Tag: Architecture Travel

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The Way We Once Traveled: Helicopter Transfers to the 1964 World's Fair

January 19, 2012 at 2:40 PM | by | Comments (0)

We'll fully admit that we save our ticket stubs even sometimes our bag tags. Of course travelers of decades ago were no different; in fact, they were worse. Sometimes we dig up vintage gems that deserve to be shared. All week, we'll look at a few lost pieces of ephemera that continue to inspire.

The 1960s were a great time to hop a helicopter ride in New York. These were the days when buying a First Class ticket on Pan Am or TWA meant the inclusion of a chopper transfer to the airport, and helicopters weren't yet clogging the skyways above the rivers, causing the accidents and concerns that exist today. In 1964 specifically, families keen on spending a day at the 1964-1965 World's Fair could take a scenic ride on New York Airways' helicopters from Manhattan out to the fair at Corona Park in Queens.

Landing was the fun part, actually; the choppers set down atop the first completed structure for the fair, the Port Authority Exhibit Building, which counted the helipad, a restaurant ("Top of the Fair"), cocktail bar and 360-film feature theater as attractions. Coincidentally, the 360-degree film shown was also shot by helicopter, as the cameras dangled and captured the beauty and geography of the New York region.

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Architecture is Reason Enough to Hit Palm Springs

December 20, 2011 at 4:49 PM | by | Comments (0)

Tis the season to head for sunnier, warmer climes. For many this means the Caribbean and Mexico while for others, they're keeping it closer to home in Palm Springs, CA. Since we know many who'll head to the desert on Virgin America's new route to Palm Springs, we're thinking it's time to let you in on a few of our own personal favorite PS secrets.

When you're not guzzling all-you-can-drink champagne in Palm Springs, the thing to do is take in the sights. Just be totally sober before hopping behind the wheel, of course. There's no shortage of vistas in this desert valley surrounded by mountains and blue skies, and we confess that our favorite thing to do in Palm Springs is actually just leisurely cruise around.

Driving here (any time other than Coachella) is a breeze. The streets are wide and well maintenanced, traffic is extremely rare, and oftentimes the buildings that line that road are as photo-worthy as the natural scenery. There's just something about that midcentury modern look, and luckily it's something in which Palm Springs specializes.

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First Look: Inside and All Around Liberia, Costa Rica's Snazzy New $40 Million Terminal

November 22, 2011 at 10:39 AM | by | Comment (1)


The departure hall

Riddle us this: What has four jetways, five security lanes, 484 seats, but no one yet in them or on them? The answer is simple: an airport terminal that hasn't opened yet, and in this case we're talking about Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport in Liberia, Costa Rica, where a $40 million terminal is ready to cut the ribbon as soon as authorities give the thumbs up.

Late last week we had the awesome opportunity to snoop around the place before most anyone else, and what we saw, we liked. We liked very much. Travelers who typically head down to the Pacific coast of Costa Rica for vacation or to visit family will be knocked off their butts next time they fly in and, instead of pulling up to the open-to-the-elements corrugated metal tents that are the old terminal, arrive instead to a jetway, air-conditioned immigration and a baggage claim so clean and spacious that it almost puts a tear in your eye.

Oh, and did we mention that they've managed to break ground on this terminal and complete it in just one year and one month? It's been "Extreme Home Makeover: Airport Edition" for Liberia Airport (LIR), a description straight from the mouth of Wogbe Ofori, the Senior Vice President of Global Operations for ADC & HAS, the good people charged with making the place a reality (though not a reality show, ha).

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If You're Freaked Out by a Leaning Big Ben in London, Beware Venice

Where: Venice, Italy
October 27, 2011 at 10:17 AM | by | Comments (0)

In case you haven't heard, London's famous landmark Big Ben is leaning. The announcement was made just this month, with the detail that the very tippy top of the clock tower is 1.5 feet off center. This has naturally sparked fears that Big Ben may take a dive into the Thames, but—from all we know of Venice's various leaning towers, this won't happen in our liftetime...nor that of our children or children's children, so chillax.

For comparison, see the Campanile (bell tower) of Chiesa di Santo Stefano (St. Stephen's church) in our photo above. It's one of several towers with an impressive lean in La Serenissima, and it's been boozily tilting (and twisting) since it was rebuilt in the 1800s following a lightning strike nearly three centuries earlier. Although it's in constant danger of collapse, tourists still absentmindedly gather below it at pasticcerias and ristorantes.

Even worse is the 143' white campanile of San Giorgio dei Greci, which was completed in 1592 and has been leaning from the start. Paranoid travelers will now likely add "hard hat" to their Venice packing list, we suppose.

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This is the Future: Kuwait Airport's Super Slick New Terminal Designs

Where: Kuwait
October 19, 2011 at 11:51 AM | by | Comments (0)

Have you ever gone to the airport just to check it out? Not to take a flight, but to plane-spot, dine at a restaurant before security or just appreciate the architecture? You know we have, and do, but no matter your answer there's a huge chance you'll be champing at the bit to get to Kuwait International Airport in the next few years as they build a whopper of a new airport, with some seriously chic design by Foster + Partners.

Just look at it above, and the rest of the photo gallery of renderings below. That is some slick stuff. First thing we thought of, though? The Eero Saarinen TWA Flight Center, probably because we were just in there admiring the clean, white curves on Sunday and mostly because it actually looks derivative of the design. Do you agree?

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The Demolition of Terminal 6 at JFK is Happening NOW

Where: JFK International Airport [map], New York, NY, United States
October 18, 2011 at 11:37 AM | by | Comments (0)

While this last weekend was spent at New York's JFK Airport fondly remembering the glamor days of the jet age and seeking to further preserve them through the TWA Flight Center/Terminal 5, the complete opposite was going on next door.

