Cheryl Marie Cordeiro

Sweden’s Coastal Frontier: Where Seafood, Science, and Sustainability Meet

Posted on August 1, 2025August 1, 2025 by cheryl

It’s a warm July afternoon. Low clouds drift lazily over the archipelago. Beneath them, the granite cliffs of Smögen rise from the sea, a sculpted memory in pink-grey that is sea-worn, and timeless. The town’s wooden boathouses, painted in reds and mellow yellows, lean against each other in an uneven row, anchored by the bustling boardwalk, parts of which snake along the harbor.

It’s here, outside a popular seafood restaurant called Göstas Fiskekrog, that a steel-hulled yacht appears to have sailed out of another chapter entirely.

Continue reading “Sweden’s Coastal Frontier: Where Seafood, Science, and Sustainability Meet” →

Cradle-to-Cradle Skylines: How Circular Economy Thinking Is Shaping Modern Amsterdam

Posted on July 20, 2025 by cheryl

1 | Circular Economy as a New Design Brief – and How Europe Measures Up

Across Europe, the concept of a circular economy (CE) is gaining momentum as cities strive to reduce environmental impact and build more resilient systems. Unlike the traditional “take-make-dispose” model, the CE framework reimagines artifacts, products, buildings, and processes as part of a continuous loop, where resources are reused, repurposed, or regenerated.

A 2022 Europe-wide study introduced the ASCÉ framework to assess how robust these CE systems really are [1]. While many European countries score well on political commitment and citizen engagement, the study found a lack of structural embedding: fragmented governance, inconsistent data systems, and limited institutional coordination often hold back real progress.

In this context, architecture plays a pivotal role in accelerating the circular transition. The built environment is responsible for roughly 40% of global carbon emissions and over one-third of total waste generation, making it both a critical challenge and a powerful entry point for CE implementation [2,3].

Continue reading “Cradle-to-Cradle Skylines: How Circular Economy Thinking Is Shaping Modern Amsterdam” →

Refractions of Modernity: A Visit to the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam

Posted on July 16, 2025 by cheryl

This past week I visited the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, a space where the 20th and 21st centuries collide in forms that are sometimes luminous, sometimes reverent, often dissonant, and occasionally maddeningly ambiguous. It’s not a museum that asks for your agreement. But it does demand your attention.

A Walk Through Time and Form

The Stedelijk is known for its impressive collection of modern and contemporary art and design. That reputation becomes immediately clear, not through spectacle, but through a thoughtful, often intimate curation. The collection moves fluidly between movements: De Stijl, Bauhaus, Abstract Expressionism, Minimalism, and into the chaotic openness of contemporary installation and conceptual art. Continue reading “Refractions of Modernity: A Visit to the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam” →

Hidden Café Gem in Zhujiajiao: Shuyue Tower 舒阅楼 – Best Café of 2024

Posted on June 29, 2025 by cheryl

I was last in Shanghai in 2014. Back then, Zhujiajiao, Shanghai’s historic water village, was already one of the city’s most visited destinations. It had the feeling of a lively maze, with cobbled alleys and canals animated by local life. I remember browsing street stalls that sold everything from skewered meats to handcrafted silver trinkets. Wooden boats glided slowly through narrow waterways, giving visitors a sense of the town’s centuries-old rhythm. Even then, Zhujiajiao felt like a place evolving, slowly navigating the space between heritage and modern tourism.

More than a decade later, Zhujiajiao has transformed. Its historical architecture remains beautifully intact: stone bridges arch gracefully over the canals, while Ming and Qing-style shophouses still feature the latticework windows I’ve always loved. But the atmosphere feels more curated now. There’s a calm elegance to the way the town carries itself. The rhythm reminded me, curiously, of modern-day Chinatown in Singapore that was orderly, connected, and rooted in tradition but polished by contemporary touch.

Continue reading “Hidden Café Gem in Zhujiajiao: Shuyue Tower 舒阅楼 – Best Café of 2024” →

Aboard the Götheborg III: 75 Years of Sweden–China Friendship

Posted on May 11, 2025May 11, 2025 by cheryl

Sweden and China at 75: A Legacy of Dialogue and Trade Aboard the Götheborg III

On May 9, 2025, history met the present aboard the Götheborg III, as dignitaries, guests, and officials gathered to commemorate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Sweden and China. Hosted by the Chinese Consulate General in Gothenburg, the celebration honored a milestone of peaceful engagement and forward-looking cooperation between two nations bound by both legacy and ambition.

The Significance of the Götheborg III

The Götheborg III is far more than a historic replica. It is a fully functioning reconstruction of the 18th-century Swedish East Indiaman that sailed to China as part of the country’s early trade network. The original ship returned from China in 1745 but tragically sank just outside the Gothenburg harbour. Her modern twin now sails as a floating tribute to centuries of cultural exchange and cooperation, linking Sweden and China across time. Continue reading “Aboard the Götheborg III: 75 Years of Sweden–China Friendship” →

Fifty Shades of Beige at Easter

Posted on April 20, 2025 by cheryl

Roast leg of lamb, served in its liquor.

