INSPIRATION FROM AROUND THE WORLD FOR AN AESTHETIC AND MEANINGFUL LIFESTYLE
Some places have a memory. The 1477 Reichhalter in Lana is one of them. First mentioned over 500 years ago, it has lived many lives: as an inn, a sawmill, a mill, and a butcher’s shop. Then, for a decade, silence. Its doors remained closed while life passed by until someone took a closer look, and brought it back to life.
With a soaring wooden spiral that inscribes Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” into the sky, Austria presents a poetic synthesis of architecture, music, and sustainability at Expo 2025 in Osaka. Designed by BWM Designers & Architects in collaboration with facts and fiction, the pavilion is a vibrant invitation to co-create the future – not designed, but composed.
A spoon gliding through soft egg yolk, a ray of light shining through a window or the tinkling of a glass in the evening: sometimes it's not the loud sounds but the quiet moments that linger in the memory. The design hotel K5, designed by Claesson Koivisto Rune, is located in a historic bank building in the heart of Tokyo's financial district. In addition to rooms, an entrance area and a pop-up space, it also houses three culinary spots that are not just about eating waffles and drinking sake, but about discovering moments that sparkle without being loud.
Tromsø is currently gaining a new cultural heart. On the grounds of the former Mack Brewery, a new district is emerging that will soon house the Arctic Philharmonic, the Northern Norwegian Art Museum, and a cultural center: Samklang.
The Mercado Nicolás Bravo is more than just a market in multiple ways. Designed by AIDIA STUDIO, the project is a social initiative that provides the local community with a platform to showcase their craftsmanship and skills. At the same time, it impresses as a striking piece of architecture.
The Singapore Botanic Gardens are not only a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but also home to an architectural showcase: the National Orchid Garden, recently redesigned by Henning Larsen and CPG Consultants Pte Ltd, now serves as a fitting home for over 1,000 species of orchids.
Knarvik Church is a contemporary interpretation of the 1000-year-old stave churches in Norway. This award-winning sacred building designed by Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter has become a tourist attraction – and also a place that is open to all.
Some places don't need to be reinvented, just rethought a little. For example, what was once a simple campsite on the edge of Aschau in Chiemgau has been transformed into a stylish, modern chalet village - without losing even a hint of its intimate connection to nature. On the contrary. With the Agrad Chalets, a place of power has been created that blends quietly into its surroundings and is luxurious without saying it out loud.
Japan is especially worth visiting in 2025: with the Expo in Osaka the country places a strong focus on the future – with themes such as sustainability, innovation, and societal transformation. It’s a great opportunity to (re)discover Japan not just as a technological powerhouse, but as a destination rooted in deep aesthetics and mindfulness.
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