Portugal Walking Tour (August 20, 2023) – Sintra is a resort town in the foothills of Portugal’s Sintra Mountains, near the capital, Lisbon. A longtime royal sanctuary, its forested terrain is studded with pastel-colored villas and palaces.
Video timeline:00:00 – Intro Sintra and Map 00:47 – Rua Dr. Alfredo da Costa 03:01 – Volta do Duche 13:00 – Escadinhas do Teixeira 13:55 – Beco da Judiaria 16:22 – Rua Padarias 17:32 – Largo Dr. Gregório de Almeida 19:25 – Largo Rainha Dona Amélia 20:24 – Sintra National Palace 31:01 – Rua Padarias 33:47 – Rua Ferraria 35:24 – Miradouro da Ferraria 36:25 – Rua Ferraria 37:13 – Rua Mal. Saldanha 37:55 – Rua Costa do Castelo 38:52 – Rua Ferraria 39:54 – Escadinhas Félix Nunes 40:46 – Praça da República 41:35 – Rua Biquinha 43:52 – Escadinhas do Briamante 44:26 – Rua Gil Vicente 45:29 – Rua Consiglieri Pedroso 51:11 – Avenida Almeida Garrett
The Moorish- and Manueline-style Sintra National Palace is distinguished by dramatic twin chimneys and elaborate tilework. The hilltop 19th-century Pena National Palace is known for a whimsical design and sweeping views.
DW Travel (August 20, 2023) – The Raven’s Nest is tucked away in the mountains of Transylvania in Alba County. This isolated high-end retreat celebrates nature and sustainability. For many, this is the luxury that Romania has to offer as a travel destination, a world away from mass tourism.
Prowalk Tours (August 19, 2023) – Camogli is a fishing village at the foot of the Monte di Portofino (Portofino Mountain) in the heart of the Italian Riviera. Located about a 2.5-hour drive from Milan and a short distance away from Genoa, Hemmed in by the steep slopes of the Monte di Portofino and the bright blue Ligurian Sea,
Video timeline:0:00 Drone intro and Map 1:27 Camogli Beach 5:01 Seaside promenade 6:45 Pastel Colored Houses 18:59 Il Giorgio 26:41 Piazza Cristoforo Colombo 27:12 Marina 30:53 Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta 33:05 Castle della Dragonara 39:27 Via al Molo 58:16 Porticciolo di Camogli 1:08:09 Via Piero Schiaffino 1:13:01 Piazza Cristoforo Colombo 1:19:24 Seaside promenade
World Economic Forum (August 19, 2023) – This week’s top stories of the week include:
0:15Beijing’s heaviest rain in 140 years – Downpours have caused severe flooding across the city, destroying roads, infrastructure, and businesses. More than 20 people are known to have died. 1.5 million people have been evacuated from Beijing and the surrounding Hebei province. The floodwaters could take a month to recede.
1:41This racing car is made from eWaste – It’s made from discarded phones, disposable vapes and old circuit boards. It’s called the Recover-E Car. It’s life-size and fully driveable . It was designed by British artist Liam Hopkins in collaboration with motorsports team Envision Racing to highlight the growing problem of e-waste.
3:30These crops are suffering the most from change – Experts rank the food supply crisis as one of the world’s top 5 currently manifesting risks. This German farmer has started planting lavender. It’s best suited to the sandy soils and sunshine of the Mediterranean but climate change is bringing these conditions to southern Germany. The lavender is used in cosmetics and perfumes. Matthias Tafelmeier planted his first lavender crop in 2019 after what he says was a decade of declining soil quality. Farmers in the region are also trying other crops more suited to warmer climates such as chickpeas and kidney beans.
5:16Cutting edge tech helps paralysed man feel again – Keith Thomas was paralysed from the chest down in a diving accident in 2020. But thanks to a historic trial, he’s recovering sensation in his arms and hands, letting him feel his sister’s handshake.
_____________________________________________
The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.
Bloomberg Originals (August 17, 2023) – On this episode of The Circuit, Emily Chang sits down with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella to hear how AI is shaking up the competition for search. Nadella argues that this new wave of technology is as big as the web browser or the iPhone.
