Goldfish in Union Square

In a follow-up to the post a few days ago about privatization of Union Square, NYC. Here it is about 100 years ago, found among copyright free photos, the same place I found this photo. Shows newspaper boys climbing into a drained fountain.

 

Enzo's Back

Enzo's re-opens tomorrow!

BTW... blogging is sparse here because of house-guests kicking me off my computer. Better stuff next week.

Reds Game

Not a big fan here. First time I made it into the new stadium. Saw 4 innings, which in the blazing heat was more than enough. I did like that they let the kids run around the bases after the game. Is that common?

 

Public Housing Done Right

Article in the Financial Times (link requires free registration to view):

... a design-savvy blueprint for 21st century low-cost living - or, put more simply, cheap, durable, beautiful homes.

...the program has produced prototypes .... There's also a pattern book, compiled by a core team of architects, that any company can download for inspiration.

...has focused on how social problems can be solved - or at least, eased - through architecture.

...any house that looks or feels like a low-cost afterthought will be treated that way by its residents.

...they decided to use neo-classical columns made from wood instead of cheap industrial siding.

"It was to the absolute horror of the maintenance crews of the housing authority," he chuckles. "But it turned out that they havee been carefully maintained by the residents because they have become objects of pride, a touch that makes the area feel like 'a regular neighbourhood'."

Opting for wood is a crucial upgrade for architects keen to avoid a low-cost look. "The institutional approach to affordable housing is to use indestructible materials, whether concrete blocks or metal, which means the interiors tend to be prison-like. It sends a message to the residents that they can't be trusted with their homes," ...

A Pattern Book for Neighborly Houses