Latest news with #JoanaVasconcelos
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Stunning outdoor swimming pool near major Scots city opens to public for summer
The unique pool is heated so swimmers can enjoy a cosy swim no matter what the Scottish weather brings SPLASH OF COLOUR Stunning outdoor swimming pool near major Scots city opens to public for summer A POPULAR Scottish swimming pool has opened up to the public to enjoy over the summer months. The unique colourful pool, found in Jupiter Artland on the skirts of Edinburgh, will be available to book every Thursday between 6pm and 8pm. 6 The unique colourful pool can be found in Jupiter Artland Credit: Alamy 6 The 100-acre sculpture park is on the outskirts of Edinburgh Credit: Alamy Nestled within the 100-acre sculpture park, it is part of an art installation designed by the renowned artist Joana Vasconcelos. The 'Gateway' pool was crafted from thousands of intricately hand-painted Portuguese tiles, the pool is a visually stunning and spiritual visitor space. The water is heated so swimmers can enjoy a cosy swim no matter what the Scottish weather brings. Both public and private sessions are available, accommodating up to 12 guests. Individual slots can be reserved to enjoy the pool with fellow swimmers. A bathing session includes the cost of entry to wander the full Artland - with prices ranging from £15 for members to £27 for adults. A statement on Jupiter Artland said: "Gateway, the iconic swimming pool by @atelierjoanavasconcelos is open for evening sessions every Thursday. "Immerse yourself in art as you drift through colourful patterns - whether under a golden sunset or a gentle summer rain, the heated pool keeps you cosy throughout. "Every Thursday, 6-8pm. Spend a serene two hours surrounded by art and nature. Includes 1.5 hours in the pool, with time to change before and after. "Please note that Sunset Swim also includes full access to the Artland before your session to experience the full park." New $422m waterpark to open in US right next to major shopping mall – with massive swimming pool, loungers, & slides Other Scottish pools to enjoy a refreshing dip include: New Cumnock pool, East Ayrshire 6 The country's only outdoor heated freshwater swimming pool Credit: Facebook Hailed as one of the UK's hidden gems, this recently refurbished lido-style pool is the perfect swimming spot. It is the country's only outdoor heated freshwater swimming pool, warming up to 30C - so it's also ideal for chillier days. New Cumnock Pool is quite literally fit for a king - it gained the royal seal of approval when King Charles, who formally opened it in 2017, branded it "decidedly splendid". There's also a small cafe on site where you can grab a bite to eat and refuel after a swim sesh. All while enjoying the picturesque countryside views which surround it. Gourock Pool, Inverclyde 6 Swimmers can enjoy a spectacular view as they bathe Credit: Alamy Visitors have likened this heated open-air saltwater pool to the Carribean. It boasts spectacular views of the Clyde Estuary, the Holy Loch, Loch Long, Gare Loch and rolling hills in between. And it has a pool terrace perfect for sunbathing. Gourock Pool also offers punters the chance to swim under the night sky with its "starlight swims". But sadly, it is temporarily closed over the 'winter season'. It will reopen from May 6 until September 8 this year. St Monan's Tidal Pool, Fife This historic pool is situated on the very edge of the sea and offers a great opportunity for a wild swimming experience. St Monan's Tidal Pool was restored by members of the local community after the pandemic during which it became a dumping ground for dangerous rubbish. It was also featured on the BBC's "Jules and Greg's Wild Swim", where Balamory star Jules Wilson Nimmo and her Still Game husband Greg Hemphill traverse Scotland in search of the best wild swimming spots. As per the words of Miss Hoolie herself, it is a "haven for safe outdoor swimming" because it provides swimmers with the best of both worlds: all the beauty and refreshing qualities of the sea without the undercurrents and unpredictable tides that often accompany coastal swimming. And the seawater is replenished twice a month, which means that it's much warmer than other pools of its kind. Stonehaven open air pool, Aberdeenshire 6 Stonehaven pool played an important role during World War II This is a historic art deco seawater lido, renowned as the UK's only Olympic-sized facility of its kind. The pool measures 55 yards long and 20 yards wide and is designed to meet competition standards and attracting local and visiting swimmers alike. When it first opened in 1934, the pool was entirely emptied and refilled every few days to ensure optimal water quality, and in 1935, heated and filtered seawater was introduced. The pool also played an important role during World War II, providing recreation to troops before quickly regaining its status as a popular attraction in the post-war years. Today, Stonehaven Pool hosts a variety of activities, including live music, aqua Zumba, and thrilling inflatables, as well as unique moonlit swims in the summer. It opens from May 25 to September 1. The Trinkie Tidal Pool, Wick 6 The pool's waters are filled by the ferocious waves of the North Sea Credit: Alamy The Trinkie is a stunning natural seawater pool located along Scotland's rugged coastline. Formed around 70 years ago from an old quarry, the pool gets its name from the Scots word for 'trench'. With its waters filled by the ferocious waves of the North Sea, the Trinkie offers a unique swimming experience. On sunny days, you'll find people enjoying picnics and swimming, all while taking in breathtaking sea views and the sound of waves crashing against the cliffs.
