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Memorable modern architecture in Amsterdam

There are many things to discover about Amsterdam. One of which is the amazing architecture. These are some of the buildings that are unique.

The Valley Skyscraper

The Valley skyscraper is designed by the Dutch studio MVRDV and features a unique mountain-like angular shape. Located in Amsterdam’s Zuidas district, the Valley is a 75,000-square-meter development. The building measures 100 meters in height and was designed and built to be both green and innovative.

Valley was given its name because of the many facades of the terraces. The Valley consists of three connected towers of different heights that rise from a podium structure. The façade creates a unique public landscape that runs throughout the building and opens it up to its surroundings.

Inside the Valley, two gorgeous staircases lead to the central atrium, the main access for everything within the building. You will find entrances to the office floors, cultural exhibitions, and many restaurants and coffee bars in the atrium. With the help of custom digital tools, every apartment is sure to have enough lights, creating an interesting random pattern of balconies. The gardens were designed by Piet Oudolf and included 370 planting areas featuring 13,500 plants.

Sluishuis Housing Block

Designed by the Danish architecture studio BIG and the Dutch studio Barcode Architects, the Sluishuis Housing Block was built on an artificial island in the IJ lake. The housing block surrounds an internal harbor with a double cantilever that forms a gateway from the lake. This memorable architecture of Amsterdam is a contemporary translation of the city’s topology. No matter what part of Sluishuis you are in, it will surely surprise you.

The housing block features 442 apartments. As you walk through the gates of the block, you are mesmerized by the distinctive shape. There are blocks on either side of the square, and each apartment features a beautiful balcony. The four blocks enclose a courtyard that features a sailing school, a water sports center, and a restaurant with a large terrace. The buildings clad in aluminum reflect the surrounding water and feature a variety of apartments, from studios to penthouses.

Strawinskylaan Bicycle Parking

On the other side of the Amsterdam Zuid railway station, the Strawinskylaan Bicycle Parking has a capacity of 3,750 and is one of the largest bike parking spaces in the Dutch capital. The parking lot was designed by wUrck and opened in May of 2018. We were especially impressed by this memorable architecture in Amsterdam because it turned something mundane into something unique.

The parking facility is located under the forme Vijfhoek park, which will be redeveloped into a neighborhood square with a playground in the coming months. The large and well-organized space allows for maximum efficiency and comfortable operations. Strawinskylaan Bicycle Parking is contained in a simple concrete volume with an epoxy floor. The steel tree-like columns hold up a canopy of ceiling islands. The pentagon shapes near the entrance pay homage to the former park above it. The glass walls and ceiling islands were designed to stimulate daylight. This space is underground, but it feels like you enjoy the sun outdoors.

ARCAM Architecture Center

Designed by Rene van Zuuk Architekten, the ARCAM is the best place for anyone who wants to learn more about architecture in the Amsterdam area. The Amsterdam Center for Architecture (ARCAM) is an organization that was founded in 1986. ARCAM focuses on architecture, urban design, and landscape architecture. The building features a trapezoidal shape and has three floors.

Van Zuuk’s project turned out beautiful. On the street level, there is an exhibition space. The upper floor is fitted with glass partitions, which create an attic-like environment. On the waterfront, there is a multipurpose space for meetings, discussions, and receptions of groups. Every part of the internal space of the building is linked by voids, which make the space feel large but still cohesive.

Eye Film Museum

Designed by the Austrian-based firm of Delugan Meissl Associated Architects, the Eye is a beautiful example of memorable architecture that you can find in Amsterdam. Located at the bend of the river IJ, opposite the historical part of the city and the central station, the building stands out with its dynamic and unique design.

The entrance of the Eye Film Museum is characterized by continuous spatial concentration and directed visual relations. The design of the building features spatial development, light incidence, and materiality to define paths that lead to the southern glass front and the museum shop. The room widens and unfolds into a beautiful work of art inside and out.

