Travel : Stockholm

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Last year, I had the opportunity to visit the idyllic city of Stockholm. Located along Sweden’s southeast coast, Stockholm is spread out across more than a dozen islands which are easily accessible by bridges and ferries. Each island has its own character; the medieval old town (Gamla Stan), the lush hunting island of past kings (Djurgården), a hipster heaven (Södermalm) and many more. Stockholm’s proximity to water makes it an especially interesting place to explore, with lots of people along the shorelines drinking rosé (everyone is drinking rosé now) and enjoying the expansive views of their garden city. 

 

One thing that struck me was Stockholm’s vibrant outdoor social life. Each evening, the many parks were filled with families who met for picnicking and socializing. Large groups of adults gathered around impressive looking dinners while their kids ran around and played. Most people travel by bicycle (usually with a kid strapped to the back) along the cities enviable cycling friendly roads and pathways. 

 

You can find examples of a huge range of architectural styles in the city, from the medieval square in Gamla Stan to the minimalist brass facade at Sven Harry’s. I was especially excited to see the Stockholm Public Library by Gunnar Asplund. After studying libraries in the United States, Asplund designed Sweden’s first public library with open shelving, allowing visitors to browse on their own and choose a book without assistance from library staff. Thousands of books line the circular rotunda and the space has an open and airy feel. There is still much to explore in this beautiful city, and I hope to visit it again someday <3

Travel : Iceland

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This past summer, Noel and I visited Iceland on a 7 day stopover through Iceland Air. I have to admit that Iceland wasn’t originally on the top of my travel list. However, the more I researched the country, the more excited I became to see its many dramatic natural features and differing landscapes. Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe and is located at the juncture of the North Atlantic and Arctic ocean. The majority of the population live on the Southern part of the island near the capital, Reykjavik. During our weeklong tour of the country, we drove along the whole of Route 1 (the ring road) which connects all of the inhabited parts of the island. It didn’t take long after leaving Reykjavik to feel like you were alone in a strange and beautiful land, with not a store or gas station or other car in sight for miles and miles. 

 

The original settlers of Iceland often covered their homes and churches with grass and turf, a technique known as earth sheltering. This protects the structure from a harsh climate and takes advantage of the inherent heat of the earth, regulating the interior temperature. This building type was largely abandoned in the early 1900’s in favor of a more modern approach. Scandinavian influences can be seen in much of the architecture which is overwhelmingly simple in form and constructed out of natural, functional materials. The most popular exterior cladding was corrugated metal or concrete, both of which were often painted bright colors. It was surprising how such utilitarian materials could be manipulated in so many ways through color and detail and produce such an inviting atmosphere. 

Travel : Lisbon

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Last week, I had the opportunity to get out of cold, wintry Vermont and spend some time in Portugal with friends from college. Of the five girls, four of us are designers and we were loving the gorgeous, colorful city of Lisbon. The city has such an intriguing mix of architectural styles and influences. Unlike most of Europe, Portugal was a neutral country during WWII and escaped the sweeping destruction that most countries endured. Portugal is located on the Iberian peninsula bordering the Atlantic Ocean and Spain. It feels like a Mediterranean country with white washed exteriors painted vibrant colors and clay tile roofs but at the same time you can see many examples of Moorish and Islamic influences. Everywhere you turn, buildings and sidewalks are clad in thousands of stone and ceramic tiles in all shades and patterns. Lisbon is very supportive of street artists and graffiti can be found often, giving the city a gritty and lived in feel. As for interiors, we were struck by the amount of respect Portuguese designers give to the existing structures. The new blends seamlessly with the old and the result is bursting with history and character.

 

Not only is the city an architectural gem, the culture is hard to beat as well. We visited during Carnavale celebrations so people were especially festive. Carnavale is a celebration similar to Mardis Gras and people go all out with costumes, parades and the atmosphere is electric. Children dress up for school and we saw many lines of little ducklings marching through the streets in their adorable costumes. The food was simply prepared but beyond delicious and the wine was bright and cheap. Best of all, the time spent with friends was the most memorable part of the vacation. What could be better than abundant wine, marvelous company and an unforgettable city?