Tuschinski cinema, Art Deco theatre with a tragic past.

Re-watching Rogier van der Heide's video (from my last post here) got me wondering if his talk took place in the beautiful Tuschinski theatre in Amsterdam, which is now a Pathe' cinema. He references the "opera hall" during his presentation and they even show an image of the chandelier in the main hall where he is speaking. I don't think it is the Tuschinski theatre, but I thought this was a good opportunity to introduce readers to this amazing Art Deco theatre with a tragic past.

On a trip to Amsterdam in July, I had the opportunity to go see Brad Pitt's latest film World War Z (not one of Brad's best films, I must say) at the Tuschinski theatre. I love Art Deco and Art Nouveau styles and had been dying to see this theatre in person for some time! Photos don't do it justice, but I will post a few that I found online to give an idea of the incredible detail and design that went into the construction of this place. The owner and mastermind behind the design was a Jewish man from Poland named Abraham Tuschinski. He immigrated to Rotterdam in the early 20th Century and built his cinema empire in Rotterdam and Amsterdam. Sadly, he and his entire family were killed during the Holocaust and the cinema was confiscated. I couldn't help but think about Mr. Tuschinski (and the architects he directed in realizing his dream design) as I walked through the cinema, taking in all the detailed lighting fixtures. I hope he can rest peacefully knowing his masterpiece still lives on in all its glory. The details are intricate and amazing, and they are EVERYWHERE. Just thinking about the craftsmanship that went into creating each piece is mind-boggling.You almost get dizzy taking it all in. Unfortunately the lighting is great for experiencing the theatre, but not for taking photos. Mine just didn't do it justice, so I have posted some photos I found online (with credits given). Below is a view of the entire facade.

and here's some detail of the outside lights

Both photos above taken from http://www.parool.nl

To see amazing photos of Tuschinski’s amazing Art Deco interiors and lights by Roloff de Jeu go to his Flickr photostream here.

The ceiling art and walls decorations all seem to be melting down to the floor. (photo taken from Top 50 Must-See Spots in Amsterdam Part 2)

But its the incredible chandeliers, sconces and light fixtures that do it for me! Pic taken from Highrise.

Both pics above taken from Amsterflammetjes blog on the theatre.

To see more just do a Google search. Or better yet, go see it in person for yourself!

For my first post, I want to bring attention to a very inspiring TED talk by lighting architect Rogier van de Heide. Lighting is something we take for granted in every day life. It allows us to see, can set the mood and ambiance of a room and draws attention and significance to things that might go otherwise unseen. This video is very informative and gives a profound perception on the importance of not only light, but darkness as well. It is also filled with some beautiful photos of amazing interior spaces by some of the great designers! Till next time, Enjoy!

Why Light Needs Darkness

Why a blog about lighting?

"Space and light and order. Those are the things that men need just as much as they need bread or a place to sleep." - Le Corbusier  

I have been thinking a long while about blogging...but what to blog about? What do I have to say that will add to the endless information found in the online blogosphere? I decided to write about something I love, that way I will be more inspired to blog often and make frequent updates. I have always loved lighting, all kinds of lighting, for the ambiance it creates and the importance it has in our daily lives. In my daily searches for new and interesting architectural and interior designs, I am always drawn to the lights. So, I guess it became obvious that a lighting blog will be inspiring and fun. A quick Google search proved the subject hasn't already been exhausted and widely covered or commented on. So, here we go! I hope you like my upcoming comments, posts and observations. I may even throw in a few pics of some lights I have made during my interior design studies or attempted to make. So, stay tuned for those! Depending on your comments, I may regret this decision later...but I guess its all about learning to love criticism, right? Mostly I will discuss interior lighting ideas and products I love or simply beautiful lights that inspire me and make me yearn for a bigger bank account!