London, Spring 2019
Dear lovely friend,
I am happy that we found each other, it probably means we share some cool passions. This is a little introduction to myself.
I am a licensed architect and urban planner from Spain. I’ve been told my wide brown eyes open quite a lot when I talk about what I love and I can’t help smiling when I realize I am doing it again.
Architecture is not only my profession but it’s what gives meaning to my life. I am very curious about the built architecture around the world and this has led to an extensive traveling schedule. My way of understanding societies is in person. I need to touch the materials, talk with the locals and draw my impressions. I haven’t found a different way to filter the essence of these cities into my mind. Drawing, researching and experiencing the space in person makes me feel alive too.
Traveling is my biggest passion, the way I get inspired and my biggest source of education. It makes me humble, grateful and courageous. The more I see, the more I understand what has been done and what we could do to improve each corner of the world. This avid curiosity made me become a nomad.
I am on a mission to map the world’s architecture and change the way we perceive cities. I believe that if we are all involved in the matter, we will be able to create the cities of the future in the most responsible and effective way. Traveling is the means to fulfilling this mission.
My architecture guides are a way of sharing the places I find within my travels — my humble way to leave the world a bit better by giving more exposure and credit to the good architecture that shapes the world. What is certain is that we can’t continue building like we do, the world needs a change. The starting point? Understanding our built legacy.
I can’t envision a life without doing what I do and I hope you join my mission too.
- Subscribe to this blog.
- Get your copy of my Architectour Guide.
Love,
Virginia
For all press, advertising, collaborations and any general inquiries, please contact:
hello@architectourguide.com
Virginia, what a terrific blog! I love your site layout, vivid photos and memorable stories. Keep it up!
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Thanks Kevin! Loved your blog too, can’t wait to read all your travelling stories 🙂
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Hola Virgina,
Te escribimos de una empresa inmobiliaria de alto standing en Madrid.
Hemos visto una foto tuya que nos gustaría utilizar en nuestro perfil en Facebook para un post promocionado. No sabemos si la foto es tuya propia o si te la ha cedido su autor.
¿Podrías ponerte en contacto conmigo porfavor? para poder así comentarte de qué foto se trata..
eduardo.noya@engelvoelkers.com
Un saludo y gracias,
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Your blog is quite inspirational – amazing adventures and accomplishments! Congrats on being an architect, it must be so rewarding seeing your work in a tangible form.
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Thanks for your kind words Emily! Looking forward to all the upcoming projects 🙂
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Hi. How can I contact you through Email?
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Hello Alex, shoot me an email to virginia.duran89@gmail.com
Thanks 🙂
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your blog is so informative and inspirational 🙂
u have an amazing writing skill!!
i am so excited to follow 😀
http://www.stylepeaks.com
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Hello Mony, thanks for your kind words 🙂
Looking forward to more of your posts too!
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Hi Virginia! I loved your recent post about the best places to take skyline pictures in London. I was there back in 2002 and I wish I had visited the places you talked about. Do you make it there regularly?
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Hello there,
Thanks so much for your kind words. The good thing is that you can always return to London and experience these sites 😀
I go from time to time to London because my sister lives there, I’m lucky 😉
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Hola Virginia, te sigo desde hace mucho tiempo, quisiera conocerte personalmente y conversar sobre lo que esta haciendo. No encuentro tu correo, no se si estas en Madrid ahora mismo, yo estoy en Madrid. Os sigo por instagram, mi usuario es velascoche, sígueme por allí para escribirte por mensaje directo e intercambiar nuestros datos de contacto.
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Hola Ernesto, escríbeme un email a virginia.duran89@gmail.com. No estoy en Madrid justo ahora, pero vuelvo en 1 semana por si tu también estuvieras.
Un saludo,
Virginia
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If quotes excite you, I have some challenge for you: https://4yearoldadult.wordpress.com/2015/12/03/3-days-3-quotes-challenge-day-3/
Looking forward to your response. 🙂
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I stumbled upon your blog recently, and am extremely glad that I did! It is really good to read all your blogs on the cities of the world. You bring in a very different perspective – I am going to use your guides to take a deeper look at the cities which I plan to visit in the future. Thank you for your inspiration and keep up the stellar job!
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Hello! Thanks so much for your kind words, they made my day 🙂
I love traveling and getting to know diverse cultures, that’s why I make these guides, to better understand the locals in their context of each city. If you find any mistakes or outdated information please let me know. Any cities you’re planning to visit soon?
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Virginiaa im a student from Thailand I love your blog and Im on travelling solo backpack in Europe and i did all of Your place in Lisbon and it’s reallyyy cooll Thx q so much for such this perfect website and gorgeous … Colour design everythingg 🙂
Ps . I would like to write my own blog but I dont know how to start .. If You have any recommendation or any website can i write my blog for beginner😅😆😆
Thank you to you Virginiaa You are my Idol
Mint
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Hello friend! How did you like Lisbon? Are you still backpacking around Europe? Thanks for your encouraging words, they made my day 🙂
Start with WordPress, so easy and free. Choose a topic you love and just start blogging 😀
Lots of love, Virginia
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Yesss now im still backpack in europe and i did in Madrid also follow your route hahah you are such a cool
Girlll everrr Virginiaa I loveee youu ☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️ I wish if we can meet somewhere around the world and if you come to bangkok, Thailand please let me know i will b glad to show you aroynd too
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Congratulations, Virginia!
I have nominated your blog for the Sunshine Blogger Award.
More about this nomination is at
https://dearkitty1.wordpress.com/2016/09/24/sunshine-blogger-award-thanks-cosmic-explorer/
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Hello Virginia! My name is Etienne and I am a graphic designer based in Vancouver BC Canada. I would like to ask you a question re: one of the images you have used on your “10 sites to take the best skyline pictures in San Francisco” post. I have tried to find an email address but was not able to. Would it be possible to reach out when you can? Many thanks and have a great day! E.