Chang also speaks with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to discuss his company (which has some help from Microsoft), its ambitions and the latest on ChatGPT.
Romolini – Christie’s Real Estate (August 17, 2023) – In the heart of Venice, a stone’s throw from the Peggy Guggenheim Collection and the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, Ca’ Dario is one of the most famous historic buildings overlooking the Grand Canal.
A masterful example of the Venetian Gothic style mixed with Renaissance elements, the palace is an imposing building of 1,000 sqm on five floors embellished with original decorations and unique elements. The hidden gem of the palace is the 170-sqm private garden at the back of the building.
THIS 500-YEAR-OLD VENETIAN GOTHIC PALACE, also known as Ca’ Dario, has claimed a host of unlucky victims, including the rich and famous. It’ said that the people who owned the building or stayed there for more than 20 days died, committed murder, or became bankrupt. Even local fisherman don’t dare cast their ropes by the cursed palazzo, which has been dubbed “the house that kills.”
The house was built in 1479 for aristocrat Giovanni Dario. His daughter Marietta and her husband Vincenzo later inherited the house. Vincenzo was stabbed to death, and Marietta died by suicide in the Grand Canal not long after. Shortly after these tragedies, their son Vincenzo Jr. was killed in Crete by assassins.
Architectural Digest (August 17, 2023) – Today Michael Wyetzner of Michielli + Wyetzner Architects joins AD for an in-depth look at how bridges transformed New York City into the thriving metropolis we know today.
Once upon a time, ferries were the only way to travel between New York’s five boroughs but thanks to the construction of major bridges, like the Brooklyn Bridge and George Washington Bridge, the city became connected. Join Michael for a closer look at how five bridges helped shape NYC into the bustling city we know today.
ABC News In-depth (August 17, 2023) – She’s one of the most famous artists of the 20th century, known for her colourful self-portraits. But what else do you know about Frida Kahlo? We visit an exhibition to find out more about her artwork and learn about her interesting life.
Mexican artist Frida Kahlo is remembered for her self-portraits, pain and passion, and bold, vibrant colors. She is celebrated in Mexico for her attention to Mexican and indigenous culture and by feminists for her depiction of the female experience and form.
ArchiPro Films (August 16, 2023) – The lifeguard tower is an essential facility that enables observation, patrolling and protection at North Piha – one of New Zealand’s most beautiful but dangerous surf beaches. The tower is to serve the club and the community providing a functional and durable building to replace the existing dated structure.
The brief was for a robust, low-maintenance building that would withstand the severe North Piha coastal environment. It needed to provide accommodation for four lifeguards with excellent visibility along the beach – a building that was functional and responded to its context.
Piha is a part of the rohe (territory) of Te Kawerau ā Maki (the indigenous Māori tribe) who gifted the name Te Pae, meaning ‘to perch’ – a place to sit, look, and observe. It was a privilege to be able to incorporate this narrative into the concept for the tower.
The form offers a softness and quiet presence in this powerful coastal location. The site is remote, and so prefabricated concrete sections were factory-made and assembled on site. This minimised dune and planting disturbance on this fragile beach. North Piha is unusual in that the sand is black. The black oxidised concrete references this and the curved form reflects the undulating dunes that the building sits amongst. The tower is modest in scale and recessive, respecting its setting. At the same time, as a beacon for visitors to the beach, it requires easy recognition, and the distinctive form sits in contrast to the beautiful, rugged backdrop. This is a piece of coastal sculpture with a nod to traditional maritime observation structures around the New Zealand coast.
The tower is sustainable, utilising operable windows for ventilation, with high levels of insulation, sun protection, thermal mass, and natural light. It provides shelter and protection for the lifeguards. The placement of the windows was carefully determined with the club to provide optimum beach surveillance and a connection back to the clubhouse.
The new tower is a vital addition to safety at North Piha. It delivers a facility that supports the extraordinary volunteers who run it and meets the needs of its community now and into the future.
News, Views and Reviews For The Intellectually Curious
MGM
Prowalk Tours
Bloomberg Originals
Romolini – Christie’s Real Estate
ABC News In-depth
ArchiPro
Boomers Daily 