Urban Poetry from NYC

The urban environment can provide a variety of poetic moments from sublime spaces to the complex interactions of inhabitants. New York City has added to that list by including poetry to their traffic signs (follow the link below to the read the full story from NPR).

NPR: Haiku Traffic Signs Bring Poetry to NYC Streets

Fun with Motion

This time-lapse video is by photographer Rob Whitworth.  It's a dizzying, and at times spatial-reconsidering, look at the many modes and forms and patterns of movement in booming Ho Chi Minh City.  The intended uses of a space aren't always realized in application.  Cultural norms, new technologies and plain-old time will inform our designs in new and evolving ways.  Good design will always include room for change.

Cultured Coffee with Carl

It's a good thing the guy got a Starbuck's card for his birthday because Funday presenter Carl H. is a coffee afficionado.  In fact, he likes the beverage so much that he'll travel all the way to exotic I-talian locales thousands of miles away just to enjoy it.  And, don't worry, he won't let little things like being able to pronounce those places where he had the coffee get in the way of his passion. 

As far as we can discern, these are the only pictures Carl took on his trip...

16th Street vs the Highline

This post is the content of our very first FA presentation, a powerpoint by Todd that examines urban spacemaking and how Denver's 16th Street Mall has held up over the years. For contrast, it is compared with the newly opened Highline Park in New York City. Different planning goals, program elements and physical qualities still yield similar urban experiences.