2287. Budapest, Palatinus Strand

 

Dear David,

The Palatinus Open Air Swimming Pool Complex in 

Budapest is a masterpiece of the Bauhaus style built

in 1937. The most striking feature is the spiral 

staircases, one of them featured partially in this 

postcard picture, that provide access to the pools 

from the above level.

Cheers,

R

2186. Cerkev Sv. Terezije D.J. Ljubljana, Kodeljevo

 

Querida Cristina,

El arquitecto eslovaco Herman Hus forma parte de

la primera generación de arquitectos funcionalistas

de ese país. Además de arquitecto fue profesor y

publicista. Después de la segunda guerra mundial

utilizó un lenguaje más "plecnikesco" en algunos

de sus proyectos.

Cuidate mucho.

R

2140. Eden Teatro. Lisboa

 

Querido Alvaro,

Recuerdo hace años, estando en Lisboa 

acudir al Eden Teatro (obra de Cassiano 

Branco) a un acto organizado en contra 

de su demolición. Allí estabas tu
con tu sempiterna libreta de croquis 

haciendo dibujos rápidos de lo que 

veias a tu alrededor.

Gracias por tu trabajo, talento y 

generosidad.

Tu amigo,
R

2083. Sunilan lamellitalo

 

Dear Aino,

The terraced houses for the Sunila factory workers

were built between 1937 and 1954. The residential

buildings featured in this old postcard are known as

Mäntylä & Honkala and include one-bedroom and

two-bedroom apartments staggered according to

the lot topography.

Respectfully,

R

2072. Anstey's Building, Johannesburg

 

Dear John,

"Ansteys. Designed in 1935 by Enley & Williamson 

for Norman Anstey, founder of the elegant department 

store of that name, which occupied the first four floors. 

Two apartments wings soar another twelve stories with 

magnificent views of the city. Cecil Williams, actor, 

playwright and member of Umkhonto we Sizwe lived 

here. Nelson Mandela was disguised as his driver when 

captured on 5 August 1962"

(Johannesburg City Heritage plaque outside the 

entrance to Ansteys Building)

Regards,

R

1945. Joensuu SOK:n Toimitalo

 

Dear Saara,

Architect Erkki Huttunen, a major figure of 

Scandinavian Functionalism, was the chief architect 

of the building department of SOK (Finnish 

Cooperative Society) until 1941. This is one of his 

building in Joensuu.

Best regards,

R

1903. USEGO, Winterthur, Switzerland

 

Querido Ramiro,

USEGO fue una Cooperativa de pequeños comerciantes

independientes suizos que llegó a tener varios grandes

almacenes logísticos de distribución. El de la foto es 

el construido en Winterthur en puro estilo funcionalista

por el arquitecto asentado en Olten, Fritz von 

Niederhäusern. Este arquitecto, bastante desconocido, 

abrazó la nueva arquitectura cuando ya contaba con 

50 años influido por la personalidad y obra de Karl 

Moser.

Un abrazo,

R  

1785. Fiume Tevere e Casa delle Armi, Roma

Querido Adrian,

"Debemos sentir y ver que la materia sufre, que funciona, que padece" (Luigi Moretti)

Agradecido,
R

1777. Viljava Nakkila Seurakuntakoti Kirkko

Dear Poul,

The building depicted on the postcard is considered 

to be Finland's earliest functional-style church.
Next to the church stands the Nakkila Parish Center 

built in 1970 by Juha Leiviskä.

Regards,
R

1723. Helsinki Tullimakasiini

Dear Elissa,

Gunnar Taucher, who was Helsinki's city architect 

from 1924 to 1941, designed many public buildings 

including housing, hospitals, schools, and many other 

facilities. Among these, his harbor warehouses shown 

in the picture. Today this building is serving as a 

terminal for the Viking Line ferries company.

Regards,
R

1650. Pravda Building, Moscow

Dear Michael,

This exemplaray building of the late constructivism era sadly remains abandoned since 2006 when it suffered a big fire. Most likely will be demolished in the future.

R

1473. Balneario La Floresta. Hotel Casino. Uruguay

Querida Sara,

" La mucha luz es como la mucha sombra: no deja ver"
(Octavio Paz)

Recuerdos,
R

1401. Goteborg- Redbergsvagen & Gubberogatan

Dear Ture,

This small white building in the intersection of two streets houses the Cinema Flamman ("The Flame") which is a humble and beautiful example of the much-celebrated Swedish functionalist's architectural style.

Best,
R

1176. The Central Market of Phonom-Penh, Cambodia

Dear Brian,

French architect Jean Desbois designed this building inspired by the new central market in Leipzig (1928) although he simplified substantially its form. This is a truly remarkable building that is often seen by local residents as a kind of "artificial mountain" on this topographically flat city of Phnom Penh.

Regards,
R

1144. Ferrara. Palazzo Aeronautica

Dear Guido,

"We feel that this is our architecture, because
we are the inheritors of Roman building
power. Profoundly rational, utilitarian, and
industrial as they were the characteristics of
Roman architecture".
(First Exhibition of Rationalist Architecture,
Rome, 1928)

Cheers,
R 

1126. Bucaresti, B-dul Take Ionescu

Dear Elena,

The cinema Scala in Bucharest was built by one of 

the leader architects of the 1930s pioneering Modernist movement in Germany: Rudolf Fränkel. He was also 

the designer of the Lichtberg Cinema, another celebrated film theater built in Berlin in 1929, that shares with the Scala its reminiscences of the compelling expressionist architecture of Erich Mendelsohn.

Kind regards,
R

894. Montecatini Terme. La Stazione Principale.

Carissimo Giovanni,

"...tale fabbricato è forse la parte più geniale della nuova stazione di Montecatini, nel senso che il razionalismo tecnico, indispensabile nell'edificio viaggiatori, è qui meno rigido. Là è la macchina che si impone, qui è l'ispirazione che detta. Il giallo-sole del travertino cede il posto all'ombra fresca della pietra di grotta" 

(Il Nuovo Giornale, 4 agosto 1937)

Un caloroso saluto,
R

793. Goteborg, Gustaf Adolfs torg

Dear Bill,

When finished in 1937, a perfect synthesis through the
harmonic contrast between the classical old facade of
Goteborg Law Courts and the new and modern
extension facade was exemplary achieved by one of the
most important Scandinavian architects: Erik Gunnar
Asplund. This building is the one in pale yellow beyond
the statue of king Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden seen
in this postcard.

Kind regards,
R

696. Castle Restaurant, Dudley Zoo

Querido Juan,

El Restaurante del Castillo o de la Reina Mary en el Zoo
de Dudley, es casi siempre citado por su popularidad
social y por su bella relacion axial con el castillo. Por esta
componente relacional y por lo racional de su arquitectura
te dejo el pensamiento de Unamuno de que lo racional no
es sino lo relacional; la razon se limita a relacionar
elementos irracionales.

Un abrazo,
R

591. Villa Bianca. Seveso, Milano.

Dear Cousin Angelo,

I found this postcard of your villa and decided to buy
a copy for you. Take it as a little Thank you Card for
trusting so much in me during the design and building
processes of your new home. I am glad to know you
and your lovely family are moving in very soon.
Rest assure that doors will be properly fixed and
everything will be ready and waiting for you.

Merry Christmas to all of you!
GT