Guide giveaway
Competition: Win architecture maps by Blue Crow Media
I have raved about these in the past. If you want to see what the fuss was about, you can now win architecture maps by Blue Crow Media on this very site.
Blue Crow Media is a specialist, independent map company, with its specialist subject being 20th century architecture. The maps it produces are small enough to fit into a small bag (or a particularly large pocket), offering an architectural introduction to the particular city or location.
In fact, it is more than an introduction. Once folded out to full size, you will find a traditional map on one side, marked with the selected sights, with the reverse offering images of the buildings themselves and some details on each of them. All written and selected by locals and/or experts on the city too.
If you fancy taking an architectural tour, they really are essential and affordable too. That’s not always the case with architectural literature. Oh and they also do a brutalist calendar too, should you know someone who is both a fan and difficult to buy for this Christmas.
But enough of all that, I’m talking about the maps. I have a bunch to give away, but I have split them into four groups to maximise the chances of someone winning. So the groups are:
1. Modern Berlin Map, Brutalist Paris Map, London Underground Architecture & Design Map.
2. Brutalist Sydney Map, Concrete Tokyo Map.
3. Constructivist Moscow Map, Moscow Metro Architecture & Design Map, Modernist Belgrade Map.
4. Concrete Chicago Map, Concrete New York Map.
Entering is simple. Just add a comment in the comments box below saying which is is your favourite town or city for architecture and a couple of words why. No long essays, just a couple of words is fine.
I will choose 4 winners at random, but if you have your eye on a particular set of maps, add that to the comment too. If not, I’ll presume you are happy with any. That’s it, enter away!
Terms and conditions:
Winners picked at random on closing date of Tuesday 30th October.
One entry per person.
WowHaus decision is final.
The prize is only the one listed above.
WowHaus does not take responsibility for prizes lost in the post.
Kate on 16 October, 2018 8:32 pm
I love Paris! Not purely for the Haussmann architecture (even though that period of French history was my degree specialism!) but I love the wide range of styles of architecture throughout the city and it’s banlieu
Victoria John on 16 October, 2018 8:34 pm
1 or 4 please 🙂
Fingers crossed!!
Kathryn on 16 October, 2018 8:41 pm
1, please! For me it HAS to be London: Roman ruins, Victorian redbrick Gothic, suburban streamlined Art Deco apartment blocks, concrete palaces built on bomb sites, and always something new being built.
Lisa McDonald on 16 October, 2018 8:46 pm
Edinburgh, from the towering tenements and closes of the old town to the regimented grid streets of the New Town. But most beautiful of all the Brutally brilliant University of Edinburgh George Square campus where the old and new jostle side by side and the gem in the crown Basil Spence’s Main Library. I’m proud to call it my home city.
Ruth Mulvenna on 16 October, 2018 8:48 pm
1 or 4
I love Berlin & New York. Mix of styles from different eras the contrast old & new. Hope the maps help me discover more hidden treasures.
Neil on 16 October, 2018 9:00 pm
2 please! Tokyo. It’s old fashioned and futuristic simultaneously.
Tracy Aris on 16 October, 2018 9:02 pm
Yes, please! Thank you for reminding people that Google Maps are okay for directions. But a beautifully designed map tells a story that completes a journey!! Plus you have revisit any time again and again and again 🙂
Thomas D on 16 October, 2018 9:05 pm
It’s gotta be Antwerp, Belgium, for me. Best of every era, especially Modernism. But what I love the most is their ingenious way of putting everything next to each other.
Dan on 16 October, 2018 9:09 pm
Krakow. Nazi resistant renaissance.
Kristy S on 16 October, 2018 9:10 pm
It’s got to be Berlin for me. So #1 collection! But thank-you for your post, will track these down anyway.
Avshalom on 16 October, 2018 9:15 pm
Amsterdam and Rome. Amsterdam for the wonderful seedy harbor atmosphere created by the beautiful houses and the canals and a weakness for the Japanese section of the Van Gogh museum, and Rome for the miracle of the Pantheon and the most wonderful fountains. 1 would be the best, but any of them is super cool.
Steve p on 16 October, 2018 9:24 pm
Top of my list is Tokyo, bonkers japan, followed by Chicago, and my home town London.
Each different, but hold great memories of looking up and admiring buildings and the city.
carey wood on 16 October, 2018 9:44 pm
berlin. it’s two distinct halves compliment each other in a way no other city can or does.
Kerri on 16 October, 2018 10:29 pm
Ooh can I enter for New York (and Chicago) please? Going to New York next week for my birthday and would be really glad of a decent architectural guide!
Ed on 16 October, 2018 11:23 pm
Paris!
Love the classical architecture and French apartments but also the brutalist and modern architecture in béton. Love Corbu, Haussmann. Love the mix of old and new.
Joe on 16 October, 2018 11:55 pm
I find Tokyo to be a very interesting city.
Eclectic, bold, fun.
And it has some great brutalist architecture and contemporary also.
Cynthia on 17 October, 2018 12:20 am
London!
I’ve always dreamt of going to London England just for the beautiful architecture and everytime my friend shows me photos of his area and buildings and I wish I were there.
MT on 17 October, 2018 2:11 am
I’d say Philadelphia. I love that you can be among old, historic buildings and then stumble into a courtyard of modern homes designed by I.M.Pei. or the crazy skateboard ramp facade of the Robinson Building, or brutalist Police Headquarters. Thank you for this website!
