Dear Em Ci Twin and friends,
Here's my last entry for photos w/ stories. I hope they'll give you a bit of pre-WE entertainment :-)
They are all from Montpellier which the NY Times named as one of the 42 cities to visit in 2012.
I prefer the medieval villages in the 'neighborhood' but still this cite' universitaire has its charms.
1. The first photo is of the uber-stylish Tram 'habille' by Christian Lacroix lui-meme.
Some info gleaned from the www:
Le célèbre couturier arlésien M. Christian Lacroix (société XCLX) a imaginé les lignes 3 et 4.
Le design de la ligne 3 est placé sous le signe de l'eau. Le couturier a souhaité rappeler la proximité de la ville aux rivages méditerranéens. La robe de la ligne 3 a été conçue tel ''un gentil monstre marin''. Ses poissons répondent aux oiseaux de la ligne 1, ses étoiles renvoient aux fleurs de la ligne 2. Ce design sur-mesure est décliné sur toute la rame grâce à un dégradé de couleurs froides aux couleurs chaudes, évoquant le trajet Nord-Sud. M. Christian Lacroix s'est inspiré de planches naturalistes du XVIIIe siècle pour créer son oeuvre comme une''enluminure'', parsemée de paillettes, broderies et pierres.
L'intérieur de la ligne 3 évoque, lui aussi la mer avec un plafond et des parois en dégradé de bleu, des barres de maintien arrondies, de couleur orangée symbolisant le corail. Les sièges sont conçus d'après un motif languedocien, alternant vert et violet.
Le nez du tramway, quant à lui, est équipé d'une large baie dont la forme ressemble à un masque de plongée, transparent et ouvert. Il a une forme suffisament ronde pour confirmer le ''côté gentil de ce monstre marin''.
2. The second photo is of one of the trompe l'oeil murailles the city has to offer and
there are more to keep you in wonderment. For a ' before/after' look of this muraille,
Isn't it amazing how they transform a flat front and give it a 'corner' shape? The
Pharmacy and the lady w/ the cell phone look like they are part of the trompe l'oeil
aren' they? and if you zoomed in the 3rd photo-collage, you'll see Nostradamus
taking notes from his 'chambre de bonne' (he graduated from Montpellier
faculte' de medecine).
3. More 'trompe l'oeil', this time on 'bornes/ chasse-roue/boute-roue' in photo 4 and
5 They are quite whimsical and more fun than the usual plain ugly ones I think.
A fun write-up on them at:
And lastly, another interesting historical architectural feature from Mtpellier in the final photo.
Can you guess why the corner of the building is designed so? I couldn't :-)
Good day,
BT
Thanks BiTwin for your awesome photos with stories. It's amazing how the trompe l'oeil look so real. I love Christian Lacroix designed tram and the "bornes".
ReplyDeleteMy guess for the indentation of the corner of the building is so one could check the incoming traffic without being run over :-) :-):-)
MC
ReplyDeleteHello Bao Tram
So captivating, if not eye catching, the Montpellier visual tales charmingly captured with flair and originality
The Christian Lacroix stylishly decorated tram, an attractively colorful vision in motion, the genteel sea monster of a joyful ride adding a jolt of dashing colors to the city by the sea
Providing a delicate touch to the city's unique appeal, an artfully designed mural forever changing a building's facade, a fantastic illusion with reality and fantasy intertwined with reckless abandon
Real or imaginary, the chasse-roues adorned in youthful pops of playful, bright colors were quite a pleasant sight
Last, but never least, an intriguing street corner, a mind boggling of an entrance leaving unanswered questions in minds of the bewildered
Quang
Thank You Em Ci and Em (oops) Mai Quang.
ReplyDeleteEm Ci Twin, I like your guess. I guessed it's for people to stay
out of the rain :-) but that's not it rather...
BT