Daily Record
15-07-2025
- Daily Record
'Avoid getting on a plane and head to these stunning Scottish locations instead'
If you are looking for some stunning locations to explore this year, especially while the UK experiences some gorgeous weather, then you may want to skip getting on a plane and stay in Scotland instead A man has revealed that for those seeking breathtaking spots to visit this year, particularly during the UK's splendid weather spell, you might want to consider staying grounded and staying in Scotland instead. Chris Lawlor has taken to TikTok to showcase five spectacular Scottish locations that are likely new to many. His video is so compelling, it'll leave you itching to explore each destination. With many not wanting to go abroad this summer due to our gorgeous weather, there are many places in Scotland where the Scottish native recommend that you visit. They're all certain to take your breath away and leave you wondering why you've never visited before. 1. Whaligoe Steps, Caithness Describing the site, he mentioned it feels like "something from Game of Thrones" when you're there, a sentiment that's easy to share. The Whaligoe Steps carve their way down the cliffs just south of Wick in Caithness, situated on Scotland's northeasternmost shoreline. 2. Gearrannan Blackhouse Village, Isle of Lewis Nestled on the Atlantic coast of the Isle of Lewis, Gearrannan Blackhouse Village dates back to the 19th century and features nine meticulously restored traditional blackhouses. 3. Gateway, Edinburgh He explained: "This is called Gateway, within the grounds of Jupiter Artland". Gateway emerges as an art piece merged with a fully operational swimming pool and landscaped garden, located at the Jupiter Artland outdoor sculpture park, conceived by artist Joana Vasconcelos. 4. Cramond Island, Edinburgh He advised: "But to reach Cramond Island, cross the causeway two hours before low tide, walking along a line of concrete pillars during the safe times that are found online". Cramond Island sits amongst the cluster of islands in the Firth of Forth off the east coast of Scotland, a stone's throw from Edinburgh. It's crucial that if you do decide to make this journey, you visit during safe hours, otherwise you risk becoming marooned on the island. 5. Forvie Nature Reserve, Aberdeenshire He described the location as a "haven for wildlife," but cautioned that between April and August, visitors must "take extra care, following signs to protect breeding birds". Chris also emphasised the importance of giving seals "sufficient space" when encountering them. Forvie Nature Reserve spans nearly 1,000 hectares of sand dunes situated between the North Sea and the River Ythan estuary in Aberdeenshire. In the comments section, viewers revealed they had "never heard" of these locations previously, marvelling at their stunning beauty and expressing their desire to visit "ASAP". "I spent three weeks there and barely scratched the surface. A stunning country," one person gushed.
The Independent
23-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Inside the aristocratic palace turned art playground: Joana Vasconcelos shakes up the House of Alba
The grand salons of the Liria Palace in Madrid, home to one of Spain's most illustrious aristocratic dynasties, have been dramatically reimagined. Crystal chandeliers now cast their light over Joana Vasconcelos's monumental stilettos, assembled from gleaming stainless steel pots. A pair of stone lions, draped in delicate crochet, stand sentinel at the entrance, while a vast, pulsing heart installation glows in the palace's once-private chapel. This is Flamboyant, the latest exhibition from the Portuguese artist known for fusing the ornate with the everyday, the grandiose with the playfully subversive. Running until July, the show is an audacious clash of old and new, placing Vasconcelos's vivid, sometimes provocative works alongside the palace's renowned collection of Goya, Rubens and Velázquez. For a house so deeply entwined with Spanish history, the decision to embrace Vasconcelos's riotous contemporary aesthetic is an intriguing one. The palace, an 18th-century neoclassical landmark, has been the Madrid residence of the Dukes of Alba for generations, a dynasty whose lineage traces back to the 15th century. Its walls have borne witness to royal visits, political intrigues, and the flamboyant presence of the late Duchess of Alba, Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart, a woman whose passion for art and fearless eccentricity made her something of a legend. The exhibition's title, Vasconcelos insists, is a nod to the duchess rather than to herself. 'She was the flamboyant one,' the artist said. 'Not me.' Yet, in many ways, Flamboyant feels like an artistic manifesto, a deliberate attempt to interrogate the line between high art and pop culture, tradition and modernity. 'The Liria Palace is not a repository of history,' Vasconcelos has remarked, 'but a living space that adjusts to contemporary contexts while preserving its essence.' The idea of a 'living space' is key – this is not a museum in the conventional sense, but a functioning home, occupied by the current Duke of Alba, Carlos Fitz-James Stuart. And unlike the Almeida or the Prado, which have long engaged with contemporary artists, the Liria has remained largely untouched by the avant-garde. Until now. Among the highlights of the show is Marilyn, a towering pair of stiletto heels constructed from saucepans, a work that playfully deconstructs notions of femininity and domestic labour. In the ballroom, Carmen, a chandelier draped in black velvet and plastic flamenco earrings, distorts the aristocratic glamour of its surroundings. Outside, in the gardens, Coração Independente, a colossal wrought-iron teapot, nods to the Portuguese princess Catherine of Braganza, who famously introduced tea-drinking to the English court. These interventions, at times irreverent, at times poignant, seek not to overshadow the palace's classical grandeur but to provoke a dialogue with it. The sheer opulence of Vasconcelos's work – its baroque flourishes, its exuberant maximalism – feels at home among the Liria's Rococo ceilings and gilded furniture. But there is an edge to her playfulness. The historical weight of the palace lends Flamboyant a gravitas that might not be as evident in a conventional gallery setting. These are not just lavish objects; they are provocations, interrogating the structures of wealth, gender, and power that have shaped places like the Liria for centuries. The exhibition also coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Casa de Alba Foundation, an institution dedicated to preserving the family's artistic and historical legacy. For the Duke of Alba, Flamboyant signals an evolution, an effort to open the palace to new audiences and reframe its significance in the modern world. 'It is practically a duty to open the house to contemporary art,' he has said, 'with one of the world's leading artists.' Whether the gamble pays off remains to be seen. Vasconcelos, after all, is an artist who has been accused of spectacle for spectacle's sake, her work dismissed in some quarters as aesthetically overpowering. But at the Liria, spectacle is the point. In a palace that has always been about grandeur and performance, Flamboyant does not feel like an imposition. It feels, strangely, inevitable.
