deweywebster

 
  • HOME PAGE
  • CONTACT
  • JAPAN 2019 JSGTour
  • MOROCCO 2016
    • 1. CASABLANCA
    • 2. CHEFCHAOUEN
    • 3. FÈS
    • 4. BENI MELLAL
    • 5. MARRAKECH
    • 6. ESSAOUIRA
  • JAPAN 2018
    • KANTO
    • KAGOSHIMA CITY
    • MINAMI FAMILY
    • GARDENS - EDO STROLL
    • GARDENS - RESIDENTIAL
    • NARITA-SAN
  • JAPAN 2017
    • ITO
    • SHIMODA
    • TOYAMA
    • MITO
    • KYOTO
    • IWATE
    • IWATE PART 2
    • FUKUSHIMA
  • TANZANIA 2016
    • DAR-ES-SALAAM
    • ZANZIBAR - TOWN
    • ZANZIBAR - ISLAND
    • MOROGORO
    • IRINGA AND HILLTOP LODGE
    • RUAHA GAME PARK
  • DUBAI 2016
  • NORWAY 2015
    • 1) BODØ
    • 2) LOFOTEN ISLANDS
    • 3) MOSJØEN
    • 4) HJERKINN
    • 5) ÅLESUND
    • 6) BERGEN
    • 7A) BERGEN > OSLO TRAIN
    • 7B) OSLO - K. J. GATA & FROGNER
    • 7C) OSLO - WATERFRONT WALK
    • 7D) OSLO - DANSENS HUS
    • 8A) HAMAR & LILLEHAMMAR
    • 9) LYSAKER & SANDVIKA
  • CHINA 2014
    • BEIJING (ARRIVAL)
    • CANGZHOU
    • DEZHOU
    • LIAOCHENG
    • YELLOW RIVER
    • QUFU
    • BEIJING (DEPARTURE)
  • KYOTO GARDENS 2014
    • GARDENS 101
    • CALENDAR: "2015 KYOTO GARDENS"
  • FSW PHOTO ALBUM
    • 1940'S
    • 1950'S (1)
    • 1960'S
    • 1970'S
    • 1980's
  • 404 REMODEL 2013-2014
    • OFURO 2014
  • SEATTLE CHINESE GARDEN
    • SOLSTICE 2014-06-22
    • SNOW FALL 2014-01-05
    • PLANTS BLOOMING 2014-08-16
  • JAPAN 2013
    • GARDEN MISCELLANY
    • TOKYO
    • ITO
    • TOYAMA
    • KYOTO
    • MITO
    • OKAYAMA
    • NAOSHIMA
    • FUKUOKA (A.K.A. HAKATA), DAZAIFU
    • SAGA POTTERY TOWNS
    • GOTO ISLANDS
    • NAGASAKI
  • CLOUD HOUSE 2013
    • ELEVATOR - 2013 NOVEMBER
    • EXTERIORS 2013 DECEMBER
  • MYANMAR 2012
    • OVERVIEW
    • MT. POPA
    • INLE LAKE
    • BAGAN
    • AYEYARWADY RIVER
    • MANDALAY PART 1
    • MANDALAY PART 2
    • YANGON >
      • OVERVIEW AND ACCOMODATIONS
      • SHWEDEGON AND OTHER PAGODAS/TEMPLES
      • BUILDINGS OLD AND NEW
      • STREET WALKING
      • GARDENS AND ZOO
      • THE CIRCULAR TRAIN
      • DELTA TOWN
  • SIERRA TREK 2005, 2012 SEPTEMBER
  • MALI 2012 FEBRUARY
    • BAMAKO
    • DIABALY
    • N'DEBOUGOU
    • SEGOU >
      • FESTIVAL SUR LE NIGER
      • RIVER WALK AND POTTERY MARKET
      • URBAN WALKS
    • NIGER RIVER
    • MOPTI
    • D'JENNE
    • SENOSSA
    • DOGON
  • IWATE PART 2
The trip from the highlands of Hjerkinn to sea level at Ålesund takes two trains and a bus, weaving through valleys and tunnels (one of  which, almost a mile long, makes a horseshoe turn within a mountain; sorry, no photo possible) and along fjords.
