Hoa Vien Viet Nam : Vietnamese temple of Diggers Rest is un decay
Mystery Diggers Rest temple in ruins
by LIAM MCALEER
A VIETNAMESE place of worship on the outskirts of Diggers Rest is in decay. Behind gold wrought-iron gates and a decorated concrete wall are a garden and temple called Hoa Vien Viet Nam.
A series of large religious sculptures line the driveway of the Edwards Rd property, while several other marble statues remain in their tattered plastic wrapping inside broken wooden shipping crates.
Scattered around the grounds are crates of Vietnamese-style roof tiles, ponds, fountains, huts, lanterns and two high statues.
There are also three buildings on the property with metal shutters covering windows and doors.
In a small temple on a metal pole in the middle of an empty pond, a statue surrounded by plastic flowers sits behind glass doors.
But plates of fresh fruit placed around one statue indicates the property may still be used as a place of worship.
In 2003 the Leader reported the property’s owners had applied for a permit for a house and then applied to Hume Council with a landscape plan in 1998, which the council refused because it lacked detail.
Despite many attempts, Leader was unable to contact the property’s owners.
from melton-leader.whereilive.com.au
Civil War monument in Eastern Park new wrought iron fence
Restoration work begins on Civil War monument
The Civil War monument in Eastern Park is receiving a makeover. Little Falls City Promotion Committee organizer Edwin Vogt began work on the project earlier this week and is in the process of restoring the monument’s wrought iron fence as a first step in the total rejuvenation of the grounds. He said the restoration work will continue in the coming weeks.
“The idea is to complete this project and then move on to the next,” said Vogt. “The thrust of the committee is to engage in one project at a time until it is successfully completed.”
He said in addition to drill brushing and repainting the wrought iron fence, the refurbishing of the site will include removal of all ground growth within and surrounding the enclosure, the installation of a bronze tablet depicting the regimental units from Little Falls who served and fought in the War of the Rebellion and the pouring of a complete cement covering inside the fenced area.
“The best part about this restoration project is that it will be privately financed from willing donors at no expense to the city,” said Vogt. “This is a collective gift back to the city.”
He added the restoration is the first of twelve projects to be identified by the members of the City Promotion Committee. Other activities under consideration include adoption of a city slogan; erection of a memorial tablet honoring the sacrifices of the city’s Palatine forebears; erection of a historic marker designating Abraham Lincoln’s arrival in Little Falls in 1861; a Bellamy Park beautification project; enhancement of the Buttermilk Falls grounds; adoption of the area as the “Hub of New York’s Heritage;” publication and circulation of a jobs promotion brochure; revitalization of Talequega Park as a potential tourism site; fostering and encouragement of a New York State Tourway project; a Goat Island beautification project and development of selected River Road attractions.
“The purpose and direction of this endeavor to create jobs and bring improvements into the city,” said Vogt of the civic-minded committee. “We will steadily concentrate on and explore every conceivable idea to attract new employment opportunities. We will market the benefits of tourism here and develop a plan that will insure recognition of this area as a main artery for tourist traffic.”
He said the bronze tablet for the Civil War monument will cost about $1,500. Donations, said Vogt, can be mailed in care of the Little Falls Promotion.
from littlefallstimes.com
Paris Promenade Plantee
Promenade Plantee is one of Paris’s best kept secrets
Verdant Paris promenade a treasure on high
By Sol Hurwitz
During a visit last summer, my wife, Nina, and I stumbled upon the Promenade Plantée, a “planted walk’’ built on an abandoned 19th-century elevated railroad track. The entry point was an eye-catching stone-and-brick stairway on Avenue Daumesnil, a block beyond the Bastille opera house, which led us three stories high to a lushly landscaped pedestrian path. A descriptive plaque informed us that the walk stretches 2 3/4 miles from the Place de la Bastille, in the heart of the 12th arrondissement, to the Bois de Vincennes, a 2,500-acre public park on the city’s edge. We decided to follow the Promenade to the end.
High above the clamor and din of Paris, we entered an oasis of calm with a profusion of trees, flowers, and plants. What set this walk apart from so many others we have taken in Paris was its perspective on the city: We were able to view Paris at the level of treetops, church spires, and the roofs of apartment houses and public buildings.
