3D Models of Spanish Architechture for Google Sketchup / Tagzania

Google Sketchup is the free software of Google that is wining supporters among the 3D Modeling non professional users, thanks its easyness and simplified interace. One of the most interesting characteristic is the integration with Google Earth, where the models created in Sketchup can be placed over the orthophoto, and can be watched in 3D perspective. This tool is giving a chance to the people to create communities that are creating 3D models of the real cities over their real positions. Furthermore, from the free version, we could find a non free version with more advanced capabilities.

Tagzania guys have been working hardly to create a pool of 3D Models of the most important buildings of present Spanish Architecture, for a work developed for the Spanish Pabillion in the Biennial of Archicture in Venezia

In this model database you can find models like “Comtemporary Artistic Creation Area” in Cordoba ( Fuensanta Nieto and Enrique Sobejano ), “Arts ans Science Palace” In Valencia ( Santiago Calatrava ) , “Sanchinarro’s Viewpoint” in Madrid ( of MVRDV ), Congresses palace of Badajoz ( Selgascano Studios ) , etc…

You can download them to view them in Google Sketchup and locate them in Google Earth. You have them in this link.

Tenerife Auditorium / Santiago Calatrava

Tenerife auditorium, a Santiago Calatrava’s work is situated in the coast of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, next to the Fair and Congress International Center, also made by Calatrava.

With a 72.3 million € investment, the building lasted for six years, from 1997 spring until 2003 when it was finalised, being opened on September the 23rd of the same year.

cc by: freakyman

The building lays in a 23,000 sq meter site, 6,741 sq meter occupied by the building and the rest by gardens, squares, entrances and parking (260 spaces).

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Castle of Turaida, Sigulda (Latvia)

Article: Paco

One of the places to visit if you go to Latvia, it’s Sigulda National Park. From Riga you can take a train, and in a hour-time you are in the main city of the region, Sigulda. From there, a nice trip of aproximatly an hour, to Turiada’s Castle in the Turaida’s river bank.

A green landscape, and from a char lift you can have a wide view of the valley, with Sigulda Castle ( built at XIX century) and Turaida’s Castle in the northern side of the river.

The name of the river, and also de the castle’s name come from the old latvian language and means “God’s Gardens”. This long river is one of the most important s and beautiful in the country, and ts route has been for years a natural frontier for Medieval Kindoms.

In the first years in XIII Century the castle belonged to “Livs” Dinasty, with Kaupo King. Although some years afterwards the property was for Albert, the Riga Bishop. After this conquest, the castle was rebuilt and the main tower was added to the complex, in 1214.

Its history has not been idel… because durind the Sweden-Polish war in 1629, the castle was besieged and the the building had important structural damages. In 1776 it was totally destroyed. Only in 1953, the latvian authorities realized of the historical importamce of this ruins, decided to rebuild it. The used main material were so diferent from the ones used originally, but at least the visitor could have an image of the original appearence of the Castle in XIII century.

Arriving to it you find a soft walk, until you get the tip of hill and from there you can see some rebuilt houses in hill side, houses that were part of the out side wall village, that for centuries took part of this Turaida settlement.

After having climbed the hill, in the castle, you can see that all the rebuilt structure was done with red brick, and some parts of the defensive wall weren’t rebuilt. In the pics you can have a view of some constructive aspects:

The Castle entrance, is the point where a big tower appears, and on the left a service smaller tower for services , warehouse, etc..

The main tower, with a circular section, and with a bid diameter, was not only used for vigilance. It was used like Castle governor rooms.

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