Picture
Ålsund, obviously, is a port town, which...
Picture
...backs up against a steep hill, complete with path to a restaurant on top.
Picture
The lower portion is flat enough to be a park, but the steps (and water cascade) are soon steep.
Picture
The restaurant has a view all right....
Picture
...but also has, to my surprise, and seen frequently , pay toilets!
Picture
Looking west out to sea its easy to see how the limited building area resulted in narrow streets and cheek to jowl construction.
Picture
This model in the City Museum depicts the town in 1905 when a fire broke out during a gale-force storm...
Picture
... burning the area in this photo and more. Builders and architects from around the country and Sweden poured in to rebuild....
Picture
...but this time in stone, such as Ålesund Cathedral, and other fire resistant exteriors.​
Picture
In 1905 the Art Nouveau style was in vogue throughout Europe, and traces of it are found on many of the new structures...the semi-circular arch particularly a favorite.
​
Picture
Towers, turrets, circular windows...they are all here.
Picture
Handsome residences....
Picture
...and city arcades.
Picture
But time marches on, and like cities everywhere, Ålesund wrestles with tear down and build modern, or refurbish and hold on to the old.
Picture
One 1905 building has been saved as a museum to the era. Furniture...
Picture
...windows....
Picture
...and glass object d'art.
​
Picture
Even some Japanese wood block prints, which were very popular in Europe at that time.
Picture
Besides art nouveau, the museum also preserves places of work, such as this photo studio.
​
Picture
Being a sea-faring town, its not surprise to see lots of ship models...
Picture
...illustrating its maritime history.

Picture
Nor unusual is it to see current maritime activity, such as the famous Hurtegrutin Line's ships. They run daily along the west coast, from Bergen to Kirkenes in the extreme northeast of the mainland, or even further north to Svalbard Island.
Picture
Originally cargo ships which took passengers as well, ...
Picture
...they have become cruise ships which take cargo as well. And like cruise ships every where, time in port is limited, so folks stream out...
Picture
...to look in on chandler stores...
Picture
...and their array of things of the maritime world, but....
Picture
...more, they flock to the tourist trinket shops!
Picture
A short walk to the edge of town is a park, with remnants of a German fortification, now used for more peaceful purposes.
​
Picture
There is a solar powered WC, for both the lights and the composting toilet.
​
Picture
It is also home of the Atlantic Ocean Park Aquarium (Torstein Lervik Architects, 1998), with lots cool things, like ...
Picture
...Spider Crabs, and ...
Picture
... a large tank with a large number of fish. Once a day a diver joins them and creates a feeding, well not frenzy, but at least a fray, while the M.C. points out (in Norwegian and English) the various species.
​
Picture
And of course there is an opportunity to have ones photograph taken with the diver in the background. Hope their flases work, other wise they will get photos like this one!
​
Picture
So where is the Snøhetta connection? I hear you say. Few (any?) of the quay side structures serve a maritime function now, having been repurposed for hotels, restaurants, retail, museums, etc.. 
Picture
The developers of the Hotel Brosundet (2008) asked Snøhetta to preseve the exterior and go high design with the interior (well a touch of modern art in the rusting steel light , ...
Picture
...and minimalist benches outside was ok).
​
Picture
Inside they decided to work in as much of the old warehouse with simple furnishings, ...
Picture
...lightening and other mechanical devices (note radiator under window).
Picture
The bedrooms also have exposed pipes and bare walls, with...
Picture
...frosted glass bathrooms.
Picture
Larger suites are done with a bit more flare...
Picture
...and a larger glass box. Note the notching of the glass around the wooden beam. Also note the traditional way to make up beds: the top sheet and blanket are bundled lengthwise, one set for each person.
​
Picture
This box was large enough for a small soaking tub, in addition to the shower off camera behind.
Picture
Time for another hardy breakfast, and then ...
Picture
... to move on to Bergen, via a ten hour bus journey.
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.