The house of Lope de Vega was restored to its original structure from 300 years ago
Lope de Vega was one of the most important writers in the Spanish Golden Age of literature. The prolific writer and dramatist even wrote a manual in which he describes his techniques of writing a play. The Spanish Golden Age in literature is best remembered for one of the greatest novels ever written: Don Quixote […]
Traditional Moroccan riads, tranquil homes of beauty
Moroccan riads represent the elegance of desert architecture and reflect Islamic cosmology. A riad is a traditional Moroccan family house, characterized by the central garden courtyard. The founder of Marrakesh, Youssef ibn Tachfine, was highly influenced by Andalusian art and culture, where the riad model was first adopted. In the Quran, the heavenly garden paradise of […]
Rose Hall: a Georgian mansion in Jamaica owned by Annie Palmer, famously known as the White Witch
Rose Hall, surrounded by stunning gardens and overlooking the Caribbean Sea, is one of the finest mansions in Montego Bay in Jamaica. The construction of the house was finished in 1790 and 2,000 slaves worked on the plantation. Because of its association with the most vicious female plantation owner who was known as the White Witch, […]
The magnificent Chatsworth House: one of the most popular stately homes in Britain inhabited by the same family since its construction
Chatsworth House, considered by many as the most beautiful grand houses in England, can be found nestled amongst the rolling hills of Britain’s rural Derbyshire Dales. The area is famous for its abundance of stately homes that haven’t changed much since the days of their former glory. These historic houses offer a glimpse into a […]
Shepherds Huts: Tiny Houses on Wheels Used by Downland Shepherds
The small mobile homes known as shepherds huts date from the 15th century but it became more widely used in the late 18th and early 19th century. They were still being produced and used in the 20th century. The earliest illustration of the hut is a painting from the 15th century by the French painter […]
Xanadu Houses: a peculiar architectural design for a “home of the future”
Strange-looking experimental homes called Xanadu Houses began to be built in the United States in 1979. They were an attempt at making energy-efficient and affordable dwellings and would also be an example for some of the earliest automation in the home. The Xanadu were constructed by Bob Masters who had previously designed inflatable balloons used […]
Cube Houses: An unusual 70s house design in the Netherlands inspired by trees
Of all the modern architectural wonders in the world, Rotterdam’s striking Cube Houses, or Kubuswoningen in Dutch, stand in a league of their own. Rotterdam, in the Netherlands, is well known for its unique and interesting architecture. In the historic Oude Haven (Old Port) area, one particularly unusual group of dwellings has been a draw […]
Abbotsford House: Residence of the famous Scottish novelist and poet Sir Walter Scott
The castle-like Abbotsford House and its beautifully landscaped woodland estate was the home of novelist and poet Walter Scott, author of several literally classics including Rob Roy and Ivanhoe. Ever since Sir Walter Scott was young, he had loved the serene rural landscape of the Scottish Borders, a region bordering the City of Edinburgh in the […]