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Tag Archives: Cities

The largest habitable work of art

23 Monday Mar 2015

Posted by Abdul Latheef in Arnold Schwarzenegger, Arts, Austria, Automotive, Business, Cities, Culture, Environment, General Motors, Graz, Hotels, Life, Luxury Hotels, Luxury Travel, New Zealand, News, Opel, People, Rogner-Bad Blumau, Spa Hotels, Tourism, Transport, Travel, Travel Blog

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Airports, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Austria, Autmotive, Bad-Blumau, Business, Cities, Culture, Environment, General Motors, Luxury Hotels, Luxury Travel, New Zealand, News, Opel, Rogner Bad-Blumau, Spa Hotels, Tourism, Travel, Travel Blog

Dome“The water feels like silk on your skin.”

That is how Rogner-Bad Blumau describes the thermal water at the Austrian hotel’s spa.

The supply is from the nearby Vulkania springs and is said to be the most mineral-rich curative water in the spa town of Bad Blumau.

And the healing water is just one of many features that make this hotel out of the ordinary.

Billed as the world’s largest habitable work of art, Rogner-Bad Blumau was designed by eccentric Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser, whose last name literally means “100 waters.”

“Your name is Hundertwasser, I have water of hundred degrees,” businessman Robert Rogner told the artist as they began the work on the hotel in early 1990s.

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Rogner-Bad Blumau is unique in so many ways – the most compelling being the architecture itself.

There are six “houses” connected by a maze of hallways and green roofs with golden onion domes.

In addition to supplies from the Vulkania springs, the hotel’s numerous pools and bathing areas get water from the Melchior and Balthasar springs.

Original roof tiles from old farmhouses have been used for the facade of one of the rainbow-coloured buildings.

Artist

The late Friedensreich Hundertwasser

They all fit well with the philosophy of Hundertwasser: A life in harmony with nature.

“The great thing about Blumau is the uniqueness,” said Jasmin Rogner, co-owner of the 312-room, four-star hotel.

“It’s a great artwork, which rather increases in value with time,” she wrote in an email.

“The biggest challenge is to interpret this great place consistently.”

Hundertwasser died in February 2000 in his adopted home country of New Zealand.

The hotel sits on the beautiful rolling hills of Bad Blumau, less than an hour from the city of Graz – a UNESCO City of Design and the hometown of Arnold Schwarzenegger.

I stayed at the hotel back in March 1998, barely a year after Rogner-Bad Blumau opened its doors to first guests.

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The 1998 launch of Opel Astra at Rogner-Bad Blumau. Photo by Abdul Latheef

I was among a group of journalists flown in from around the world for the launch of a new General Motors car, Opel Astra.

The hotel has since become a major site for product launches and corporate events.

The property is owned by Rogner International Hotels and Resorts.

Bad Blumau is easily accessible from Graz, Vienna and Salzburg. Austrian Airlines has direct flights from Toronto to Vienna while Lufthansa offers flights to Graz from several German cities.

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 Images are courtesy of Rogner-Bad Blumau

Yet another blast of snow

19 Wednesday Feb 2014

Posted by Abdul Latheef in Canada, Cities, Environment, Life, Photography, Snow, Toronto, Weather

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Canada, Cities, Environment, Snow, Toronto, Weather

Toronto is reeling under yet another blast of snow:

S1

S2

Abu Dhabi to produce aviation biofuel

19 Sunday Jan 2014

Posted by Abdul Latheef in Abu Dhabi, Aircraft, Airlines, Aviation, Biofuel, Boeing, Business, Eithad Airways, Environment, Masdar City, News, Oil & Gas, Technology, Transport

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Abu Dhabi, Aircraft, Airlines, Aviation, Biofuel, Boeing, Business, Cities, Environment, Etihad Airways, Masdar City, News, Oil & Gas, Technology, Transport

 

An artist's impression of Masdar City. Masdar City photo.
An artist’s impression of Masdar City. Masdar City photo.

Abu Dhabi, one of the world’s largest oil producers, is also a leader in environmental initiatives.

Its most ambitious project is the solar-powered Masdar City, which is being built about 20 kilometres east of the United Arab Emirates capital.

One of the institutes behind the project, the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, is now joining state-owned Etihad Airways, U.S. aircraft maker Boeing and French oil giant Total to produce aviation biofuel in the UAE.

Oil refiner Takreer will also be a partner in BIOjet Abu Dhabi.

“BIOjet Abu Dhabi will engage a broad range of stakeholders to develop a comprehensive framework for a UAE biofuel supply chain, including research and development and expanded investment in feedstock production and refining capability in the UAE and globally,” the companies said Sunday.

EtihadA day earlier, an Etihad Boeing 777 took off on a 45-minute demonstration flight, powered in part by biofuel produced in Abu Dhabi.

“Our goal is to support and help drive the commercialization of sustainable aviation fuel in Abu Dhabi, the region and also globally,” said James Hogan, president and CEO of Etihad.

The BIOjet Abu Dhabi initiative comes just days after Boeing said it was awaiting regulatory approvals to use green diesel on its airplanes.

“Boeing works with partners around the world to advance sustainable biofuel development and sees great opportunity for BIOjet Abu Dhabi to have a positive impact in the UAE and globally,” said Jeffrey Johnson, president, Boeing Middle East.

