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No, you haven't had too much to drink. Nor has this building been warped with a bit of photo trickery.
The architects of this Polish shopping centre decided to do away traditional straight lines in favour of rather more mind-boggling geometry.
Krzywy Domek - which translates as 'crooked house' - was inspired by the fairytale illustrations of Jan Marcin Szancer.
Jelly geometry: The bizarre curves and warped roof of the Krzywy Domek shopping centre in the Polish town of Sopot will have had many people thinking their eyes were deceiving them
Mind-boggling: The design was inspired by the fairytale drawings of Polish illustrator Jan Marcin Szancer and the art of Per Dahlberg
Cartoon crazy: Krzywy Domek, which translates into English as 'crooked house', was constructed in 2004 and is the most photographed building in Poland
Built in the seaside town of Sopot, it was brought to life by visionary architect Szotynscy Zaleski.
He was also influenced by the art of Per Dahlberg, whose drawings can be found inside.
The building has been likened to a child's drawing that has been squashed and a cartoon fun house. Others say it looks as if it is melting.
Ever since it was finished, the Crooked House has become Poland's most photographed building.
Freaky: Szancer, who studied at Krakw's Academy of Fine Arts, illustrated around 150 fairytales before his death in 1973
Double take: People enjoying a drink outside the shopping centre, which has been likened to a child's drawing that has been squashed
Built in 2004 and measuring 4,000sqm, it now houses a drinking hole called the Wonky Pub.
Szancer, who was born in 1902, studied at Krakw's Academy of Fine Arts, then in France and Italy.
He illustrated some 150 books before his death in 1973.
The recession has spawned a new species of shopper - femalefirst.co.uk
Primal instincts are running wild on the high street as female Brits take on a new, animalistic approach to shopping.
With traits closely resembling how animals hunt their prey in the wild, new research from leading high street retailer TK Maxx, reveals the recession has bred a new species of female shoppers The Hunter-Gatheristas.
In the current economic climate, shopping is fast becoming a survival of the fittest – nearly a quarter of 18-24 year old women have confessed to secretly competing with friends as they scramble to stay ahead of the fashion pack and satiate their appetite for a bargain.
Behavioural psychologist Donna Dawson explains: “The recession has forced consumers to adapt the way they purchase in order to ‘survive’ – it’s no surprise that women have responded positively by seeing this as a hunt or a challenge; they are reverting to their primal instincts to ensure they get their prey. The research proves our brain’s reward system now focuses on searching out bargains with nearly half of us only feeling a sense of achievement once their ‘hunt’ is successful.”
The findings revealed 81 per cent of British women – the new Hunter-Gatheristas - now plan their shopping trips with military precision; preparing which shops they’ll attack in advance by trawling websites and blogs and tearing out items they want to buy from fashion magazines.
So serious are they about their mission that nearly two-thirds boast of rarely failing to secure what they set out to buy.
Whist female shoppers are becoming more selective with their purchasing - over a third only ‘hunt’ once every few months now – the High Street remains the natural habitat for The Hunter-Gatheristas and almost half take great pleasure in showing off their latest purchases to friends.
Helen Gunter at TK Maxx, comments: “In the current climate, it’s clear that shoppers are carefully planning their purchase decisions and enjoying the thrill of hunting down those unique bargains. We know the high street is highly competitive and this research tells us that today’s discerning consumers are on the hunt for good quality at great values along with the ability to find something a little bit unique that defines their own individual style.”
TK Maxx Shopper Profiles:
The ‘Hunter Gatherista’
- Plans shopping trips with military precision and detail (81 per cent )
- Bargain Hunter – craves the adrenaline and thrill of uncovering a bargain (49 per cent)
- Likes foraging for items
- Competitive – wants to come away with the best ‘loot’ and boast to friends (49 per cent)
The ‘Lone Wolf’
- Woman on a mission – nothing will get in her way when it comes to getting what she’s after (54 per cent)
- Independent – doesn’t follow the pack, creates their own style (83 per cent)
- Views shopping as a ‘secret mission’ – doesn’t invite friends to make sure she snaps up the best bargains (54 per cent)
- Often sly/unwilling to give away details of where they get their purchases from to avoid being copied (40 per cent)
The ‘Pack Hunter’
MP Norman Baker calls for double yellow line review in Newhaven town centre - Lewes Today
Mr Baker made his plea to East Sussex County Council after noticing a number of double yellow lines, some of which he believes can be removed entirely, while others could be removed on one side of the road.
John Robbins, county council project manager, said a review of parking in coastal towns was being planned but, generally, double yellow lines were only installed where necessary.
Mr Baker pointed out it was surprising how many Newhaven town centre streets had double yellow lines.
He said: “Of course, some of the double yellow lines are very important to ensure the smooth flow of traffic, but I could not help but notice that there are others that simply do not really need to be there.
“In these tough economic times, Newhaven’s small businesses deserve all the help that they can get. I believe that East Sussex County Council must undertake this review and remove unnecessary double yellow lines to ensure that all potential parking spaces can be utilised.”
But Mr Robbins said: “Double yellow lines are placed for reasons of safety, to protect access to property, or to ensure that emergency vehicles, refuse vehicles and others can get through and avoid traffic congestion.
“The current parking review, although focused principally on Lewes town, has addressed some known issues elsewhere, including in Newhaven. As a result of this, the draft Traffic Regulation Orders that were recently advertised did include a proposal to remove double yellow lines on most of one side of Meeching Road in Newhaven town centre and this will create a significant number of valuable additional parking places. If approved, these changes would come into effect towards the end of this year.
“We are planning to undertake a more comprehensive review of parking in the coastal towns and if there are more locations where people consider that double yellow lines are no longer appropriate, we will be happy to consider removing them.”
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