was no better client to commission an experimental house with a 20-tonne sliding shell that can be removed to reveal roofless rooms and a behemoth conservatory-like structure beneath it. Here Ross takes a deep dive into the house’s design and reflects on life in truly versatile living spaces.
The house has been described by drMM as one for all seasons. During the warmer months, the structure can slide over the terrace to give shade to alfresco diners, while in winter it provides as extra insulation. Then there are the adaptable rooms inside the house, designed so they can either be sheltered or open to the sky, depending on the weather. One of the highlights is the bathroom, where people can soak under directly the sun or stars. When guests come to stay the first thing they typically ask, Ross says, is: “Can we have a bath?”
Balancing a striking southern perspective with a warm internal character, Grandview House overcomes the limitations of its former self. Created by Ian Bennett Design Studio, the contemporary home undergoes the tactful renovation of a pre-existing family dwelling.
Video timeline: 00:00 – Introduction to Grandview House 00:40 – A Walkthrough The Contemporary Home 01:16 – Altering The Existing House 01:42 – An Introduction to The Owners 02:14 – A Collaboration of Architect and Owner 02:50 – A Floor Plan Designed for Family Living 03:31 – Family Conscious Design 03:57 – Utilising Durable Materials 04:55 – The Architect’s Favourite Part of The Home
Situated on the southern side of the Mona Vale headland, Grandview House once existed as a cold and uninviting residence with only minimal access to sunlight. The collaboration between Ian Bennett Design Studio and the clients – one of whom heads Northern Beaches Constructions – sees the house transformed into a warm and contemporary home, capitalising on views of Mona Vale Beach, Long Reef and Manly.
Entering the contemporary home, a walkway bridge sits above the ground floor, delineating two voids which allow sunlight to stream into the home. Further into the residence, the kitchen-living-dining area flows towards the external southern aspect. Upstairs, two children’s bedrooms branch off from the bridge, whilst the southern side of the house encloses a master suite, ensuite and an additional children’s bedroom.
An open plan format expands the visual field, softening the sense of transition between spaces and encouraging residents to explore the contemporary home. Voids crafted to the east and west draw natural light into the residence – as do apertures inserted into the awning – with louvre windows maximising cross-ventilation. Crafting authoritatively in a maritime location, Ian Bennett Design Studio nods towards its working history in the Northern Beaches region. Grandview House stands as an intuitive response to its site; a contemporary home that effortlessly captures natural light and inspiring southern views. 00:00 – Introduction to Grandview House 00:40 – A Walkthrough The Contemporary Home 01:16 – Altering The Existing House 01:42 – An Introduction to The Owners 02:14 – A Collaboration of Architect and Owner 02:50 – A Floor Plan Designed for Family Living 03:31 – Family Conscious Design 03:57 – Utilising Durable Materials 04:55 – The Architect’s Favourite Part of The Home
The Republic of Ireland occupies most of the island of Ireland, off the coast of England and Wales. Its capital, Dublin, is the birthplace of writers like Oscar Wilde, and home of Guinness beer. The 9th-century Book of Kells and other illustrated manuscripts are on show in Dublin’s Trinity College Library. Dubbed the “Emerald Isle” for its lush landscape, the country is dotted with castles like medieval Cahir Castle.
The Faroe Islands is a self-governing archipelago, part of the Kingdom of Denmark. It comprises 18 rocky, volcanic islands between Iceland and Norway in the North Atlantic Ocean, connected by road tunnels, ferries, causeways and bridges. Hikers and bird-watchers are drawn to the islands’ mountains, valleys and grassy heathland, and steep coastal cliffs that harbor thousands of seabirds.
Video timeline: 0:00 Day One in the Faroe Islands 1:49 Estroy Tunnel 5:25 Day Three in the Faroe Islands 8:14 Faroe Islands Helicopter