Dubai promises to astonish the world

27 Wednesday Nov 2013

Posted by Abdul Latheef in Culture, Dubai, Life, News, Tourism, Travel, World Expo

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Business, Cities, Culture, Dubai, News, Politics, Tourism, Travel, World Expo

Celebrations are underway in Dubai, UAE, after the city won the right to host the world’s fair in 2020, the first in the Middle East.

Ruler“To the world: we renew our promise to astonish you at Expo 2020,” Dubai’s Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum tweeted shortly after winning the bid.

“Dubai will bring to life our vision: Connecting Minds, Creating the Future.”

Rival bids came from Ekaterinburg, Russia; Sao Paulo, Brazil and Izmir, Turkey.

My previous post on Expo 2020

My previous post on Expo 2020

Dubai was the front-runner from the very beginning of the bidding process, and on Wednesday it won in all three rounds of voting by member countries of the Bureau International des Expositions in Paris.

“Expo 2020 will breathe new life into the ancient role of the Middle East as a melting pot for cultures and creativity,” Sheikh Mohammed said.

“Our goal is to build a better future for the region’s youth. The UAE will achieve it through collaboration and inspiration at Expo 2020.”

Expo3The BIE noted that in just a few decades, Dubai had become one of the world’s most modern, innovative and technological cities, attracting investors and workers from more than 200 countries.

“With a target of 25 million visitors, the Expo will continue building Dubai and the UAE’s status as a world hub…”

Canada and Britain were among the countries supporting the Dubai bid. Baird2

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird congratulated Dubai, saying in a tweet that it was the right proposal, right place and right time.

Sheikh Mohammed’s photo is courtesy of Dubai Government.

Dubai is poised to win Expo 2020

24 Sunday Nov 2013

Posted by Abdul Latheef in Culture, Dubai, Life, People, Social, Travel

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Business, Cities, Culture, Dubai, Life, News, Politics, Social, Tourism, Travel, World Expo

uae2Delegates from nearly 170 countries are meeting in Paris this week to choose the host of the 2020 World Expo.

The competition is between front-runner Dubai, UAE, and Ekaterinburg, Russia; Sao Paulo, Brazil and Izmir, Turkey.

All indications are that the Bureau International des Expositions will overwhelmingly choose Dubai on Nov. 27.

There are many reasons for that, primarily no other city competing for the world’s fair can match what Dubai offers – it has ultra-modern infrastructure, solid financial backing and above all an impeccable track record of hosting mega events.

The Dubai Airshow that concluded just last week is just an example. It generated a record US$206 billion in business for Boeing, Airbus and others.

Dubai has also won the endorsements of several countries, including Britain, France and Canada.

“Canada believes it is time for the Middle East to host the world at a time of such hope and challenge in the region, and Dubai is best placed to bring together the most diverse group of peoples from around the world, to share ideas, aspirations, and concrete solutions for the future,” Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said in a statement earlier this month.

“Canada’s support for Dubai reflects our commitment to the dynamism, hope and future of emerging economies in the region and beyond.” Bid2

Former U.S. president Bill Clinton, a frequent visitor to Dubai, and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates also have endorsed Dubai’s bid.

“Dubai’s model of shared prosperity is more important today than ever and an inspiration to many countries in the Middle East,” Clinton told students of the American University of Dubai in April.

RulerDubai under its charismatic Ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has made dramatic progress in the past few years.

The emirate has delivered everything it ever promised. Expo 2020 will be no different. It would be another jewel in Dubai’s crown.

But win or lose, Dubai has made its case.

“The UAE will be successful whether it wins the bid or not, as we are working and moving forward with various development plans,” Sheikh Mohammed was quoted as saying this month.

All photos are courtesy of Dubai Expo 2020 and Dubai Government. The video, “Then and Now,” is from YouTube. 

Dubai leads the race to host Expo 2020

21 Monday Oct 2013

Posted by Abdul Latheef in Life, Travel

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Cities, Politics, Tourism, Trade, Travel, World Expo

With just over a month to go before a winner is named, Dubai is leading the race to host the 2020 World Expo.

A screengrab of Dubai's official Expo 2020 website.

A screengrab of Dubai’s official Expo 2020 website.

Already a tourist hub, the city is competing with Ekaterinburg, Russia; Sao Paulo, Brazil and Izmir, Turkey to host the biggest fair on earth. The Expo, which lasts six months, has never been held in any of the regions – Middle East, Russia and Latin America – bidding for it.The Paris-based Bureau International des Expositions will name the winning city Nov. 27.

This week, Dubai is presenting its theme to a delegation of more than 250 officials from the BIE’s 167 member countries.

“After Ekaterinburg, Sao Paulo and Izmir, Dubai is the last candidate city to uphold its project and present its theme… Delegates of the BIE, local authorities and experts will gather for the occasion,” the BEI says in a post on its website.

In the lead-up to the appraisal event, Dubai said the Expo will generate some 277,000 new jobs in the city.

Dubai has been hosting mega events for years, and the 2013 Dubai Airshow is set to open next month. As of Monday night, its official website had nearly 650,000 “Likes” and 42,000 followers.

The website also features an endorsement from a high-profile personality — Bill Gates.

“Dubai… has modernized itself and taken on tough projects, brought people together in a number of amazing ways,” he said.

“I think they would be a great location for World Expo.”

The Expo has been held in 11 cities, including in Montreal in 1967, in the past 80 years. The Italian city of Milan will host the next event in 2015.

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