This weeks’ “Architectural Marvel(s)” are the food stalls of the Djemma El Fna square in the heart of the Marrakech medina.

Every night this barren square is transformed into endless rows of open air restaurants.  These “restaurants” come wheeled in on small carts and somehow magically transform into a full service kitchen, and seating for 20 or more, in less than an hour.  

I consider this phenomenon an architectural marvel because of the ingenuity used to make portable restaurants, and for the fact that these “mobile” restaurants have had long term staying power….this is not just a trend that will disappear….the food stalls are here to stay.

I am in Paris and trying to pick something for this weeks “Architectural Marvel,” but the choices are to vast.  So I choose Paris as this weeks marvel.

It has to be the most visually stunning city in the world…..there are so many beautiful details in every structure, that the city is definatley a feast for the eyes.

What I love is the uniformity of architecture, and the geometrically perfect parks that are sprinkled throughout the city.

The photo above is of an artist painting on the tip of the Ille de la Cite……an island on the Seine river where the famous Notre Dame Cathedral is located.  In the background is the famous Pont Neuf bridge.

]]> http://hipcompass.com/2008/09/10/to-many-marvels-to-pick/feed/ 0 http://hipcompass.com/2008/08/27/sagrada-familia/ http://hipcompass.com/2008/08/27/sagrada-familia/#comments Thu, 28 Aug 2008 05:31:56 +0000 Staff http://hipcompass.com/?p=295

This weeks “Architectural Marvel” is the Sagrada Familia cathedral in Barcelona, Spain. 

Architectural artist Antoni Gaudi broke ground in 1882 and spent the last 40 years of his life working on the project.

Construction still chugs on to this day and is predicted to cease by 2026, but there is controversy on whether or not that date is realistic.

The reason I consider the Sagrada Familia a ‘marvel’ is the fact that every year it morphs and takes on a new life.  My pictures from when I saw the building 10 years ago show a completely different building than what my friend visited this past summer.

For more info visit their official website.