#SustainableCities May 2017 Guide: Keeping on the Pulse of Milan's Treasures

Curated by Katrin Kaurov

In our modern world of chaotic, fast-paced rhythms, there is one nation that still embraces il dolce far niente - the sweetness of doing nothing. Italians have mastered the art of slow lifestyle even in a business-oriented fashion and design capital, Milan. A true Milanese knows when to disconnect from the virtual, fast-paced world and embrace being fully present with all senses attuned to the moment. Whether it embodies zipping an ice-cold Spritz at an aperitivo in the bohemian district of Navigli, or an unhurried window-shopping stroll in the luxury district of via Montenapoleone, it's all about taking in the beauty of the city's cherished treasures. Running out of unique ways to wind down in Milan? Grasp the beauty of on-the-spot meaningful moments with our Culture Guide to May.

ART BOOST FOR THE SENSES — The highly anticipated “LOVE.Contemporary Art Meets Love” which travelled from Rome to Milan’s Museo della Permanente is curated by Danilo Eccher. It features 39 masterpieces dedicated to the expression of love, taking you on a deeply emotional journey. The contemporary art exhibition spotlights Andy Warhol, Tom Wesselmann and Francesco Vezzoli among others, enabling you to compare and contrast different visions of love’s fairytale.

Tracey Emin - My Forgotten Heart. 

GOOD ENERGY SPOT - Missing the edge in the elegant and sophisticated capital of Lombardy? There is an alternative East London vibe in Lambrate Design District. Situated in the hipster district nearby artists’ lofts, exhibitions and installations, East Market Milano brings together indie music, vintage designer clothes, old vinyls, multicultural street food and extravagantly dressed people. Taking place on the third Sunday of each month on 600 sq., the Brooklyn-type creative energy of the avant-garde market will leave you spiritually nourished.

East Market Milano. 

FOR RECHARGING THE TASTEBUDS - Considered as the most “instagrammable” café in Milan, Macha Café, situated just a few steps away from Corso Garibaldi, offers a Japanese-Scandinavian fusion with a twist. Everything in the menu includes green macha - the Japanese superpowder notorious for unbelievable health benefits. The healthy menu ranges from filling (and incredibly photogenic) macha-avocado burgers to sushi bowls and delicate green chia puddings topped with macha for good. Be ready for a buzzing live queue to secure a spot in the new it-place!

Macha Café

SHOP FOR A GOOD CAUSE - An exclusive shopping marathon will take place nearby Moscova from 13-16 May, with a mission to fundraise for underprivileged children. The event called ‘Profit No Profit’ Haute Couture Shopping features more than 90 high-end brands donating their current season’s collection of clothing, bags and other accessories for charity. The items will be sold at discounted prices up to 80% and all the profit will be granted to “Associazione per il Bambino Nefropatico Onlus” and “Panda Onlus.”

Via Lincoln. 

STROLL AWAY THE WEEKEND - One of Milan’s best-kept secrets is via Lincoln, just a few steps away from the business district of Porta Nuova known for its skyscrapers and futuristic buildings. The picturesque neighbourhood via Lincoln, which grew out of the idea of having a garden city with small colourful houses, resembles an extraordinary fairy tale. Take a long stroll in the tranquility of the Rainbow District with its tiny gardens full of fruit trees and flowerbeds.
 

The Wälderhaus Hotel: A Forest Sanctuary in Hamburg, Germany

We often wonder how sustainable living and slower lifestyle could be incorporated into our day-to-day lives. One approach that benefits living slow is making the most of your time — enjoying the various experiences life has to offer to the fullest. Travelling is a great example of that experience, and having a relaxing stay, without too many fancy, digital nuisances, is something we often strive for. Thanks to innovations in architecture and increasing interest in running a healthy lifestyle, some hotels have now become the epitome of sustainable design — creating a pure, holistic atmosphere for your stay. We took a glimpse into the environmental solutions at Raphael Hotel Wälderhaus in Hamburg, Germany, where modern architecture meets fully sustainable accommodation.

Words: Johanna Raudsepp

Raphael Hotel Wälderhaus, 2016. 