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Work balance with amazing Office interiors in Amsterdam

Amsterdam’s architecture and interior design is inspiring on their own accord. We were truly impressed by the Dutch capital’s beautiful office interior designs and how firms created their office spaces. Here are some of our favorite office interiors.

Beyond Space

Two office designs by Beyond Space stood out to us. The company perfectly mixes art, architecture, and product development by creating beautiful interiors. For a security company in Amsterdam, Beyond Space used a colorful grid system that allowed users to change the layout when needed. Beyond Space created an office that doubled as a showroom for an interior design company.

The security company office interior features various beams and columns that knit together the two office floors. The grid is constructed from aluminum, allowing the client to organize and reconfigure the space. The trim on the doors and windows adds a pop of color while giving workspaces some privacy. The pastel furniture provides a contrast between the white grid and adds balance.

The interior design company office interior also provides a flexible space. Since the designer specializes in unique fabrics, Beyond Space used lush and unique materials to sculpt a beautiful office interior. The entire space features ceiling-to-floor, semi-transparent drapes. The interior’s color palette consists of natural, water-like hues, paying homage to the view from the tall windows of the office into the IJ river.

 

Fosbury & Sons

Inside a Dutch hospital dating back to 1845, you will find something not quite as many expect. Fosbury & Sons designed a beautiful co-working space with interiors by Going East. With an area of 6,000 square meters, the gorgeous building borders the waters of Amsterdam’s Prinsengracht canal. The office interior of this space is truly breathtaking. While the outside of the building still looks as it did back in the day, the interior is modern, and every piece was meticulously chosen to fit into the space.

The ground floor features an expansive lobby where members can lounge and mingle on the plush sectional sofas as they walk in. Additionally, people can enjoy contemporary artworks specially curated by local galleries. As you walk up the stairwell topped by the hospital’s original stained-glass skylights, you start to see the workspaces. These floors feature offices, communal areas, meeting rooms, and a kitchen area. It is a beautiful celebration of the historic building and repurposing it.

Meet Berlage

Offering inspiring space for entrepreneurial minds, Meet Berlage offers a space for conferences, workshops, training, and meetings. The co-working space is a stock exchange building, which was the home of the world’s first stock exchange. The interior of every room in the building has maintained its historical feel. Some board rooms feature stained-glass windows and unique ceilings. As you enter the building, the ground floor foyer is the heart of the building, with people working and a coffee shop working at full speed. Visiting this space is like stepping back in history while still being productive or putting an event together.

Interior Works

Interior Works’ office interior is gorgeously designed with a unique take on sustainability. Architect Niel Kramer created a design for the perfect workplace that made it into a park oasis. This idea led to a pleasant working environment for the staff, a fun experience for visitors, and an inspiring meeting place for partners. The office interior creates a beautiful relationship with the outdoors by bringing it indoors.

As you enter the office, the biophilic design reduces stress. The light-toned wood with the perfect spread greenery throughout the space creates a calming environment. Additionally, the various individual and group workspaces allow for a much more interactive office space that can reduce burnout and keep productivity strong. The minimalistic and organic shapes of various office areas open up the space. It is a simple yet beautiful office interior design that allows workers to feel less trapped inside an office space and inspired by nature.

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A restaurant that packs a punch. Discover bold restaurant design

Streetfood Club in Utrecht, Netherlands, presents a Bold Restaurant Design exhibiting colorful and amazing art. The restaurant is a mixture of luxury and street. From the crazy, comfortable chairs to the old-school hip-hop blasting from the speakers. As described, Street Food Club’s design is in stark contrast, but it all fits together perfectly.

BOLD DESIGN

Tropical designs, lush jungle plants, pinks and greens, and a hint of shine with brass accents. That is what defines the eclectic fusion of Memphis style meeting boho. A tropical wallpaper can be found behind the bar, and fringed Eyewink lamps by Houtique are mounted above it. The amazing concept’s bar and lounge area have excellent printed wallpaper and carpet by Prints van Oranje. Prints van Oranje sought a genuine street food experience after consulting with designer Sippien Baarsma.

