Bandung, Tropical Art Deco

We had never heard of Bandung, Indonesia before planning this trip even though it is replete with wonderful period Art Deco buildings, and easily, in our minds, ranks in the top ten worldwide cities for Art Deco. Bandung Art Deco, or Tropical Deco, follows the usual story: economic and building boom in the 1920's and 1930s plus a handful of prolific and inspired architects; in this case the Dutch architects Wolff Schoemaker and Albert Aalbers.

But first: the 8-hour train from Yogyakarta to Bandung starting with loading at Yogya Station.


On route. This couple across the aisle got our of their seats at each stop. Why? I followed them the 5th time. She to the toilet; he to smoke.


Coffee + power for your electronic devices + cassava chips + a view = Nice.










Riding local transport, called an angkot, up to Villa Isola, first stop on our architecture route.


Villa Isola, design by Wolff Schoemaker.






DENIS Bank, designed by Albert Aalbers.


The New Majestic Theater, by Schoemaker.


Gedung Merdeka by Schoemaker.


The Savoy Hotel by Albert Aalbers.






Bandung Train Station.


Bethel Church by Schoemaker.


De Driekleu by Albert Aalbers.


The Satay Building designed by J. Gerber. Modern with native elements.

Mexico City - Part IV - Metro, Murals, and Art Deco

A recap of Friday Feb 15, 2013 as described by Sun-Ling in an email to a friend.

1. La Ensenanza was closed.
2. The military show in the Zocalo is yet to be unveiled.
3. Took Metro to Universidad.
4. Walked to the Sculpture Garden.
5. Walked to Library, Rectorio, Stadium.
6. Walked to San Angel, quick snack & drink in Plaza San Jacinto
7. Quick stroll through San Jacinto church & grounds, may have been here in 2003
8. Casa Del Risco, impressive fountain
9. Walked to El Carmen, church closed, skipped the museum
10. Walked to Carrillo Gil, quick stroll realized none of the permanent collection was on display. Complained and got our whole 38 pesos of admission refunded. What kind of museum are they running?!
11. Tried to Metrobus to Teatro Insurgentes, card did not work, walked instead.
12. The mosaics at the Teatro were exquisite.
13. Got on the Metrobus by using a kind young woman's card.
14. Polyforum was easily identifiable from the bus, not just by the station name. Had not seen this much David Siqueiros before. But the ceiling murals were closed?! What's going on?!
15. Walked to La Condesa vegetarian restaurant and finally lunched.
16. Walked to La Condesa Hipodrom. A lot more art deco buildings than we expected.
17. Metro back to Isabela la Catolica. Quick look at Regina Coeli, good thing you highlighted it for us.
18. Shop for takeout and breakfast.
19. Zocalo was not very much light up.
20. Passed by Santo Domingo which was better lit.
21. Back to hotel

423 photos taken by John

Waiting in the Metro for the train to Universidad.


In the Sculpture Garden.






City University Library. Murals by Juan O'Gorman.




Olympic Stadium with mural by Diego Rivera.


Casa del Risco Fountain - Barrio San Jacinto.


Metrobus station on Insurgentes - love Bus Rapid Transit.


Rivera mural on Teatro Insurgentes. What's up with the pink advertisement?


David Siqueiros murals at Polyform.




Lunch!


La Condesa Art Deco.








Mural?


Iglesia de Regina Coeli.


Plaza Santo Domingo.

Accidental South Florida

Because the accursed Spirit Airlines canceled our original flight, we find ourselves with extra days to kill in dull-ville Fort Lauderdale instead of atmospheric Peru. We had resigned ourselves to dedicate this time to rest and reentry. However, as we are not used to low gear, a day was planned for South Beach, Miami for a revisit to the art deco buildings.

Getting from Fort Lauderdale to South Beach on public transportation turned out to be an interesting research project that intrigued both of us. We eventually settled on taking the express bus e95 (just a 10 minute walk from our hotel) to downtown Miami and then transferring to one of several regular beach bound buses.

South Beach was a success, since John took 500+ photos in a 6-hour span, which in my estimation, was not only a trip record, but a personal record for him. That was not a surprise. What really impressed us was the e95 bus! We first became enamored with Bus Rapid Transit in Bogota, Columbia. Since then we came across it in several cities. But in South Florida?! We chose the BRT over the train because of the frequency, speed, and cost. The bus went 26 miles on I95 in the express lane without a single stop, came every 15 minutes, and cost $2.35. Both ways the bus was about 90-95% full, of mostly commuters. In Fort Lauderdale, people mostly drove to the bus stop; in Miami they walked and transferred to other public transportation.

This trip has opened up new ideas for public transportation for us. There seem to be so much physical, social, and cultural barriers to public transportation in this country. The e95 has given me much hope.

E95 Bus at the Broward BLVD stop.


Couple of Miami Beach Art Deco buildings. More to come!

Mumbai Photos

One of the things we liked about Mumbai (Bombay) was the amazing amount of Art Deco and Art Moderne buildings within easy walking distance of our hotel.

On returning home, I checked out these books from the library - gotta love the Wake County InterLibrary Loan program - which I've been pouring over to help identify the buildings in my hundreds of photos.

Bombay Art Deco Architecture, by Navin Ramani
A Concise History of Modern Architecture in India,by Jon T. Lang
Buildings that shaped Bombay, Edited by Kamu Iyer

It has also been quite a learning experience for me regarding modern Indian architecture and architects, and modern architecture in general. Jon Lang's book is particularly interesting and is searchable on Google Books - click link above.

I'm almost finished with the Mumbai photos. Then it's on to Kolkata. Then back to the "Shanghai to Yangon" trip report. Whoa!