Glaedelig Forari i Kobenhavn!
early spring in Copenhagen and the hot colours are popping out all around town, from the loaded flower stalls at Torvehallerne market to the smiley-skull posters pasted on random graffiti-ed walls in the multi-hued Norrebro neighbourhood...
the first time I was here 8 years ago, Copenhagen had not yet held an architecture festival - this year is its 6th iteration and it is exciting to finally attend CAFx in a city that is quite perfect for the celebration of architecture and film...
this year is also the 100th anniversary of the Bauhaus movement and the venerable Danish Design Museum mounted a comprehensive exhibition of its history and ongoing influence on contemporary architecture, interiors and industrial design...
from the glazed tile rendering of an 18th century building still in situ to images and maquettes of danish architect Dorte Mandrup's neighbourhood center in an exhibition of her architectural work at the brand spanking new venue of the Danish Architecture Center in the glassful-full BLOX building on the waterfront...
to a whimsical ceramic sculpture of a 3-dimensional elevation of "Stacked Housing Units" by Vibeke Rytter at the wide-ranging ceramic-centric Designer Zoo gallery...
to brighten up the long nordic winter grayness, the odd building glows the warmest of mediterranean corals or saffrons to reflect as much sunlight into large open courtyards and dark narrow streets...
the end wall of one of the many rows of 17th and 18th century housing units in Nyboder glows its distinctive turmeric orangey-yellow, all the brighter in the morning spring sunshine...
the triple golden domes of the candy-striped Russian Orthodox Saint Alexander Nersky Church lift the eye to their celestial status and contrast in shape and configuration to the many other spires around the city...
the pairing of gilt discs and red bricks is also used to rich effect on the facade of the new and happening Hotel Ottilia re-purposed from two industrial buildings within the redevelopment of the Carlsberg Brewery site...
more pops of random colours from a floor to high-high ceiling (Untitled) monumental work by Paul Gernes at the National Art Museum to a cluster of Panthella MINI table lamps at the Louis Poulsen showroom...
and what is more storybook colours than the cherry red sentry boxes and the striking uniforms of the Royal Guards on duty at the Amalienborg Palace...
to a string of fluttering danish flags in the courtyard of the Kunsthal Charlottenborg marking the opening of the MFA Degree Show of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Art 2019