In the restaurant’s center, your gaze is drawn up to the original stained glass ceiling and down to the geometric floor, typical of Memphis design. Then there’s the green wall with the red lips and colored mirrors, which makes me think of pop culture from the 1980s. Everything is so out of sync and in stark contrast, but it still works.

Chandeliers are authentically made and aesthetically designed. Matching the color of the restaurant’s ceiling and walls that showcases bold colors to emphasize the unique style. There are several columns inside the restaurant containing designs that are root-like. The tables and chairs are parallel with their colors and designs. Floor design contains geometric shapes and patterns, making the art bolder than usual.

Aside from this, the provision of plants and trees that can be accumulated in the restaurant makes it cool and unique. This gives a sense of naturalistic vibes to the customers. More off, this is a good environment for those people who love plants. A trip to The Streetfood Club in Utrecht is a genuine experience regardless of where your senses take you.

FLAVORFUL CUISINES

The “more is more” trend in interior design may seem slightly ridiculous to some but not to Baarsma. Not only is the visual design full of senses, but also the food. The meal selection is excellent! It is street food made in the style of Asia with American and South American influences. Again, everything is so different yet harmonious. It’s adorable. The bold restaurant design showcased in Streetfood Club is one of a kind, far from dull. From the extravagant design to the flavorful cuisine offered by the restaurant is a perfect combination of a great encounter.

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Architecture in nature: A home buried in the sand dunes of Holland

Architecture, as its use, provides shelter and comfort to people. Moreover, it is also a form of art that is aesthetically pleasing to the eyes, especially if it is inclined to nature. Architecture in nature sounds unusual, making it more captivating and appealing to one’s eyes. In the Netherlands, several houses on the dunes may look typical but are interesting because of their design and build.

Architecture in nature

The Dutch design firm Unknown Architects built a vacation home that resembles a log cabin. It includes panoramic windows that allow refreshing views of the dunes and hills in the area. The House in the Dunes is inspired by the Terschelling houses in the Wadden Islands. It features a steeply pitched roof and a straightforward cross-laminated timber and steel frame. Although the home appears to be a straightforward cabin from a distance, Amsterdam-based Unknown Architects dug the building’s concrete base into the sand to add a second floor and a covered patio area. The house aspires to be simple yet artistic. Utilizing the dune topography, they constructed a larger lower ground floor with two bedrooms, a bathroom, storage space, and a technical area.

Minimal construction

A concrete base, a core shape of cross-laminated timber and steel encircled by expansive wood-framed windows, and a high, asymmetrically pitched roof covered in Accoya wood boards comprise the final structure. The window frames and roof boards blend into the surroundings as they age gradually. This is because these materials were chosen for their simplicity of construction and the way they will age and weather over time. Most of the house is prefabricated to speed up building on site and minimize disruption to the neighborhood. The ground floor and roof construction are made of CLT, making this the first CLT building in Terschelling.

The components of the pigmented concrete base were cast in a foundry. The high-pitched skylit ceiling and 360-degree views in the plywood-lined living area of House in the Dunes give the impression that you are in the landscape. Under the windows, a built-in seat wraps around the interior and serves as storage. A central wooden block divides the kitchen and baths from the living area. This also creates a mezzanine level below the roof’s skylight. The broad overhanging roof of House in the Dunes and the removable wooden shutters, along with ventilation grilles built into the timber window frames, all prevent overheating.

As if they had carved the house, the environment’s dominant natural forces—the sea, the sun, and the regional wind patterns—determine its design. As a result, the resulting architectural object is peculiar and is perceived in a peculiar way from each side. The house is completely covered in sand, effectively concealing it in its surroundings. The textures and colors of the landscape served as the basis for the material selection for the project. The architects selected the colors based on the surrounding gray, ochre, brown, and green tones. We limited ourselves to four fundamental colors to ensure that nothing in the design would feel out of place.

