It is the mission of the Foundation for the Preservation of Dutch Art Nouveau Architecture of Huizen (Holland) to awaken greater awareness of this architectural style in a wider public through close cooperation with museums, national and regional archives, local governments and private organisations.
With this new membership of the Stichting "Behoud Nederlandse Jugendstilarchitectuur", the Art Nouveau European Route now boasts 70 member institutions connected in some form or another to Art Nouveau. This is proof of the growing interest and concern for protecting this style.
Re-opening of the Trinkkuranlage After three years of construction and renovation the Trinkkuranlage opened again to the public at the beginning of 2011. The grounds were remodelled and in the former gargling-rooms a new kitchen has been installed for the adjoining café. The hall for meetings and events has got a modern annex with wardrobes and toilets.The historic dispensing fountain and the Kurbrunnen have not been touched. The horsehoe-shaped Trinkuranlage is part of the spa facilities. Here the bathing-therapy of the Sprudelhof was completed by drinking the healing waters from three mineral springs in Bad Nauheim. In the belle epoque there were concerts several times a day and the area with its colonnades was a popular meeting point for the international visitors. Now concerts, exhibitions and all kind of events will put new life into the Trinkkuranlage and make it attractive again for the inhabitants of Bad Nauheim.
CaixaForum Girona. The New Centre of l´Obra Social "la Caixa"
This 6 May-maintenance work having been completed on its façade and interior to improve functionality-the Centre Cultural i Social de "la Caixa" will reopen the doors of the historic Girona building, la Fontana d´Or, located at carrer dels Ciutadans, 19, in Girona Old Town.
L´Obra Social "la Caixa" thereby initiates a new period in the city, offering continuity to a cultural programme characterised by the clear desire to increase the value of culture as an element of social integration. CaixaForum Girona offers a new concept in cultural centres, one that is more akin to 21st century values, a platform for dissemination in line with current social concerns.
The campaign "Barcelona posa´t guapa" is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The objective of this initiative, which the Institut Municipal del Paisatge Urb? i la Qualitat de Vida coordinates, is to develop actions to protect and improve the city´s urban landscape and place value on its architectural heritage by producing routes and publications.
In Barcelona, regulation and control of exterior advertising has generated income of 15.9 million euros, which the Institut del Paisatge Urb? has earmarked entirely for spending on actions to improve the landscape by restoring buildings and striking elements within the city. The campaign "Barcelona, posa´t guapa" also facilitates a wide programme of subsidies aimed at incentivising the restoration of private buildings. This campaign has managed to encourage restoration of a total of 42,174 buildings in Barcelona, representing 31% of the city´s structures.