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The Palace Of The Republic was an abomination of a building that was built from 1973 to 1976 in the time of the GDR. The Palace had multiple functions, including the seat of the East German parliament, art galleries, restaurants and a bowling alley.

It was built on the site of the old Berliner Stadtschloss (Berlin City Palace), which was damaged in the war, then demolished by the GDR government.

The building is now being demolished and their are plans to rebuild the Berliner Stadtschoss on the location that it originally stood.

Labels: berlin, buildings, germany, urban-design

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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The neon lights on Times Square get bigger and brighter every year. Even public institutions like the police department and subway have flash neon banners to blend in with the look of the precinct.

Labels: new-york, urban-design, usa

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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Icecream art installation on building at Neumarkt, Cologne - Germany.

Labels: buildings, cologne, germany, urban-design

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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The buildings in Amsterdam lean forward slightly. It is not sinking nor a trick of the eye after a day on the smoke. The fronts lean forward slightly so furniture can be hoisted up via the hooks that hang from the top.

Labels: amsterdam, buildings, netherlands, urban-design

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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Europe is renown for its bike friendly cities (well bike friendlier than US/UK/Australia anyway). This appears to be true in Basel, Switzerland.

Next to the Hauptbahnhof is an impressive bike park facility. From street level a gently sloping entry leads you underground to the Velopark.



Here you can leave your bike or hire one at a cheap rate (even by Swiss standards). I was there on a weekday morning and it was just about full. There are lockers, shower rooms and a cafe. This is connected underground to the main train station.

Labels: basel, bicycle, switzerland, urban-design

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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All over Lisbon, and indeed all over Portugal the streets are paved with little square limestone blocks. Many are works of art in themselves and I found myself looking at the pavement as often as the amazing buildings around.

Labels: lisbon, portugal, urban-design

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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A possible portal to Paris via Picoas - Lisbon.

Labels: lisbon, paris, portugal, public-transport, urban-design

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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