Below, the white-finished bedrooms, bathroom, and foyer frame views of the sand dunes with smaller square windows. 2012 saw the establishment of Unknown Architects by Daan Vulkers and Keimpke Zigterman. One of the studio’s earlier projects is refurbishing an apartment building in Amsterdam. Where red-painted steel columns were employed to free up several formerly cramped living rooms. The beach cottage by Amsterdam-based Marc Koehler Architects has a crystalline form covered in a combination of glass and red cedar. It sits in Terschelling’s sand dunes. Architecture in nature is pleasing to the eyes and transcends the refreshing feeling for the house occupants and visitors.

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Baguio’s Public Market is a one stop shop for all your household needs

Baguio’s wet & dry Public Market is located at 38 Raja Soliman Street in Baguio City. The marketplace, however, spans Magsaysay Avenue and crosses Lower Session Road. When the city’s artistic community converted Baguio Market into a gallery in 2014, it transformed from its 1917 structure—made of local materials and symbolized by the original golden eagle relic—into a cultural place. The open market sells a wide range of commodities and goods. Some stores open at five in the morning, particularly the wet goods and vegetable sections. While some dry goods stores are open 24 hours a day, most don’t open until between 6 and 7 in the morning.

GOODS IN THE WET MARKET

All items and products should not be set aside in the public market. Primary to this are the freshly harvested vegetables from the province. The city is lucky to be a part of the province of Benguet, which is regarded as one of Luzon’s top vegetable-growing areas. Numerous vegetables, including carrots, potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, and lettuce, are delivered daily from the vegetable exchanges in the nearby towns to the city market in La Trinidad. Most of these are sold by the kilo, but you can also get small to-go packets. Additionally, fresh herbs, including basil, rosemary, mint, and parsley, are available in this section for gourmets.

Vegetables are not only present, but fruits are also a big part of the market. Almost all fruits local to the Philippines are found here, such as mangoes, coconuts, apples, etc. Baguio is actually famous for its fresh strawberries. This market is one of the best places to buy strawberries. Usually in peak season from November to April.

There is also a meat department where you can buy different types of sausages and longganisa (Filipino sausages). Some of the local butchers even make their own garlic and sweet varieties of longganisa. On the second floor of the building is a butcher’s shop, and on the ground floor, there are chicken shops. The fish section is a few steps up the hilltop, where Baguio residents stock up on fish daily.

Baguio is close to the flower gardens of Benguet, so you can buy freshly-cut flowers at the public market. Each vendor has very simple but cute booths where shoppers can pick which flowers they want and how they want them arranged.

GOODS IN THE DRY MARKET

In addition to fresh produce and flowers, the market has a “dry” section that sells packaged goods and clothing. It is common to see preserves such as strawberry jams, passion fruit, rice, and spices. Snacks, such as handmade chips and peanut brittle, are also common in this section.

The shop also offers native and local hand products. There is a market section filled with baskets, wooden plates, and other woodwork, in addition to other gifts and goodies such as souvenir shirts and trinkets. In this section, you can buy accessories made from handwoven fabrics, such as wallets and key chains. If you buy a lot and give it to your friends, colleagues, or family members, buying in bulk is a good deal.

 

Buyers can also find a section for cheap clothing or “ukay-ukay” as referred to by Filipinos. Most shoppers can attest that ukay-ukay, or shopping for used clothing and accessories, is cheap at Baguio City’s Public Market.

THE SOLIDARITY FORMED IN THE PUBLIC MARKET

Baguio City Public Market not only offers bargains and rare items, but it’s also known as one of the cleanest markets in the country. No need to worry about your shoes or sneakers getting dirty or muddy. Some visitors are confident enough to wear flip-flops when going to the market without worrying about getting their toes dirty. But what makes Baguio Public Market special is its strong sense of solidarity is interwoven, and the relationship with customers deepens and turns into friendship.