He likes his roast lamb seasoned with purpose. His approach is what you’d call classic: garlic pressed into little incisions, rosemary tucked in like tucked-in shirts, lemon zest, and a generous hand with black pepper. He’s methodical about it—like a man entrusted with something ancestral. The kind of preparation that smells like a cookbook come to life.

My own preference is… simpler. Salt. Maybe more salt. Good meat. Oven. Done. Continue reading “Fifty Shades of Beige at Easter” →

Reflections from the Forbidden City: The 2005 Swedish Exhibition of Chinese Porcelain

Posted on April 14, 2025April 14, 2025 by cheryl

Standing with Jan-Erik Nilsson and Professor Geng Baoshang. Meeting with Professor Geng Baoshang—well known for his profound writings and scholarship on Chinese Imperial porcelain—was one of the high points of the opening ceremony, though it took place outside of the official program.

Throwback to 2005: A Day at the Forbidden City

When I began writing this blog in 2007, I had no idea how much of it would become a space for archiving quiet moments from projects, events, and travels. One memory that surfaces often is from September 2005, when I had the opportunity to attend and contribute to the Swedish Exhibition of Chinese Porcelain at the Palace Museum in Beijing. It was my first time in Beijing, and my first time visiting The Forbidden City.

The exhibition was held in the Wumen Hall, directly above the Meridian Gate of the Forbidden City—a space once reserved for imperial edicts and ceremonial events. It remains one of the most remarkable venues I’ve ever stepped into – the vastness of its architecture was breathtaking.

Continue reading “Reflections from the Forbidden City: The 2005 Swedish Exhibition of Chinese Porcelain” →

The Aquarium of Life: Systems Thinking and the Architecture of Quiet Support

Posted on March 31, 2025March 31, 2025 by cheryl

Coral reef ecosystem at Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge.
Photo credit: Jim Maragos / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

In a conversation with Steven Bartlett on The Diary of a CEO (aired August 29, 2024), neuroscientist Andrew Huberman revisits one of his earliest fascinations: aquaria. From childhood, he immersed himself in the study of tropical fish and coral reef ecosystems — enclosed microcosms of life that pulsed with interdependence, fragility, and pattern.

Over time, what began as a child’s biological curiosity matured into a worldview — one that understands society, emotion, and healing through the lens of systems. To see life as an aquarium — or a coral reef — is to acknowledge that what holds things together is often unseen. Coral ecosystems do not privilege visibility; they rely on relationships, flows, and functions. Tiny filtering organisms maintain balance. Root-like structures anchor the entire reef. Each component has significance — not in isolation, but in relation to others. Continue reading “The Aquarium of Life: Systems Thinking and the Architecture of Quiet Support” →

A Valentine’s 50th Anniversary at Dorsia 2025

Posted on February 16, 2025 by cheryl

Few places in Gothenburg capture the romance of a bygone era quite like Dorsia Hotel & Restaurant. Tucked in the heart of the city, this boutique hotel is a tribute to Belle Époque indulgence, with lush velvet furnishings, heavy silken drapes, and a rich color palette reminiscent of Parisian salons in Les Années Folles. It’s a setting where time slows down, making it the perfect place to mark a personal milestone—both a 50th anniversary and Valentine’s Day.

A Sensory Feast

Breakfast at Dorsia is more than a meal—it’s an experience. The buffet is thoughtfully arranged, offering a curated selection of delicacies rather than an overwhelming spread. Every plate is styled with the same meticulous attention to detail as the décor, ensuring that presentation is as much a part of the indulgence as taste.

The selection includes freshly baked croissants, artisanal cheeses, delicate seafood, and house-made jams. During semla season, miniature versions of the classic Swedish pastry make an appearance, each cardamom-infused bun filled with whipped cream and almond marzipan.

For those looking to indulge beyond the familiar Nordic breakfast staples, two elegant pastries stand out—Sweden’s beloved Prinsesstårta, reimagined in miniature form, and the French Opéra cake, a masterpiece of layered decadence. Each carries a rich history and a distinct expression of European confectionery tradition.

Coffee lovers will find expertly brewed selections, while tea drinkers receive individual pots of loose-leaf tea. In the spirit of indulgence, I opted for a cappuccino, a tea, and finally, a café latte—a fitting way to celebrate a milestone morning.

Continue reading “A Valentine’s 50th Anniversary at Dorsia 2025” →

Exploring Kozani: A Hidden Gem in Northern Greece

Posted on February 3, 2025 by cheryl

Exploring Kozani: A Hidden Gem in Northern Greece

Kozani, a city nestled in the rugged landscapes of Western Macedonia, offers visitors a unique blend of history, natural beauty, and a quiet charm that contrasts with the bustling energy of Thessaloniki, just two and a half hours away by car. While tourists rarely venture into this part of Greece, those who do are rewarded with stunning mountain views, rich cultural traditions, and a deep commitment to environmental sustainability.

A City of Contrasts: Tradition Meets Innovation

Kozani is best known for its energy production, saffron cultivation, and traditional Macedonian culture. The city is built at an altitude of 720 meters, surrounded by the Vermio, Pieria, and Vourinos mountain ranges, and lies near Lake Polyphytos, which is crossed by the impressive High Bridge of Servia.

Continue reading “Exploring Kozani: A Hidden Gem in Northern Greece” →