THE PALAIS LIECHTENSTEIN

The Palais Liechtenstein, one of Vienna’s and Europe’s most beautiful privately owned palaces has been fully restored and will be open for public tours this spring for the first time.  This palace is considered one of the best examples of Baroque architecture and was once the residence of the royal family of Liechtenstein. 

 

Garden Palace Delsenbach etching © LIECHTENSTEIN. The Princely Collections

 

In the final days of World War II the palace suffered extensive damage from direct hits in a bombing raid and an aircraft crashing into the roof. The ceiling of the stairway on the second floor was completely destroyed, and there was considerable damage to the adjacent state rooms. In the years immediately following the war work was carried out to secure the fabric and repair the worst damage, but due to the financial losses sustained by the family as a result of and after the war, the palace was not restored until 1974/76.

 

City Palace west facade © LIECHTENSTEIN. The Princely Collections, Vaduz-Vienna

City Palace west facade destroyed © LIECHTENSTEIN. The Princely Collections

Liechtenstein City Palace facade © Palais Liechtenstein GmbH_Fotomanufaktur Grünwald

 

At a cost of $135 million and four years of hard work by over 500 artisans the palace has restored the place to its pre-war beauty revamping the building for the family’s private apartments, while visitors will finally get a peek at many of its gilded Rococo interiors, not to mention the prince’s neo-classical art and furnishings collection.

 

City Palace mirror detail © LIECHTENSTEIN. The Princely Collections, Vaduz-Vienna

City Palace Bouquet room before completion © Palais Liechtenstein

© Palais Liechtenstein

SP Prunktreppe mit Teppich © LIECHTENSTEIN. The Princely Collections, Vaduz-Vienna

Square room © Palais Liechtenstein GmbH_Alexandra Matzner

 

Deeply rooted in Vienna’s history for over 300 years, the palaces of the princely family of Liechtenstein are notable for their superb state of restoration, original interiors and their stunning symbiosis of nature, architecture and masterpieces of art history.

 

The project was overseen by Hans-Adam II, the reigning prince of one of the smallest and richest principalities in the world.

 

HSH Prince Hans-Adam II von und zu Liechtenstein

 

“It was very important to us to renovate the CITY PALACE, which has belonged to our family since 1694. I feel that we have a certain obligation to preserve it for posterity. Elaborate detailed work has been carried out to bring the palace up to modern standards, whilst preserving all of its historic charm. Now we are delighted to be able to hire the house out for wonderful events and to bring it back to life with guided tours,” explains the owner, HSH Prince Hans-Adam II von und zu
Liechtenstein.

 

With a dramatic palatial staircase, silk wall hangings, and intricate parquet floors the palace has been restored to its full glory.

 

Garden Palace Prohaska Garden © LIECHTENSTEIN. The Princely Collections

Garden Palace aerial view 2 © LIECHTENSTEIN. The Princely Collections, Vaduz-Vienna

I invite you to visit the website and the video tours of the palace at:

 

MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011

Seattle Public Library

Last weekend I had the opportunity to visit The Seattle Public Library for the first time.  I was mesmerized by its supreme architecture and clever design.  The simplicity of the materials, but the complexity of its construction has made of this building an architectural icon in the United States.   I was also lucky enough to have this building as my hotel view during my stay in Seattle.

 

The Central Building for the Seattle Public Library was designed by Rem Koolhaas and Joshua Prince-Ramus of OMA/REX.  I found the space really inspiring, so much that I would like to share some of my favourite shots.

 

Next time you are in Seattle, this is a must see building.

 

Sculpture at the Main Entrance

 

Achitectural View

 

Flooring

 

Accent Wall – Children’s Section

 

  Walls and Ceiling Structure

 

Glass Reflection

 

  Bookworms

 Auditorium

 

Ceiling Reflection

 

Exterior View

 

Exterior View

 

 

Thanks to the magic of Wikipedia here are the facts

- The Seattle Central Library is the flagship library of the Seattle Public Library system. The 11-story (185 feet or 56 meters high) glass and steel building in downtown Seattle, Washington was opened to the public on Sunday, May 23, 2004. Rem Koolhaas and Joshua Prince-Ramus of OMA/REX were the principal architects and Hoffman Construction Company of Portland, Oregon, was the general contractor. The 362,987 square foot (34,000 m²) public library can hold about 1.45 million books and other materials, features underground public parking for 143 vehicles, and includes over 400 computers open to the public. Over 2 million individuals visited the new library in its first year. It is the third Seattle Central Library building to be located on the same site at 1000 Fourth Avenue, the block bounded by Fourth and Fifth Avenues and Madison and Spring Streets. The library has a unique, striking appearance, consisting of several discrete "floating platforms" seemingly wrapped in a large steel net around glass skin. Architectural tours of the building began on June 5, 2006.

 

 

Seattle Public Library by Iván Meade

Iván Meade is a local designer and principal of Meade Design Group, a multidisciplinary interior design and graphic design studio in the heart of downtown Victoria B.C. Canada – www.themeadegroup.com

MEADE DESIGN GROUP - THE BLOG. Copyright 2007-2011