Check out more of our travels through our blog!

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5 Manila food spots with a unique Restaurant interior

As we explored Manila, we were delighted to visit various restaurants with delicious food and beautiful interior design. The different restaurants we visited feature various interior design styles, from vintage to traditional Filipino. Here are some of our favorite restaurant interior designs in Manila.

Casa Buenas

This restaurant, located at Resorts World Manila, Casa Buenas opened in 2020 and exudes elegance and sophistication while celebrating Filipino culture and heritage. The main dining hall is inspired by the Azotea, which is part of the traditional Filipino ancestral houses built during the Spanish colonial era. At the Azotea, people would hand out with other family members, receive and welcome guests, and have casual conversations over a meal.

The restaurant also has a gazebo and cigar lounge. Both are inspired by a conservatory. HBA Manila Design Office, the design group, is responsible for this amazing interior.

La Picara

Located on the second floor of One Bonifacio High Street Mall, La Picara is a beautiful restaurant with Spanish cuisine, a well-stocked bar, and a gorgeous interior design. The restaurant’s name means ‘naughty,’ and all the details of the décor give the feel of a fun and outgoing personality.

As you walk into La Picara, you see all over the beautiful interior design. We were delighted by the beautiful color palette of greens, woods, and gold. The bar and kitchen area feature a unique green tile. The bar stools feature a plant print, and plants decorate the top of the bar. Various wooden chandeliers and plants hang from the ceiling of the restaurant. The dining area flooring is a beautiful warm wood tone, and the darker wood tables accent the various chairs. Some tables feature green velvet chairs, others feature whicker chairs, and some are accented by green floral chairs. Even the plates, which feature various animals, give this restaurant more personality. The glass windows allow you to see beautiful Manila while dining at this unique place.

The Raging Bull Chophouse

We also visited the Raging Bull Chophouse and were truly inspired by the restaurant’s interior design. You feel transported into a Mad Men episode in New York City as you enter the restaurant. The restaurant was the first restaurant project that AvroKO did in the Philippines. The Raging Bull Chophouse is inspired by Manhattan residential aesthetic, celebrating the art of wood and metal craftsmanship in its art and detail.

As you walk into the restaurant, you feel like you’ve been transported to the 1960s. The restaurant and bar feature ebony-stained wood walls. The floors feature hand-applied ecru Venetian plaster, black and white marble, and wood details. The divider screens separate the environments inside the restaurant to create a more intimate setting. It is a true work of art and a delicious experience.

Sawsaw

This restaurant SawSaw is named after the Filipino word for dipping sauce, which is “sawsawan.” Filipino cuisine has a wide variety of dipping sauces, which inspired Chef Sau Del Rosario’s newest restaurant. SawSaw features delicious Filipino cuisine and beautiful interior design. The most interesting aspect of the restaurant is that the open kitchen is the centerpiece. Everyone dining can see the cooks prepare the delicious food served at SawSaw.

The restaurant’s interior is minimalist and modern. The solihiya chairs and woven chandeliers pay homage to Filipino culture. One of our favorite parts of the restaurant was the alfresco area with an urban garden and a small glass-enclosed room for private events. The beautiful color palette of the restaurant consists of white and light wood tones, making the greenery stand out even more.

Provenciano

Inside Quezon City, Maginhawa street is a great place to find the best restaurants around. Provenciano is a countryside-inspired restaurant that has a wonderful dining experience. We loved the restaurant entrance with the double doors, tiled flooring, and simple native plants. The restaurant interior is decorated with classic art pieces, wood carvings, and a small nipa hut where a traditional Filipino cake is prepared. While the restaurant is simple, the dining area is well-illuminated by the chandelier and various ceiling lights.