Velonotte (G)hosts: Charles Darwin and Giant Hogweed

Darwin and Giant Hogweed as drawn by Dorfmeister for Velonotte 2013

As a deeply religious man, Charles Darwin has set out to prove that every human descended from Adam - that is, all people of all races and countries had the same origin. Whilst traveling and experimenting, Darwin completely changed everyone's perception of the world we live in, proving that man is basically an animal. Still, his favorite species were worms: Darwin deeply admired the way their bodies were in complete accord with their lifestyle. London Velonotte will drive through Gower Street, where Darwin lived in what he dubbed "Macaw Cottage" - a house with an outlandishly bright and colorful interior, a Pre-Rafaelite painting in 3D. His neighbors were artists and intellectuals who defined Victorian London. Why the Giant Hogweed is featured in our picture, you ask? This deadly plant was also discovered in Victorian times, and, just like Velonotte, was imported from Russia. 

To join London Velonotte 2013 please visit www.velonotte.com

London Velonotte (G)hosts: Sir Joseph Paxton

A genius gardener who created the Crystal Palace in Hyde Park for the World Exposition of 1851, the conceptual peak of Victorian times, exploding the size of a simple orangerie to a scale of an Egyptian pyramid! Paxton effectively gave birth to an ultramodern idea of architecture and space. The Crystal Palace is a bunch of ideas, really, each one of them more durable than the times that Paxton lived in. First, ecology: while building the Palace, Paxton conserved ancient trees of Hyde Park. Second, the status of glass and iron: glass can be prestigious. And third, numbers: positively shocking. The amount of visitors, the grandesse of orchestras and choirs. The Palace, unfortunately, is not with us anymore: first, it was moved from its original location in Hyde Park to Sydenham, then it was lost in the fire in 1936. But, thanks to Serpentine Gallery, we have the next best thing: Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto has built a temporary pavilion that recreates the experience of the Crystal Palace for the 21^st Century. The spirit of construction is visible there.

London Velonotte aka L'Albertina (G)host №1. By Dorfmeister

To join London Velonotte 22-23 June, please visit www.velonotte.com