Capturing Mechelen

Mechelen in pictures

St. Rombouts Kathedraal

"They just don't make buildings like that anyone..." With a danger of sounding old, it's true.

Towering above the Grote Markt in Mechelen, the cathedral truly is the most eye catching landmark in the city. Dominating your view, it is hard to find a more beautiful building to distract you.

Het is mooi! (It is beautiful!)
The exterior has such intricate detail, one can only imagine how long it took to construct something so beautiful. Standing right underneath the spire it's a struggle to take everything in, craning my neck so much I almost landed on my back.

Every surface has a pattern or texture, whether it be the detailing on the window arches or the newly cleaned surface. The polished stonework glimmers in the sunlight, adding to the overall stature of the building on the city's skyline.

Folio...so far.

Tomorrow is a big day...first day at a new University. Knowing that I am going to meet lots of new people and experience new ideas about design I wanted to reinforce myself with my own ideas. Looking over my folio I used to apply to KH Mechelen, I could see my progression and new skills I had learnt since my very first project at DJCAD...

Luxembourg - old and new

The saying chalk and cheese could not be anymore appropriate here to describe the city.

The old Luxembourg is how I imagined it completely; quaint, crumbling landmarks and a strong sense of history. I was not disappointed! Held up by the iconic wall, the new Luxembourg towers over the old with very little of the new mixed in with the old (only subtle hints here and there).

The old city.

Spending time in the ‘new’ Luxembourg felt like being in a completely different city. Every direction you looked there was either a crane, a building site or some new shiny glassed monster. There is no denying that these are truly works of art, all competing with each other for the attention of passers-by but for me the old Luxembourg had more character. Wandering at the foot of the wall there was a strong sense of stature and an overwhelming importance to the city – breathtaking. It was as if the wall was still serving its primary function…to protect. As the new Luxembourg sprawled uncontrollably above, the old was being concealed and guarded below.

Both old and new parts serve the city in very different ways. The balance between history and the advance in technology complimented each other perfectly. With no sign of halting, I just hope that the new Luxembourg does not appear more in the old. At the moment the old and new separation, in my opinion, works very well – both parts of the city have a very different feeling to them but each hold their character without either spoiling the other.

Erasmus Exchange

Currently residing in my room, sitting on my bed, laptop on my knee, looking out the window, with church bells ringing in the not too far away distance…how different in comparison with my ‘normal’ life.

New surroundings. New chapter in my life.

Location: Mechelen, Belgium.

Researching the area before arrival, I was excited at the prospect of exploring and experiencing city life. Brought up in a quiet village in Scotland I knew this was going to be a great opportunity not only for me to experience a different culture but also surviving in a big city.

First arriving in Mechelen I could not have felt any smaller. Everyone around me moving with the flow of the city and me struggling up cobbled streets with two suitcases…not my idea of glamour! Trying to find my accommodation in the maze of narrow, intersecting cobbled streets was a nightmare (even with the prepared Google map!) and dodging bikes at the same time was a challenge in itself.

Now two days in, I finally have my bearings and have spent most of my time exploring as much as I can – and I have to say so far so good! The city itself is beautiful with lots of little treasures hidden amongst the tall, skinny buildings, the picturesque views and the canals that weave through the houses that hang over the water edge. The locals are friendly and they are even starting to understand the Dutch that I am speaking! Although as soon as they differentiate from the stuff I have learnt from the phrase book ,”Ik versta het niet” is becoming a very familiar reply (I don’t understand)…