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Hi Etienne, drop me a line anytime at hello@architectourguide.com
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What a great blog you have, good work. I wish I had your creative ability.
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Hello Virginia! I really enjoy your blog, and I think your guides are sooo useful! I wrote you a little email asking for a little travelling advise!
Thanks!
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Thanks for your kind words! Hope you find my email useful. Let me know other questions you have 🙂
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Virginia,
If and when you ever make it to the Bay Area, please let me know. We have a cool new office in Oakland with an amazing view and terrific projects underway.
Douglas_wittnebel@gensler.com
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Hi Doug, it sounds very cool. Definitely next time I am in the Bat Area I’d give you a ring. Thank you.
ps. hope you like the PDF Architectour sample
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This is amazingly helpful. I am just planning my few days stay in NY and BOS and using your maps to create mines. Keep up doing, very good job. Really appreciate this.
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Thanks for your kind words Marcin! I love doing these maps and sharing my favorite spots with the world is the least I could do to give more exposure to the good architecture there is in the world.
Let me know how you find Boston and New York 😉
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Ok. Sure I would.
Doing maps is very important. Especially in Japan, where the buildings are very hard to find and identify. I plan to do few mines after my visit to Japan. I think people should share, and let the other experience the architecture in person. It is really a pity if you were there and just missed a great building next block or behind the corner… I hope you know what I mean.
Since last one and half year I have travelled quite a lot, and – as being interested in architecture – I did a lot of photographs. If you are interested visit my photo-bog on https://fabrzezicki.wordpress.com/
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Completely agree with you. That’s why I starter this Kickstarter project, I don’t know if you had a chance to see it https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/architectour/architectour-the-ultimate-guide-for-the-urban-expl/
Great blog 😉
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Being quite experienced urban explorer I totally agree with you about the virtual maps (as you see, I used yours a lot), but do not agree with the idea of printed paper guide. I just think it is obsolete. I have used those printed guides a lot. They usually end up quite heavy and unwieldy. After walking 10-12 miles a day a weight is something that becomes really the issue. Maybe some people would benefit from this form of a guide/sketchbook, but I would always prefer to use the phone. It’s lighter and tells you your current position. Anyway, good luck with you project.
I really like your sketches.
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o-m-g – that pic takes my breath away – you are so brave! 🙂
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I can’t believe I did that! It was quite a dangerous experience that I don’t think I’ll repeat 🙈
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Hi Virginia! Happy to have found your blog! I love the layout, the style the content…everything! I’ve read some of your posts and I can’t wait to read more! Looking forward to following you 🙂
Lisa | http://www.fromdreamtoplan.net/
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Hi Lisa, so happy to connect too. It’s always nice to meet fellow travelers 🙂
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My pleasure! Yes, for me as well
! 🙂
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hola desde Toulouse(Tolosa), Francia! glad to have come across your blog, tons of inspiration and good luck in all your present(and future!) endeavours… con amistad y hasta lproxima, guapa! 🙂
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Hi Melanie 🙂
Thanks for your good wishes. You need to tell me how come you speak Spanish too?
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Hi Virginia! Happy to have found your blog! I like your blog and your style. În altă ordine de idei, sunteți un minunat peregrin prin lume cu pasiunea călătoriilor dar și o misiune certă (de cartografiere și percepții noi, inovatoare), îmi place. Un salut cald și toate cele bune !
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Hi Georgeta! Thanks for your beautiful words, my sister, who lives in Bucharest, helped me translate it 🙂 Warm greetings from London!
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Hola Virginia ! te acabo de descubrir- Quisiera saber si hay una versión de tu blog en Español, ya que si bien yo hablo Inglés, quisiera recomendarlo a personas que no lo hablan. Saludos desde Córdoba, Argentina
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Hola Liliana, un gusto saludarte. Desgraciadamente escribo todo en inglés pero es verdad que es muy visual y a veces no hace falta entender todo. Te mando un abrazo desde Londres 🙂
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Helle,
I saw your nice photography of the arches in Sihlcity in Zürich and I wonder where you take it?
I am an architecture photographer as well and I wanted to go see it.
Regards
Serge
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Hi Serge,
It’s quite a secret location but I’ll share it with you. It’s the parking space at Sihlcity.
Hope this helps,
Virginia
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Thank you
I will go next time that i will be in zurich and i will show you the picture.
Serge
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Hello there,
I am a Thai architect. I have just read your article “Bangkok City Guide: 23 Places to See in Thailand’s Capital” on website ArchDaily; which I found some information wrong. I presume that you may have been confused with other projects or got it wrong from your source.
The project, Tree House Bangkok, was not designed by Duangrit Bunnag. The architects of this project are Mr.Nuntapong Yindeekhun and Mr.Bunphot Wasukree, who are my school friends. It will be nice for you to doublecheck my info with the local magazine Baan Lae Suan or with the original owner.
I hope you will find my comment here and fix the credit of the project.
Sincerely,
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Hi,
Thank you kindly for letting me know about a mistake. I’ll correct it tonight and will let ArchDaily know too so they can fix it on their website as well. Thanks for taking the time to read the article and send me this feedback. Please if you find any other mistakes, let me know.
Best, Virginia
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Thank you very much. I ll let them know that things will be sort out nicely. 🙂
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I fixed this information on my article and notified ArchDaily too. Since they’re a big digital medium, you should expect the problem to be fixed within a couple of days. Again, many thanks for letting me know 🙂
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Hi well I have architects in the family in USA! Yes have four passports lol!! Saludos
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Oh wow! Lucky you 😉
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Well it helps sometimes …
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