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From: "Architexturez." <interface.services@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
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Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2007 11:18:31 +0530
Castles in the air
Want to live in a home designed by a famous architect? Then get a
council flat in Madrid. Steve Rose reports
Monday February 19, 2007
The Guardian
So you're in Madrid and you want to experience the work of top
international architects. There are two ways to do it. The first is to
head for the extravagant Hotel Puerta America, where you can spend the
night in a room designed by Zaha Hadid, Norman Foster, Arata Isozaki,
Jean Nouvel or David Chipperfield. A different architect has been let
loose on each of the hotel's 12 floors, and the result is a jetsetter's
dream, and a cleaner's nightmare: an orgy of space-age luxury,
cutting-edge furniture, leather, resin and stainless steel.
The alternative is to put yourself on the waiting list for a council
flat. You'll have to be a Madrileño, of moderate income, and being in a
young family will help. Then, if you're lucky, you could also find
yourself in an apartment designed by Isozaki or Chipperfield. Not to
mention Thom Mayne, MVRDV, Foreign Office, Ricardo Legorreta or a host
of other big name architects.
cont'd....
http://arts.guardian.co.uk/art/architecture/story/0,,2016286,00.html