The Green City of Europe
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Water parks surround the city
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21st Cathedral being built as if it's 14th century Gothic
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14th century Gothic cathedral with 21st century modernisations
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Ken Follett from Wales
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Vitoria, the capital of the Basque Country in Spain, is beautiful. Encircled by snow-capped mountains, the centre was built over rivers, and the airport built over lakes! Surrounding the city are interlinked parks, waterways and gardens, to enhance quality of life. The massive medieval city center is pedestrianized, with cherry trees in blossom. Even the trams run on grass. No wonder Vitoria was voted the 2012 Green Capital of Europe.
Unusually, the city has two cathedrals - the old Gothic Cathedral of Santa Maria built in the 14th century and the new Gothic styled Cathedral of Mary Immaculate due to be finished in the 21st century!
Prince Charles would argue the new cathedral should have modern designs, and the old cathedral replicate old designs. The intriguing and sad things is, the new cathedral is being built like an old one, and the old cathedral restored like a new one. :-(
Global experts study the old cathedral's "deformations suffered due to previous restorations". Gosh - you should see the deformations being suffered during current "restoration"!
For example an old rotten staircase was recently replaced with modern open stairs of polished wood and steel. Already it's showing signs of age! Within 50 years, it will deteriorate and look ugly and outdated.
After climbing this out-of-place wood and steel modern thing, you then climb a wonderful ancient staircase, proudly claimed by the guide as original. Horrid. Why not rebuild the other staircase like the original?
Unusually, the city has two cathedrals - the old Gothic Cathedral of Santa Maria built in the 14th century and the new Gothic styled Cathedral of Mary Immaculate due to be finished in the 21st century!
Prince Charles would argue the new cathedral should have modern designs, and the old cathedral replicate old designs. The intriguing and sad things is, the new cathedral is being built like an old one, and the old cathedral restored like a new one. :-(
Global experts study the old cathedral's "deformations suffered due to previous restorations". Gosh - you should see the deformations being suffered during current "restoration"!
For example an old rotten staircase was recently replaced with modern open stairs of polished wood and steel. Already it's showing signs of age! Within 50 years, it will deteriorate and look ugly and outdated.
After climbing this out-of-place wood and steel modern thing, you then climb a wonderful ancient staircase, proudly claimed by the guide as original. Horrid. Why not rebuild the other staircase like the original?
The new 21st century cathedral can have the new modern staircase!
I 100% love awe-inspiring unusually designed modern skyscrapers, such as London's spectacular "Gherkin"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/30_St_Mary_Axe
And check out the amazing London views from this stunning new building, the "Shard". http://www.theviewfromtheshard.com/
But also I truly love artistic ancient architecture. If old buildings are not restored as the original, what can we show generations to come?
At least the cathedral gains big income. Visitors pay over $10 to don a safety helmet for a guided tour. That's about $2 million a year for the past 10 years! "Restoration" doesn't look like it'll finish this century. There's too big an income.
I 100% love awe-inspiring unusually designed modern skyscrapers, such as London's spectacular "Gherkin"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/30_St_Mary_Axe
And check out the amazing London views from this stunning new building, the "Shard". http://www.theviewfromtheshard.com/
But also I truly love artistic ancient architecture. If old buildings are not restored as the original, what can we show generations to come?
At least the cathedral gains big income. Visitors pay over $10 to don a safety helmet for a guided tour. That's about $2 million a year for the past 10 years! "Restoration" doesn't look like it'll finish this century. There's too big an income.
The famous Welsh writer Ken Follett http://ken-follett.com/biography/ was fascinated when he visited the cathedral, and used the cathedral for a plot in a book. The cathedral was so grateful, they built a life-size bronze statue to him.
Perhaps some good can come from old-to-new architecture...
Perhaps some good can come from old-to-new architecture...
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