Category Archives: Views

Travel & Architecture: ‘Ziedlejas Resort, Latvia’

Ziedlejas is a wellness resort rooted in the Latvian sauna tradition. With a secluded location in rural Latvia, it offers natural retreats away from the crowds. Two saunas have already been completed and a third is underway.

Number 1 or the ‘baltā pirts’ (white sauna) is a concrete structure built into the hillside to avoid interfering with the view from the guest cabins. It benefits from natural light and the proximity of the pond for jumping into. We used locally sourced natural materials like wood, herbs and linen to complete the interior.

The more primeval ‘melnā pirts’ (smoke sauna) is built from spruce and fittingly tucked into the woods. While the sauna buildings remain traditional in terms of their purpose, we made sure to enhance functionality and overall aesthetics from a contemporary design perspective.

In 2020 four corten steel and glass cabins opened to overnight guests. Tea houses by day and bedrooms by night, they are designed to be multifunctional. The glass front affords unspoilt views of the landscape. Thanks to the neighbouring herb patches, guests can literally pick and mix their own herbal tea blend. 

This is a place to enjoy slowly. Open AD has been involved in the development since day one in partnership with the owners and Landshape landscape architecture firm. 

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Aerial Views: ‘Louisville – Kentucky’ (4K Video)

Louisville, Kentucky’s largest city, sits on the Ohio River along the Indiana border. Every May, its race course Churchill Downs hosts the Kentucky Derby, a renowned horse race whose long history is explored at the Kentucky Derby Museum. Baseball is celebrated at the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, where Major League bats are produced and a giant baseball “slugger” marks the entrance. 

Views: ‘House On A Cliff’ In Algarve, Portugal By Kerimov Architects

Moscow-based Kerimov Architects have designed a single-story house on a cliff, situated in Algarve, Portugal. The dwelling settles amid the lush natural surroundings and next to the ocean, generating a peaceful refuge away from the bustling city.

the context played a fundamental role in the project, with the volumetry, materiality, and the color palette drawing influence from the rocky landscape. 

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Views: ‘Octola Lodge & Private Wilderness’ In Lapland, Finland (Video)

The Most Exclusive Lodge In Lapland

Having hunted for the right place to accommodate the discerning guests of our Luxury Action travel company, I eventually realized the the right property did not exists in the right location. That’s when I decided the only option was to build our very own log chalet. Traditionally, we have managed or rented private chalets in various locations around Lapland, then refurnished them to meet the individual standards of our guests.

As fun and instructive this concept has been, implementing interior design on a one-by-one basis is costly and time consuming. In addition, regardless of our efforts to upgrade the existing chalets in Lapland, although of excellent quality, tend to have very small rooms and only a few properties have en-suite bedrooms with shower and toilet. I felt it was time for a revolutionary change to provide exclusive accommodation in the Arctic that meets the needs of our experiential guests.

Aerial Views: ‘Cities And Landscapes Of Mongolia’

Mongolia, a nation bordered by China and Russia, is known for vast, rugged expanses and nomadic culture. Its capital, Ulaanbaatar, centers around Chinggis Khaan (Genghis Khan) Square, named for the notorious founder of the 13th- and 14th-century Mongol Empire. Also in Ulaanbaatar are the National Museum of Mongolia, displaying historic and ethnographic artifacts, and the restored 1830 Gandantegchinlen Monastery. 

Insider Views: ‘Art And Architecture’ In Beverly Hills, California (Video)

Perched above the buzz of Beverly Hills sits Casa Perfect, a gallery of contemporary design set in a spectacular modernist home. Its founder David Alhadeff shows us the wealth of remarkable art and architecture that is to be found in the varied neighbourhoods of this sunny city. Monocle Films has partnered with Beverly Hills Conference & Visitors Bureau to reveal hidden gems through the eyes of local creatives.

City Views: ‘Taipei, Taiwan’

Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, is a modern metropolis with Japanese colonial lanes, busy shopping streets and contemporary buildings. The skyline is crowned by the 509m-tall, bamboo-shaped Taipei 101 skyscraper, with upscale shops at the base and a rapid elevator to an observatory near the top. Taipei is also known for its lively street-food scene and many night markets, including expansive Shilin market.

Views: ‘Cherry Blossoms’ At The ‘Temple Of Heaven’ In Taipei, Taiwan (Jan 2021)

Cherry blossoms in Taiwan – They blossom in late March to early April, when the weather in the scenic area have shifted from the chilly winter mode to a lovely spring. Among the cities in Taiwan, Taipei is the first to witness the pink of the beauty of the flowers every mid-January and will continue until March.

The 200 meter tall Tian-Yuan Temple, “Temple of Heaven” pagoda, paired with the cherry blossoms that surround it on all sides and on the mountain behind it is what separates this area from all the other sakura viewing spots around the country. The temple has five floors and each floor has a giant shrine dedicated to different Taoist gods. The temple is open year-round but it usually enjoys the most visitors between late February and April when the sakura are in bloom.  

Aerial Views: Untouched Nature Of New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island and the South Island —and more than 700 smaller islands, covering a total area of 268,021 square kilometres. 

Video timeline: 00:57​ – Purakaunui Bay 02:26​ – Mount Taranaki 04:21​ – Mount Cook 05:41​ – Roaring Billy Falls 07:44​ – Omarama Clay Cliffs 11:06​ – Lake Pukaki 12:26​ – Lion Rock and Piha Beach 15:49​ – Arthur’s Pass 17:40​ – Castlepoint Lighthouse 21:21​ – Lake Hawea 23:30​ – Skippers Road 26:26​ – Glacial valley in Southern Alps 27:52​ – Kaikoura Seal Colony 29:04​ – Ninety Mile Beach 31:16​ – Whakarewarewa geothermal area 36:38​ – Queenstown 38:37​ – Whangarei Falls

Landscapes: ‘Seasons Of Denmark – Autumn’ (Video)

Filmed and Edited by: Casper Rolsted

Every season has its own beauty. This is the second of four shortfilms that will showcase the seasons of Denmark. The focus in these films will be on the landscapes – primerely the changing nature.

Autumn in Denmark is characterized by lot of gray and rainy days – but the nature is beautiful with lovely warm colors.

In this timelapse film from Denmark you will experience the following locations:

Svanninge Bakker
This is a large area of woodland and hilly natural landscapes on Funen.

Mandemarke Bakker, Møns Klint and Liselund park.
These beautiful areas on the island Møn are remarkable and a must-see for all nature lovers. The white chalk slopes is unique in the Danish nature and the surrounding area has a unique nature and wildlife.

Skjoldungernes Land National Park
This national park is located in central Zealand, 30 km from Copenhagen. It is characterized by large deciduous forests and the Roskilde Fjord with islands, islets and a unique birdlife.