We set off on a well-marked garden path leading under several ivy-covered, arched trellises. As we rambled, the path opened onto a changing panorama of architectural styles and tastes. On our left we were at eye-level with the steeple of the Romanesque-Byzantine Church of Saint-Antoine des Quinze-Vingts, built in 1903, while minutes later, on our right, we gasped at the sight of 12 caryatids – kitschy reproductions of Michelangelo’s “The Dying Slave’’ in the Louvre – adorning the top of a modern police station.
Soon after, we glimpsed the imposing facade of the Gare de Lyon, a big rail terminal reconstructed in 1855 by the city planner Georges-Eugène Haussmann. Along the way, we examined at close range the decorative moldings, ornamental brickwork, and intricate wrought iron balcony railings of some of the city’s most elegant apartment buildings.
There is an idyllic sense of solitude to this walk, and it is jealously guarded by the regulars from the neighborhood. “I don’t advertise this place,’’ one of them confessed. “Parisians don’t like to give away their secrets.’’ The people we met were an eclectic mix: a father and son arranging toy soldiers in an elaborate re-creation of one of Napoleon’s battles; a couple taking photos of their 3-year-old daughter, gussied up in vintage clothing; joggers enjoying a traffic-free run; and assorted strollers like us.
The Promenade Plantée is the world’s first elevated park. Opened in 1989, it traces the route of the former Bastille Railroad Line, which transported passengers between Paris and its southeast suburbs until its demise in 1969. The walk is a model for New York’s High Line, which opened in 2009, and for a similar projects under way in Chicago, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Jersey City, and Rotterdam.
The Promenade is widely recognized for its imaginative use of obsolete urban infrastructure. Beneath the landscaped walk, on Avenue Daumesnil, the designers transformed the 60 masonry arches of the former railroad viaduct into the Viaduc des Arts, a modern arcade for some of the city’s trendiest artisans and craftsmen.
The landscape is endlessly varied and full of surprises. One moment we were walking under a canopy of maple trees; the next we were in the open sun. At one point, two large rectangular pools suddenly appeared. Dense shrubbery was interspersed with bursts of color from a rich array of flowers and plants. We saw roses climbing everywhere. We also spotted wisteria, flowering cherry, hydrangeas, zinnias, geraniums, and honeysuckle. As a throwback to the Promenade’s origins, a railcar on a section of discarded track was converted into a giant planter overflowing with red trumpet vines.
There are entry and exit stairways along the Promenade, and we took one of them down to the street so we could browse in the shops of the Viaduc des Arts. We found craftsmen who restore and preserve original works of art; a designer and creator of made-to-order umbrellas and parasols; a producer of mechanical dolls and songbirds; a violin maker and a flute maker.
We were struck by the contrast between the mellow mood of the Promenade and the bustling atmosphere of the Viaduc’s high-end boutiques and studios. “The Promenade and the Viaduc are worlds apart,’’ our friendly waiter, Damien, explained during lunch at the busy Viaduc Café. “People come to the Viaduc for a specific reason: to buy a designer dress for a special occasion or have a valuable tapestry repaired. They come to the Promenade for pleasure.’’
Back on the elevated path, we soon entered the expansive Jardin de Reuilly, a garden situated close to what was the 5th-century vacation home of the Merovingian kings. Here we noticed a pronounced change in the path’s character and direction. We had descended again from the high ground to street level, but this time we veered away from the Viaduc onto a vast semicircular lawn. Picnickers were sprawled on the grass, while children from a day camp competed in a spirited game of soccer. Surrounding the lawn were landscaped terraces and gardens with cozy alcoves featuring female nude statues by 20th-century French sculptors. Visible close by was the restored Gare de Reuilly, a station on the former Bastille Railroad Line.
We stopped for a drink at Relais Gourmand, the garden’s outdoor cafe, and continued our walk across a raised footbridge that spans the lawn. Heading east we came upon Allée Vivaldi, a grassy, tree-lined street bounded by shops and restaurants, where the pedestrian path – suddenly unmarked – was later joined by an adjacent bicycle lane. As bikers sped past, we found ourselves below ground on a sunken walkway with high sloping hills on either side.
Had we wandered off the Promenade? We were reassured when the path led us through a series of vine-covered former railroad tunnels. Shortly after emerging, we came to a circular, wrought iron stairway leading us back to street-level at Rue du Sahel, which took us under Boulevard Périphérique (the freeway that circles the city) to Boulevard de la Guyane, a wide thoroughfare. Without a sign to guide us, we ventured a turn to the right toward a large park in the distance. Lucky for us, it was the Bois de Vincennes, our final destination.
