Weekend Inspiration #68

The Garden at Designmuseum Danmark

I don't know excatly what is going on with me but during the last couple of years I've come to love (love!!!) gardens (I love the story of how Hubert de Givenchy gifted Audrey Hepburn with 60 apple trees for her garden at La Paisible) My sister has her own garden but I don't (I make due with my canals and that's okay, too) but whenever I get the chance to immerse myself in gardens or take long walks in the woods (preferably during autumn or early spring when the birch threes are budding) I feel extremely good.

Designmusem Denmark, which is build in the Rococo style, also has its own little beautiful garden and I completely fell in love with it. I always start daydreaming about the people who have stolled there back in the old days, what they wore and talked about. Since the museum originally was a hospital it must have made for a nice retreat for patients, relatives and the hospital staff. I could have strolled there forever. It's so small and very elegant. 

 

Designmuseum Danmark

Sunday my sister and I started the day with brunch at the Danish Architecture Centre here on Christianshavn and spent the afternoon at Designmuseum Danmark. I discovered (actually, I eavesdropped on the tour guide) that the museum originally was a hospital but the architect forgot to include the operation rooms (no biggie, who cares about details anyway?) Danish designer Kaare Klint helped re-design the museum and today it proudly boasts the crème de la crème of the finest Danish design.  

Back in the day the idea was to display the absolute best design so students had a place to go and study the masters and get inspired to do even better (is that even possible?) To some the glass and wooden display cases may look old and dated but for the trained eye (and for Kaare Klint fans) you can see that they are superbly designed. 

Caroline and I saw the permanent furniture, design- and textile exhibits (why doesn't people dress up anymore?), the Japanese exhibit Learning From Japan (I really want to go there) and the very fascinating Mindcraft15 curated by  Danish/Italian design duo GamFratesi.

 Learning From Japan

Mindcraft15

 

 

 
 

Weekend Inspiration #67

Flâneur Forever

I worked from home today and suddenly felt my head started to sizzle. I honestly don't think it's healthy to sit too much in front of the computer but I have a tendency to do that. Also when I don't work. So on with my coat and out I went and it was just so nice. I'm such a flâneur!  

Oh yes, on a side note I just booked a trip to Berlin for New Year's Eve. I was surprised to read that many of their museums are open till 18.00 on the 31st but that's good news to me. The Marlene Dietrich Exhibit and the DDR Museum is on my go-see-list (I know it'll be cold so some indoor activities are wisely planned) Besides that I look forward to stroll the streets in Prenzlauer Berg, Kreuzberg and Charlottenburg. 

Chicago in Black and White

 Chi-town in black and white. I hope you enjoy :-)

Chicago in Colour

Whenever I visit Wisconsin I always make a point of going to Chicago. I love that city, the architecture, the ambience and the fact that you can rent bikes and see the city at your own pace and leisure. I am also a sucker for Garrett's popcorn and a good steak - and while writing this I feel slightly crazy for suddenly craving that so much. 

But the highlight was spending time with Gabsen who was an exchange student with my family the year I was an exchange student in the US. This is many years ago now but time is a funny thing - especially when you feel nothing has changed. It was so joyful to lunch with him, laughing and chatting back and forth in English and Danish. I got a kick out of the waiters who look puzzled at Gabsen when he switched back and forth in languages and it's impressive that after 22 years he's still practically fluent in Danish. 

I took bunch of black and white photos of the city, too. They'll be up tomorrow. Enjoy!!