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-   -   European architecture recommendations (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/european-architecture-recommendations-1544173/)

doctoroliver83 Nov 12th, 2017 07:46 AM

European architecture recommendations
 
After my recent trips to a few European countries, I become fascinated with their amazing architecture. I've created quite a few sketches and drawings based on buildings and cityscapes I've encountered in various cities. I'd love your comments. Also more importantly I am planning to return early next year and would like to hear from others of amazing architectural sights that are not very well known to the general public.
Here's a link to my artworks.
https://www.instagram.com/doctoroliver83

bilboburgler Nov 12th, 2017 07:58 AM

I find Prague (not the main sites but the minor ones) is under rated and I like some of the buildings in Traben Trarbach on the Mosel for what I would call art-nouveau but I doubt the Germans do.

Michael Nov 12th, 2017 09:07 AM

<i> for what I would call art-nouveau but I doubt the Germans do.</i>

Jugendstil?

bilboburgler Nov 12th, 2017 09:52 AM

the mot-juste

Adelsten Nov 13th, 2017 08:55 PM

Yeah, Prague is a very beautiful city in this case. I also adore Baltic countries, Riga and Vilnius are amazing with their architecture too

vincenzo32951 Nov 14th, 2017 05:28 AM

I 3rd Prague. They managed to minimize the drab, Soviet-style architecture and retain much of the grander style.

PalenQ Nov 14th, 2017 05:57 AM

dear doc - what countries have you visited - every country and city has distinct architecture - a Quixotic quest?

bilboburgler Nov 14th, 2017 06:52 AM

some of the newer housing areas are especially impressive as is the cycle route down the top of the covered railway line!

PalenQ Nov 14th, 2017 11:54 AM

Prague also has vestiges of communist architecture - blah tower blocks outside the city center.

massimop Nov 14th, 2017 03:28 PM

They are lovely. Some interesting destination for you in Italy would be Paestum (and Naples), Vicenza, Arezzo, Trieste, Pavia and in Spain, the town of Vic. Even though Lisbon is well known it has a beautiful variety of architecture and gardens in its variety of neighborhoods in a dramatic setting. If you are interested in architecture, visiting Granada and Cordoba in Spain is wonderful, despite all the tourists. You also might find Edinburgh inspiring.

massimop Nov 14th, 2017 03:41 PM

https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-trip-...ity-1449167192

https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/lif...beandmail.com&

https://www.timetravelturtle.com/and...vicenza-italy/

http://www.italythisway.com/places/pavia.php

https://www.romeartlover.it/Paestum.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/de...nderrated-gem/

Sassafrass Nov 14th, 2017 03:48 PM

What kind of comments are you looking for?

NewbE Nov 14th, 2017 07:19 PM

<would like to hear from others of amazing architectural sights that are not very well known to the general public.>

Seems clear to me.

doctoroliver83 Nov 14th, 2017 09:34 PM

Thank you all so much.
I've been to Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, Salzburg, Munich, Dresden and Prague so far. However, they were mostly daytrips. So haven't really ventured out beyond the city areas.
I think Budapest and Dresden were my favourite.
I wanted to move to Germany to practice medicine while doing weekend trips to surrounding places.
My favourite pastime is to sit in front of a great building and sketch from different angles. Unfortunately don't get many sites like in Europe here.
Anyway I really appreciate your advice and take a look at my artworks, all self taught so still a long way to go.
Also anyone has come across any recommendable books on European architecture?

doctoroliver83 Nov 14th, 2017 09:48 PM

Also thanks to Massimop for all the wonderful links!

Michael Nov 14th, 2017 11:11 PM

Try to look for Hungarian Organic Architecture:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/h...icarchitecture

bilboburgler Nov 15th, 2017 12:57 AM

Budapest and Dresden, ah you like wide buildings? :-)

Can I suggest google "German Palaces"

massimop Nov 15th, 2017 03:18 AM

Here's an interesting book on church architecture

https://www.amazon.com/How-Read-Chur.../dp/0847835987

Andrea Palladio is often cited, for good reason, as the most influential architect in the history of Western European architecture. You might enjoy this book, which has hand-drawn illustrations of his work

https://www.amazon.com/Villas-Pallad...QEMGWSBV7R5HS1

For me, Norman Foster's Reichstag renovation in Berlin is the single most important work of contemporary architecture in the western democracies, and an indisputable masterpiece.

https://www.amazon.com/Reichstag-Nor.../dp/3791345893

Don't overlook that Lufthansa has many inexpensive flights to Italy and elsewhere, especially flying out of Frankfurt and Munich, but Berlin as well. From Munich it is also possible to take fast trains to Italy, in particular Verona and Vicenza.

Goethe traveled from Germany to Verona, and its architecture became an important inspiration for him. He wrote that the aim of his journey was "to learn to know myself by through the objects I see". His writing on the architecture of Italy influenced a great deal of the artistic thinking of Germans, long into the 20th c.

http://www.dw.com/en/goethes-italian-journey/a-36059413

Good luck with your plans! Thanks for sharing your drawings, which jump out at the viewer in a way that photographs cannot.

Michael Nov 15th, 2017 07:27 AM

Hundertwasser is also interesting:

https://www.flickr.com/search/?sort=...ser&view_all=1

kja Nov 16th, 2017 05:27 PM

The National Archives in Zagreb.


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