We had walked the length of the Promenade Plantée, a remarkable experience that was elevated in every sense. Satisfied that we had discovered one of Paris’s hidden treasures, we relaxed on a park bench before returning – underground – on the Métro to our starting point at Place de la Bastille.
from bostonglobe.com
Wine atmosphere
How wine can inspire a home with atmosphere
Take your inspiration from great wines and decorate an interior with all of the atmosphere, ambience and rusticity that a fabulous wine cellar has to offer.
This interior may exude an almost industrial flavour, where function meets form. There is something wholly unpretentious, uncluttered and unfussy, where simple planked floorboards meet chalky painted walls. Handsome wrought iron lamps, assembled using rusty reclaimed railings, can be reminiscent of elegant chateau gates… a feeling of being steeped in history, and a sense of “provenance”, that popular wine phrase. On a somewhat grander scale, turn to the chateaux of the Loire Valley and beyond, for an altogether historical nod.
For the kitchen decor, one may borrow a wine reference or two with great success. Wine bin-style “alcoves” make for atmospheric open storage in which to stack handsome casseroles, piles of provincial-style crockery and so on. Slender, tall sliding ladders make awkward, high-level storage easily accessible.
Use hitherto redundant over-unit recesses for wine and bottle displays. Group handsome faux wine bottles – created from solid timber and of an enlarged scale – as an eye-catching arrangement on top of a mantle dresser or sideboard.
Convert a couple of these wooden sculptures for use as handsome table-lamps. Topped with a linen shade and coupled with twisted silk flex, what could be a more appropriate accessory to the wine cellar decor!
If, on the other hand, you are blessed with a dedicated wine cellar, then look for ways in which to improve and enjoy this unique interior.
An unpromising dingy cellar can become a characterful den, an intriguing cellar and even a party destination.
Ensure lighting is atmospheric – hang pendant lights as low as you dare, over tasting tables, partnered with seductive wall lights – nothing too glaring here. Practical table surfaces will be rustic in flavour – refectory-style with a bench or two to either side.
Introduce a group of bistro-style chairs in which to sit and indulge this pleasure. Choose tobacco leather tub-styles, ensuring there are enough in number to go around. Converted barrels and characterful wine boxes make for whimsical perches, enhancing the flavour all the while.
Underfoot, flagstones, cobbles, or polished concrete – a cooler finish that befits the rooms purpose. Add an antique rug or kelim to soften the cellar and to anchor an arrangement of easy seating. Extend sounds from elsewhere in the home, or install an independent source for the cellar – an atmospheric vibe of mellow jazz, or a Place de Vosges swing quartet are instantly evocative.
Indulge this interest elsewhere in the home. A wine label printed wallpaper will be whimsical in the downstairs cloakroom, boot-room or utility. Dedicated wine-cooling fridges are a must for the connoisseur, while a sculptured collection of wine decanters makes for an exquisite display that may be ambiently lit while remaining at arm’s-length.
Group glasses by wine type behind glass-fronted cabinets and light seductively.
from thisiscornwall.co.uk
Tuscan-style homes : the Orchard
The Orchard: spacious, Tuscan-style homes in Indio
by Amelia Hadley
People familiar with Indio can recall when Avenue 49 ran through the middle of date groves and citrus orchards. Over the years, several gated communities have replaced the fruit-bearing trees.
Aptly named, The Orchard is off of Avenue 49 between Jefferson and Madison streets. The Tuscan- style architecture of the main gate is lovely, but it’s the 93 houses that are jaw-dropping.
They’re also more affordable than they were a few years ago. According to the Multiple Listing Service, homes in The Orchard are selling for $350,000 to $450,000. Just five years ago, they were selling for $800,000 to $1,000,000.
The architecture pays homage to Italy, but there is a certain whimsy to the design as well. Common areas are dotted with vine-covered arbors and mesquite trees provide ample shade. The larger homes have balconies with wrought iron railings.
The two-story homes are grouped in the center of the development, maintaining the integrity of the mountain views for the single-story homes that ring the community. The lots are substantial— each a 1/3 to 1/2 acre — allowing the homes to be spread apart. The houses are also large, ranging in size from 2,500 to 4,200 square feet.