Caroline J on 17 October, 2018 7:11 am
The diversity of architectural styles and history of London is so inspiring! I have lived here for nearly 8 years and haven’t grown tired of the amazing contrasts of old and new. I’d love to win map collection #1 please!
James Marshall on 17 October, 2018 8:01 am
After a few Brutalist trips around Europe I think Skopje, the capital of The republic of Macedonia is the most interesting. Ex Soviet monsters of beauty with lots of subtle touches in parks and apaetment blocks everywhere.
Susan on 17 October, 2018 8:21 am
Bilbao! Great mix of old and new!
Jo Lewis on 17 October, 2018 8:29 am
Different cities for different reasons. London for its variety (and familiarity for me), Barcelona for fluidity and light and Paris for its apparent grandeur and bohemian surprises. Maps 1 please thank you.
Georgie Winston on 17 October, 2018 8:39 am
A map of New York City please!! This city boasts beautiful old buildings, leafy tree lined streets, hustle and bustle, energy, Central Park…. Oh to take a bite of that apple!!!
D N Atkinson on 17 October, 2018 9:41 am
Brasília, for Oscar Niemeyer’s singular 50s modernist vision of the future.
Mary Musker on 17 October, 2018 12:07 pm
Venice for me; intricate detail on buildings, beautiful colours, all thise reflections
Mik on 17 October, 2018 12:10 pm
Florence, Amsterdam, London… but weirdly I’m finding Kuwait my current favourite. We’re here on a temp job posting with a lot of ‘walking’ time. It’s a small country, ravaged by the early 90s war. To rebuild, they threw up many, many ugly buildings, dated even then. However, there’s now a steady flow of exceptional projects rising from the dust and dirt. Big name architects on billion dollar projects, it’s worth a google… Dubai it isn’t!
David Bertram on 17 October, 2018 12:12 pm
Vienna. Baroque meets Jugendstil. What more could one want?
Set 3, if I’m lucky enough.
Alessandro Bello on 17 October, 2018 12:21 pm
Tokyo, mix of old and new, otherworldly
Gary Parkinson on 17 October, 2018 12:27 pm
Being born and raised in the industrial north of England gave me a fascination for architecture and place, so every day I’m grateful that London is my home. This city has centuries of tales piled upon one another – stories in the storeys – and yet I walk down busy streets thronged with folk staring at their phones. Look up, brothers and sisters, above and beyond the shop fronts, and admire the view. It is endlessly rewarding.
Nina on 17 October, 2018 3:14 pm
I’ve been lucky enough to live in some fantastic spots but I have to highlight my home town Coventry for this one.
It has a fabulous post war planning and architecture history-really bold in its day-check it out. It’s woefully under appreciated though and I don’t visit enough!
Paul on 17 October, 2018 5:41 pm
#4 New York, it’s so compact and accessible and I love the contrast between old, New and Super Modern
R Irving on 17 October, 2018 6:28 pm
Birmingham – As Telly Savalas said – “it’s my kinda town… here’s looking at ya!”
Sean Broderick on 17 October, 2018 9:39 pm
Between CRM Glasgow and Gaudi’s Barcelona for me. Although it’s a bit of a tourist trap, Gaudi’s buildings in Barcelona are just incredible.
Sangeeta on 18 October, 2018 2:29 pm
I love the buildings and houses in New Orleans so colourful. I’d be happy with any of the maps 🙂
Karen on 18 October, 2018 7:11 pm
Never thought about a favourite city for Architecture before, but would highlight:
Edinburgh as my home city for glorious hidden contempory extensions to classic georgian buildings.
Sydney for the use of trees in and around buildings to soften and cool the city.
Barcelona for Gaudi (doesn’t need any other reason).
Actually, I could think of a reason for any city I’ve visited and some I haven’t but better stop there.
Azra Keely on 19 October, 2018 12:04 pm
I’d love to win number 4. I think New York is a truly magical place with the most iconic skyline.
Andy Sonden on 19 October, 2018 3:13 pm
I’m a big fan of Helsinki. Awesome mix of neo-baroque with some really curious Nordic Arts and Crafts.
I’m up for 1 if I win!
Arthur Shaw on 20 October, 2018 5:53 am
Liverpool. It was where I was born and brought up, what better reason?
Sonia Sanassy on 23 October, 2018 11:53 am
Hi,
I love the area round St Paul’s in the City of London, tight alleyways, tall buildings, unreal angles.
Planning a trip to Chicago so no.4. Concrete Chicago Map, Concrete New York Map would be lovely.
Thank you.
Robert Macfarlane on 24 October, 2018 11:52 am
Berlin’s architecture Rocks… Mies, Gropius, Corb, Schinkel and Berhens in the same city… That’s without even thinking about it, how good would it be with a map!
Pete I on 24 October, 2018 12:10 pm
Palm Springs: a mid-century modern mecca!!
Chris Hare on 24 October, 2018 12:31 pm
Helsinki for me! Traditional and cutting edge, all done with Scandi cool.
Irv Bartlett on 24 October, 2018 1:21 pm
My favourite city for architecture is one I’ve never visited, Detroit, Michigan. Following Jason Woods on Twitter, as well as others, I am constantly in awe of the dramatic rise and fall of Detroit’s history and the architectural stories included. I’d be happy to win any of the Blue Crow maps!
Of course reading all the other answers, everybody is also right. Architecture is endlessly fascinating.