Sunday, July 4, 2010

Ålesund - Part 3 - Architecture.

Much of the architecture in the town centre of Ålesund is a great example of the Art Nouveau or Jugendstil style which was all the rage at the beginning of the 20th century. It's unusual to see so much of a town built in this style, but that was what happened after the town burned down in 1904.
The building in this first picture houses the Jugendstil Museum, with displays which give a good insight into Ålesund's history and architecture. The ground floor was, in times past, a chemist shop, and it has been maintained as it was in it's former times. Great to see what an old chemist shop looked like.
 Here's some more pictures which give a reasonable idea of the architectural style.
 Here's a couple of real beauties.
And how's this for a real narrow building.
For somebody who doesn't exactly follow any religious belief, I always seem to take pictures of churches. It's just because I find the buildings fascinating, like this one. Built in 1909 with stone from Eide, near Kristiansund. The interior is in Art Nouveau style, and is unlike anything else anywhere in Norway. I think the building deserves a post for itself when I can get round to it.
Here's a couple more nice pictures
That statue reminds me that I will have to do a post about statues and monuments in Ålesund. There are some beauties.
But, back to architecture, and every town has to have it's architectural 'oops moment'. In the case of Ålesund, this is it.
The person who designed it, and the person who granted planning permission for it, should be exiled to Svalbard, or some similar distant place.

Onywye,
yun's aa fir enoo

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