The old "Sundrome" Terminal 6 designed by architect I.M. Pei is in the process of being completely demolished. Don't say we didn't warn you! The modernist building was constructed in the 1960s very much like the TWA Flight Center, but unlike the Center, it does not have a coveted spot on the National Register of Historic Places. BOOM goes the wrecking ball.

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Inside the Historic TWA Flight Center at New York's JFK Airport

Where: JFK International Airport [map], New York, NY, United States
October 17, 2011 at 12:24 PM | by | Comments (3)

For years, the old TWA Flight Center at New York's JFK International Airport has taunted us. Situated right in front of the new-ish JetBlue Terminal 5, the Eero Saarinen-designed masterpiece was so close and yet, so far.

Opened in 1962 and closed in 2001 after TWA went bust and was taken into American Airlines, Terminal 5 is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places and undergoing slow renovations (that's what happens when you've got asbestos and close proximity to functioning flights). It's not been open to the public since, save for a few short months in 2004 for an art exhibition. This weekend, however, the Open House New York event flung open the doors for four hours and half the city showed up to check out this historical gem.

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A Weekend on the Isle of Man: Castles, More Castles and Some Crazy History

October 13, 2011 at 5:55 PM | by | Comments (0)

The Isle of Man is a mysterious place, a nearly sovereign territory out in the middle of the choppy Irish Sea between England and Ireland. What sort of people live there? What's there to see and do? These are all questions we wanted to answer, so we went ourselves...because why not? All this week we'll be sharing our experiences in this curious island destination.

Like you need another reason to rent a car and drive around the Isle of Man, but we have to say that the transition between architecture on the island is something else. It's like this: BOOM you're at a castle. BOOM you're on a Victorian promenade. BOOM you're along a harbour with a tide so low the boats stick in the mud. BOOM it's a fishing village. BOOM another castle. BOOM another castle. Yea, it's awesome. And here's the thing, that's only in a couple hours of exploring.

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Say Goodbye to JFK's Sundrome at Terminal 6 Before the Bulldozers Arrive

October 10, 2011 at 7:48 AM | by | Comments (0)

For those headed in or out of New York’s JFK Airport this week it might be a good opportunity to pay your final respects to Terminal 6. The Sundrome—designed by I.M. Pei—is on the way out by the end of the month despite attempts to save it.

Right now there’s not too much going on at the terminal since JetBlue left a few years ago in favor of their brand new digs next door at Terminal 5. The Port Authority wants to get rid of T6 to make the whole airport experience a little better, as they plan to add a few more options for JetBlue planes to park and do their thing. Apparently it costs like $600,000 per year just for the terminal’s maintenance, so it’s kind of understandable that they no longer want to maintain it.

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The Musts of Bangkok: Boozing It Up Above the City at Sky Bar

October 7, 2011 at 4:29 PM | by | Comments (0)

These days, when you think of Bangkok, does the "Hangover 2" phrase "Holla, city of squalor" pop into mind? It did ours, until we freaking went there and got tangled in its web of awesomeness. Bangkok is truly a world metropolis to be experienced over more than a few days, but we'll be detailing several places and things that simply can't be left undone. Join us, but watch where you step.

You MUST have a drink on the 63rd floor Sky Bar overlooking the entire city.

Okay, we'll be the first to admit that Sky Bar at the Lebua Hotel at State Tower is possibly the most touristy place you could go in Bangkok, but that doesn't mean it's not an awesome experience we enjoyed in spite of ourselves. The image of the open-air round bar hanging out, seemingly a precipice, 63 stories above the city is a famous one. It's so famous that there are photography guards who do not allow guests to take any snapshots outside of the bar area itself.

If you can deal with those guards and the New York prices of the cocktails, then Sky Bar is an ideal little exclamation point at the end of a great trip to Bangkok. At the very least, you'll be struck with awe at the breadth of the metropolis.

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The Musts of Bangkok: Touring the Blinged-out Grand Palace

Where: Thailand
October 3, 2011 at 5:12 PM | by | Comment (1)

These days, when you think of Bangkok, does the "Hangover 2" phrase "Holla, city of squalor" pop into mind? It did ours, until we freaking went there and got tangled in its web of awesomeness. Bangkok is truly a world metropolis to be experienced over more than a few days, but we'll be detailing several places and things that simply can't be left undone. Join us, but watch where you step.

You MUST see the Grand Palace for yourself.

If there's something you need to understand about Thailand, it's that the king and veneration of the royal family is everywhere, and it gets glitzy. The Grand Palace in the center of Bangkok should be first on your itinerary to come to terms with this, as it's really less of a Palace and more of a village built of gold and richly hued mosaics.

You don't have to worry about waking up the current King and Queen when visiting hours begin early in the day; the Grand Palace is only used for events and backgrounds of tourist photographs these days. Still, the history is palpable, or nearly so as there's one building completely dedicated to illustrating the story of the Ramayana.

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Bienvenido a Miami...Land of Fancy Parking Garages?

Where: Miami, FL
September 22, 2011 at 10:15 AM | by | Comments (0)

Miami views from the 1111 Lincoln Road parking garage.

Unless we're talking about the impressing engineering that keeps skimpy bikini tops on man-made wonders, architecture is not a word we usually think of when we think is on the way—joining at least two other designer parking structures on the beach—we're going to have to start looking up when we stroll around South Beach.

Hadid's firm has been given $12.5 million to play with in creating the new municipal parking garage in the Collins Park neighborhood—that's near the Bass Museum, The Setai and the W South Beach. According to the Miami Herald, she will be spending the cash on her winning design in the shape of an '8'. (Significance of the number? Beats us.)

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