The extraordinary wooden façade prominently stands out in the middle of a busy city — made from mostly locally sourced certified wood, the Wälderhaus (which literally means ‘forest house’) is a modern forest delight. “Guests are fascinated by the innovative atmosphere within the hotel and how it is created,” says a Wälderhaus representative. “A nice bonus is, after a visit to the Science Center forest or an overnight stay, you can truly learn something about the connections between the city and nature. The forest house polarises, fascinates, and encourages communication and reflection.” The architecture of the building, despite standing out with the use of materials, fits in with the cityscape. 

The building meets passive house standards — it is self-sustainable and thus doesn’t damage the environment. In addition to a restaurant, which serves the guests only locally sourced food, the three-star plus standard hotel Raphael Hotel Wälderhaus, with 82 rooms, offers space for special exhibitions and conferences. Here sustainability meets modern innovation to provide the guests with a 360-degree, relaxing holiday. Sleeping between organic cotton sheets and enjoying gastronomic treats at the restaurant ensures you will depart your stay with a well-rested, worry-free mind. As a cherry on top, the Wälderhaus features a green roof, planted with 9000 bushes, 500 hornbeams and various North German tree species.

“The forest house polarises, fascinates, and encourages communication and reflection.”

A fully natural approach is surely gaining popularity. As people are becoming more aware of their impact on the environment, they hold higher standards in terms of sustainability when travelling, as well. The Wälderhaus meets the needs of a conscious traveller. “The guests want as little plastic or artificial in the room as possible, also little electrosmog or superfluous ‘energy eaters’, like minibars. The interest in health is rising, even in healthy indoor air. The architecture should be clear, straightforward, modern, but nevertheless cozy and comfortable.” 

“The interest in health is rising, even in healthy indoor air. The architecture should be clear, straightforward, modern, but nevertheless cozy and comfortable.” 

An eco-approach in the hotel world will definitely be more prevalent in the future. “The eco-concept pays off. We save about 30% energy in the forest house compared to a conventional hotel. The issue will hopefully become even more important.  We like to be pioneers and show that it is possible to [be] sustainable, comfortable and modern at the same time. The number of 100% eco-hotels will surely continue to rise.” The Raphael Hotel Wälderhaus is truly a pioneer in this field, and we cannot wait to see more of such creative, yet environmentally conscious solutions in a modern, urban setting, leaving space for a slower approach to life. 

http://www.raphaelhotelwaelderhaus.de/en

Travel Iceland, Part II: The Hills Are Alive

Words: Johanna Raudsepp

Lava landscape, sheep, waterfalls — it’s something common for an Icelander. However, I don’t think the country would hold such a significant place in my heart, if it wasn’t for its people. Their hospitality is like nothing I have ever encountered before — apparently it’s a law that if a traveller asks for water, Icelandic people are obligated to offer them some.

I got a real taste of the Icelandic spirit this summer. (And I don’t mean their herb schnapps called Brennivin — that’s a whole different story!). Since it was football season and Iceland was the underdog, the entire small town I was staying in, gathered at a local school to watch England vs Iceland on a big screen. And do believe me this time, the infamous Viking chant is even more frightening in real life than it is over the telly. HU! HU! HU!  I almost got the chills. And we won! A country so little in population, but the passion, the fire they have in them, comes straight from those volcanoes, I’m pretty convinced.

Icelanders value their time — they don’t rush. They take time to eat and their love for food resonates everywhere. Camping trips passed only with delicious homemade food and barbecue. Fish plays a big role in their cuisine. In fact, I have gone camping, fishing and hiking on the island more times than I have in total in my entire life. Despite the harsh terrain and chilly weather, the views are breathtaking. I would hike every day just to see those views. One time, I even managed to see Hekla, the volcano that is about to erupt. It hasn’t blown yet, thank heavens.

My journey in Iceland continues in the East Fjords. I had never before driven through a tunnel in the mountains, and let me tell you, it is a bit frightening even after the first kilometres. Going from the capital, Reykjavik, to the East is a day-trip on its own. I cannot stress enough how many sheep and horses they have in the countryside. And most of the country IS countryside. At the other end of that tunnel was a view straight out of a storybook. The East is magical for someone hailing from a flat land by the Baltic Sea. You wake up in the morning, the sun, having just risen above the mountain, blazing through your window.