The community is more reminiscent of neighborhoods found on Hollywood sound stages than in typical subdivisions.
“There are a ton of little kids,” said Kristen Westlake, 33. “It’s quiet when they’re all at school, but they’re all out playing in the evening because it’s safe.
“That’s part of why we bought here,” the mother of four said.
She and her husband purchased one of the former models in the development in June 2011.
The Orchard has strict rules designed to protect the tranquil and family-friendly vibe, said Westlake.
For example, using homes as vacation rentals— common in the area because of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and Stagecoach — is strictly prohibited, said Iyad Ahoury, president of Avail Property Management, the company that manages The Orchard.
“It’s a very close-knit community,” said Ahoury. “There is a Neighborhood Watch. They have an earthquake preparedness plan. There are police officers living there.
“It’s just a wonderful place to live,” Ahoury said.
The Orchard doesn’t have a community pool or clubhouse, but the development has sidewalks and common areas. There are unobstructed mountain views as well.
The community is home to year-round rather than seasonal residents, said Westlake.
The Orchard was built by Palm Desert-based Family Development. Homes in The Orchard initially sold in 2005.
The Orchard is near Indian Palms Golf Club, John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital, the Indio Polo Grounds, elementary schools and several grocery stores. Highway 111 is less than 2 miles from The Orchard, and Interstate 10 is 6 miles away.
from mydesert.com
Llandudno’s Pier Pavilion future
Hope for Llandudno’s derlict Pier Pavilion site
by Judith Phillips
In 1994 Llandudno’s Pier Pavilion burnt down, and since then, the site has fallen into dereliction. Now the council is hoping to turn the eyesore into a jewel, as JUDITH PHILLIPS reports.
IT HAS been a blot on the landscape since the building was destroyed in a devastating fire 18 years ago, but now it looks as though there’s real hope that Llandudno’s derelict Pier Pavilion site will be redeveloped.
Conwy County Council is working with the owner to come up with a development which will be both sensitive to the pier’s Victorian heritage and its Grade II listing, while providing something which will enhance the town’s position as Queen of the Welsh Resorts.
The owner, a businessman from the Midlands, has expressed an interest in the development of a large scale quality hotel on the site, but so far his architect has failed to come up with a design which is acceptable to council planning officers and Welsh conservation body Cadw.
And the council’s principal conservation officer Peter Jones-Hughes says there is a risk the architect currently engaged by the owner will persist with his inappropriate concept design, and further unsuitable development proposals may continue to be submitted.
He says Cadw has cautioned against settling for inappropriate schemes for the site.
“An unsuitable development will impact on the area and wider town for years to come. Cadw advised that the site should demand a development solution of extreme sensitivity and high quality,” he said.
“It is imperative that the council, at all levels, strives to secure a suitable design for this site.”
As a result he has drafted a design brief to assist anyone drawing up plans for the site.
He says the patch of land neighbouring the Grand Hotel is considered to be one of the most important and sensitive in Wales, and is at the heart of the resort’s conservation area.
The pier is considered to be the finest example of a Victorian pleasure pier in Wales and the Grand Hotel is also Grade II listed.
Some of the surviving features of the Pier Pavilion, including remnants of the stone base, veranda columns and wrought iron steps, also have protective status.
Mr Jones-Hughes added: “The architecture of the Pier Pavilion should influence the design of the proposal and the links to the design should be adequately explained in any application for development. This factor should lead to a final design of simple overall form and composition.”
John Lawson-Reay of the Llandudno Seaside Buildings Preservation Trust welcomed the council’s efforts to work with the site’s owner to bring about a suitable development.
“It would be ideal if any building was similar in design to the Pier Pavilion but we realise that such a building might not be possible to achieve,” he said.
“However, it is vital that any structure is sympathetic to the buildings nearby, and if it was in the same style as the Grand Hotel that would be acceptable.
“We would like to see the remnants of the old building which survive, in particular the wrought ironwork, incorporated into any new structure and we’re pleased that Cadw is taking a keen interest in the site.
“This is an immensely important site at the heart of Llandudno and dominates the bay which is one of the town’s greatest natural assets. Anything that goes on it needs to be of particularly good design.
“We’ve waited so long for action to regenerate this site so it is important it is handled in the best possible way,” he added.
from northwalesweeklynews.co.uk
