Capri, Italy
The small Italian island of Capri is situated 5 km from the mainland in the Bay of Naples, a celebrated beauty spot and coastal resort since the days of the Roman Republic until now. Capri, known in Greek mythology as the isle of the sirens, was a favored resort of the Roman emperors. Capri is definitely one of the most favorite places in Italy also today, and is famed for…
Shanghai Planetarium, China
Ennead Architects have won the international competition for the building of Shanghai’s planetarium, a new 38,000-square-meter project that will define a new identity for the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum (SSTM) in China. Three ‘celestial bodies’ comprise the architecture: The Oculus, the Inverted Dome, and the Sphere. The Oculus demonstrates the passage of time by tracking a circle of sunlight on the ground across the entry plaza and reflecting pool. The Inverted…
Iranian Painting
Iranian painting is known throughout the world for its specific and unique characteristics. Ornamentation and abstraction can be considered as the general features of Iranian painting. The art of painting in Iran dates back to the time of the cavemen. The remaining paintings from Iranian ancient times are notable for concentrating on the human figure (mostly male, and often royal) and also animal figures. Iran painting periods can be divided into three distinct but continuous…
Busan Opera House, South Korea
Snohetta was selected as the winner of the Busan Opera House Competition in South Korea with their ‘Unpacking the Box’ concept. Located on reclaimed land on the city's waterfront, the new Opera House will convert the historically industrial area into a public space for Busan. The Opera is designed to be exceptionally accessible in the urban context, not just physically accessible but visually accessible, and above all mentally accessible. The…
World's Largest Natural Mirror, Bolivia
The Salar de Uyuni is the world's largest salt flat, and it's considered to be one of the most extreme and remarkable places in South America. Salar de Uyuni is located nearly 3,658 meters above sea level in Bolivia's southwest corner, alongside its border with Chile. The salt flat blankets an amazing area of 12,000 sq km. It was part of a prehistoric salt lake, Lago Minchín, which once covered most…
