28 Sept 2012

IN BETWEEN POST_STRIPES OBSESSION

There's no doubt. I am obsessed about stripes. Very obsessed. I guess this madness comes from my childhood, from my dad's striped t-shirt. He really looked like a sailor.:P Later, I could inherit his t-shirt, and I wore it as a dress. And since then, I enjoy them. So,here is a little selection of stripes. In fashion and in the home. 

 I could easily say this is the perfect dress.


 Black stripes on a wall. Perfect if you want to have a longer room.

 For a vintage effect? Some vintage stripes, of course.

 Vertical gray stripes in a bathroom. As in the Architectural Digest proposal.

 Stripes in the hallway.

 Stripe son a sofa, near the window.


 Again, stripes in the hallway. This time to emphasize a very designish element.

 Pastel stripes in the hallway, for a plus of confort.

 Stripes in the window.

 Stripes in children's bedroom. Again, to enlarge the image of a small room.

 Stripes in the kitchen window for the curious eyes of neighbors.

 A striped rug. For a longer kitchen, this time.
 Stripes on walls. As art.

And finally, stripes on the sofa. For that IT design object in your house.

25 Sept 2012

CLUJ POST_2

Back in business with my blogging. For this Monday, another Cluj review. This time, I will show you one of my favorite Romanian modern piece of architecture: CLUJ ARENA. I for instance have been surprised in a good way by the new image Romanian sports could get.The project, by DICO& TIGANAS, a well known Romanian Architecture Office, fits very well in Cluj scenery. This old town, being populated by lots and lots of old buildings, as you could easily see in the previous post, really needed a reviving and a splash of new. And it came. It came with Cluj Arena. As an architect I am proud that we can still make occidental architecture in a Post Communist country as ours, and I am proud of people who understand that everything has to evolve. Even architecture. And yes, this is a good example of new architecture in an old urban tissue.







Have a wonderful week. 

18 Sept 2012

CLUJ _POST 1

I know I am a little late on blogging, and I haven't even shared with you my feelings and images from Cluj. Sorry. I promise you some days on this subject. Living in Bucharest can be a little bit tiering sometimes, the whole atmosphere can get clustered and you feel you can't breath normally. That's why, it comes a time in your life, when you say: "That's it! I have to change something or else, I will go mad!". And that's what I did. Last week, we took a little break. Cluj break. Due to M's courses in the city, we could enjoy a few relaxed days in a very beautiful and inspirational town. I can say I was really amazed of it's cosmopolitan aspect and I would easily compare it to any western city I've been to. Good food( I would say the best!), nice people, and more nice buildings.So, for the first post(of the I don't know how many there will be) I propose some Cluj architecture. I am very fond of the Austrian influenced architecture and lucky me, Cluj has plenty of that.So,enjoy a few of the well preserved such architecture.





The city seen from above. From the central church tower. Breathtaking.









The Casino from the Central Park, a beautiful building that has just been restored. This is a YES in the restoration area. Good job!

Well, someone has been lucky enough to live here, in Cluj, for 1 year. This person is mum! And this is the building where she stayed. Just across Central Park. Shishhh...


Mathias Corvinus birthplace. Birth building actually. Nice piece of architecture, and you may believe it or not, it is the oldest in the city, dating from XV century. It has gathered inside a hospital, a prison and also an inn. A lot of functions for one house. Oh, and it is a Gothic  example of residential buildings.I most liked it for it's front door(here in image) and for the atmosphere around it. Like in a real medieval town. 


The Franciscan Church. Great building, built for the first time in the XI-XII century and then rebuilt after the Tatars invasion(1241). Great building to represent the late Romanic Style.


Another nice building representing Romanic style, just beside the Franciscan Church.Great color that emphasize the framings of the windows.


And here is one of my favorite, St. Maichael's Church. It is Gothic, of course, and it is a great piece of architecture built in 1316! Among many important events that have happened inside, one is the baptism of King Mathias Corvinus.  More on this brilliant building, in posts to come.


Inspiring facade, on Napoca's Str. It was just a small restaurant, but  with a great front design. Almost Art Deco.


The modern interior of The Casino. Especially appreciate the bridge across the main room.



View on Small Somes, the river that gently crosses the city. Doesn't this image look like Prague scenery? I could easily live here...