We drove up and down the mountainsides, waited for sheep to cross the road, and enjoyed a picnic at the Easternmost inhabited fjord in Iceland. We could almost see Norway! The most memorable moment was stopping on the side of the road to see a waterfall. The sun was warm on my skin, light sea breeze in my hair, the area was so remote that it was completely devoid of traffic. I took off my shoes and ran through the field of moss to the waterfall. I could not help but sing “Sound of Music” songs in my head. A moment of bliss. Time stopped. It was just me. And the mountains. The hills were alive.

I have tried my best to put my experiences down on paper, but seems like it’s never enough to pass the experience forward. One thing I can say, though — it’s a wonderful mixture of rustic, natural culture and environment, and of modern design, exquisite restaurants and beautiful music. A great thing about the Icelandic hospitality and inclusiveness is that I was fortunate enough to experience Iceland the true, authentic, Icelandic way.  And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Travel Iceland, Part I: You're Hot and You're Cold

Words: Johanna Raudsepp

There’s something whimsical about this land. Mountains, black sand beaches, waterfalls around every corner — it looks like a picture out of a fairytale. I am utterly in love with this magical land, and here’s why.

For the most part, Iceland always makes me feel at home. The local people are so lovely, you can’t help but befriend a few. And then you go to sleep at night and realise that the sun never truly sets in July, and you feel like you’re on another planet again. Iceland is a place where fire meets ice. Literally. Because they have volcanoes hidden under massive glaciers. No, I haven’t seen a volcano yet, and I doubt I will, because let’s be honest — they’re rather scary things. But I have seen some pretty neat sights — from glacier lagoons and hotpots, to driving up and down mountain roads between fjords to reach the Easternmost settlement in the country. It is otherworldly, to say the least. 

For a first time visitor, the area around the capital, Reykjavik, is already astonishing — weird lava rock formations covered in soft moss cushioning and soil that is almost black in colour. Suddenly you get a whiff of cabbage farts. It’s disgusting (at first at least), until you know where that comes from. The aroma that makes you wiggle your nose comes from natural hot springs, The Blue Lagoon resort being the most notorious of them all. There the water is milky white and incredibly warm, putting the muscles [you didn’t even know you had] at ease. Plus, you can get a free mud mask. Elsewhere people call them hotpots — every pool has at least one hot pot, which is kind of like a hot tub… but hotter and naturally heated. I love going there, especially after a long, exhausting day. You do have to hydrate yourself properly before and after, because hot water works like a sauna, and you don’t exactly want to shrivel up like a raisin.

They have these hotpots in the nature, too — they are usually called geysers and they are scorching hot. I don’t recommend touching those, but you must have a look at least. The most famous being Geysir, after which all other geysers were named, apparently, is a must-see place. With little geysers bubbling around it, the big geyser shoots up hot water every 10-15 minutes or so. Nearby is Gullfoss, the Niagara Falls of Iceland, sitting like a staircase in the Hvita river canyon and making a lot of noise. The enormity of the waterfall is astonishing to me, because it makes me feel like a puny human. The water’s brute force is enough to swipe away rock and create a canyon. Compared to that, any human activity seems minuscule. That is something that stands out all over the island — it feels so untouched by human activity, to a point where a town of 1000 is considered a relatively big settlement. Sometimes the only signs of life you see for miles are sheep and tourists. Tourists and sheep. For miles. 

This untouched corner of the Earth offers a plethora of amazing views and activities. It is possible to see the entire island in about a week, if you wanted to. There’s something for everybody — you can take a day-tour around the Golden Circle, go on a roadtrip with your mates or do something more extreme, like ATV tours, helicopter rides, glacier hiking, or even whale watching. My most extreme encounter has been a motorboat trip on a glacier lagoon, Jökulsarlon. There’s something about fast boats and ice cold water I don’t particularly enjoy — but it was tons of fun. I even managed to see a piece of glacier breaking off with a thunderous noise, splashing into the icy water below. In such moments you forget that there is time and space, and you simply stare in awe. You stare in awe.