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An Italian student smashed a Greek sculpture at Milan’s Academy of Fine Arts of Brera after he hopped on its lap in order to capture that perfect selfie.
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In Oaxaca, Mexico, you can’t celebrate the holidays without radishes!
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The people of Cardiff love not to just stand out but to do it with a special meaning. Walking along the Mermaid Bay, turning the corner of the Pearhead Center, we suddenly find ourselves in front of a building that looks like a huge stingray, hovering in the air! This is the building of the National Assembly of Wales, which can be translated to the Welsh as Senedd.
In the bag of Richard Rogers, the architect of Senedd, there are buildings some of which are symbols of an entire era: the Georges Pompidou Center in Paris, the European court of human rights in Strasbourg, Lloyd's insurance company and Reuters in London. Moreover, Richard Rogers is one of the founders of the high-tech style.
The National Assembly appeared in Cardiff 14 years ago and almost immediately won the love of both locals and tourists not only for such an unusual appearance but also for the philosophical ideas that reflect the requirements of the modern world.
Remember the stingray hanging in the air? This effect is achieved because the building is almost completely transparent. The walls are made of glass. Only the giant wooden roof stands out. Senedd literally floating above the ground. It is unusually light, free, limitless…the idea of Richard Rogers was not only to create a light, weightless structure but also to be able to embody a political idea. The transparent walls of the National Assembly symbolize the openness of the political system, trust in the people of Wales, and accessibility for both locals and tourists. Everyone can view the building both outside and inside.
The openness of the National Assembly lies not only in the fact that you can see all the details through the almost transparent walls but also in the fact that there is no harsh guards who chase you away as soon as you cross the threshold. Resident or tourist - anyone can safely go to the meeting of deputies. The main condition is not to interfere.
The National Assembly is popular with local youth. Children gather on the steps under a huge roof, communicate, ride bicycles, and skateboards.
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