The Firemen Tower rises over the small housing stock. 


And the Orthodox Cathedral, another beautiful piece of architecture. I am not fond of Orthodox churches, but this one is one of the most beautiful I have seen. It is simple and imposing.Apparently it has been given to the community in 1933. 

A beautiful Art Nouveau house is among others, an interesting front view on Heoes Str.Please, observe the fact that most buildings are in a very good condition, comparing the ones in Bucharest. Could be the people?


The St Michael's  Church Tower, in person. Been there, seen that! Amazing!



See you soon with brand new images and impressions on Cluj. 

Text and photos by Mara Popanand Mihnea Gligor.

17 Sept 2012

IKEA APARTMENT– A PLACE TO CALL YOUR OWN

  
After stealing the Ikea product brochure from some lucky fellow who lives in the city center and gets it before the 1st of September, and then receiving it as usual, hanged on our front door, and after our first walk throughout the store just to see the goodies of this fall...the next Ikea-obsession consequence happened. One of our dear friends, invited us at one of her dear friends, who had recently refreshed an apartment with Ikea twinkle blinkles. Yes, shes joined willy-freely the Ikea campaign of this season and answered the provoking task of redecorating an apartment using a cheap budget and her witty ability to chose a minimal intervention.
     Last day of it, the apartment joined a party with pancakes and popcorn, a good film and some even better company, welcoming atmosphere and of coursesomething borrowed and something blue and the best of it, Ikea of course.
       By this means, we would like to thank Cristina Bazavan for the quality time of yesterday s evening . Not only that we saluted her choices but I wave terribly for this whole concept of putting herself into the mood of an apartment that , at first sight seemed nothing but just an apartment in the center of the city with a very tricky path to the entrance (we almostdidnt get there). We appreciated her honesty in all this process. The ugly bookcase that was the main problem of the existing situation , she chose not to hide, but try to make the most of it. And, honestly there wasnt much left to be done. The personal touch was everywhere. You could have seen the red wire connecting everything with a very bright way of seeing, acting and being. She was , above it all, the every single object she chose. Everything was so delicate,  shabby-chic, natural and unaggressive. The light was mild and the apartment seemed natural-born this way.
         It was funny the way we spied into everywhere, trying to point our finger at any Ikea product that we could have detected. At the end, we surely recognized that :YES, thats Ikea and YES, this is Cristinas apartment every single angle of it tells a wonderful story about a person you surely would like to meet. We , for instance, felt  
honored and glad. Thank you!


Written by ALMA POPAN


  The row of flowers at the upper part of the couch was a ray of joy at your back, enriching the furniture that received a fresh Ikea layer, a cozy beige cover , over a dark grey something.

 
Cristina likes flowers. You can notice that from the photos of her previous Ikea posts on her blog
http://bazavan.ro/ . The number of flowers and pots she choses is almost equal to the one of accessories. Here you can see the defining pattern of the house, picturing a white tree print on a black fabric. The tree of life and the joy of nature is once again a light motive of the indoor arrangement.

   Her absolute favorite part of the house, the most intimate room of all , is a romantic bunch of delicate Holland ceramic- inspired sheets mixed with the transparency of the see through lace texture.




 


  Here s me, grabbing my favorite object of the house and exploring its every line of its childish graphic , just before the movie started.


Here are the treats just before they gotaway;)
 

Once more, the lace and its filigree beauty, holding another flower and putting some positive attitude to the ugly bookcase.


  First pumpkin pie of the season, with delicious raisins and delicate sugar powder. Amazing , everything fits the scenery of an easy Friday late afternoon.


Here is Cristinas business card the bedside table made out of a pile of selected books based on her work and passions, that, as in any fortunate case, you cannot tell which is which.  


The curtain finish and the dress finish are working together in a composition that details delicacy.


Few well-mannered fashion examples of a very fine taste make the scenography of the entrance hall. Equilibrium and patience welcomes you warmly to take a look and pay a visit.



  A small sample of a greenhouse the greenhouse for two, was placed to be noticed. A first sight delight!



  Traces of a French boudouir on the hedge of the window, left intentionally and apparently without any rule, aside. A fine trick giving once more the impression of a lively and lived apartment.



Three ranges of local light pointed from above our pancakes both us and the lights spotted well the appetizers spot;)