Blogging on Social Space

Ordinary backwater or rising of sea level?

2012-01-15T08:03:00.000-08:00

The backwaters in the North of Poland repeat recently more often than it happened before. There were floods few times last year and in the year before near Szczecin, now there is another, quite dangerous, close to Elbląg and Frombork.

Source: http://www.rp.pl/artykul/571224,791965-Strazacy-walcza-z-cofka-w-powiecie-elblaskim.html

The strong winds from the North nugde masses of water back to rivers and channels causing flooding. Now, when the sea levels are higher than they used to be before, this happens quite often. I'd risk to say that it will get on intensity with time. Few years ago, when I used to live in Elbląg beeing a child, such phenomena did not happen at all.
The obvious association comes to mind that we are observing the signs of approaching rising of sea level as an effect of climate changes. Exactly as on the map below, which I'm quoting after http://flood.firetree.net/?ll=48.3416,14.6777&z=13&m=7

Questioning Max Weber?

2011-10-22T19:27:00.000-07:00

Very inspiring interview with Bart Lootsma untitled 'Why media is essential for urban growth. Bart Lootsma on cities' for Australian ByDesign, ABC Radio National. Besides the main thread there is also the one concerning the social composition and distribution of representatives of different cultures in the city. Bart Lootsma discredits the former approaches like the one by Max Weber and Chicago school of ecology about the succession and segregation as a sort of natural state of society. He says that the mixture should be treated as a norm. I've also explored similar option though deeper consideration allows to conclude that the truth as probably usually lies in between. That is the progress, which derives from the civilisation development, which allows individuals to mix, to accept different cultures and ways of living which belong to the cultures different than theirs own. But for people who remain less open, usually less educated or just for these who prefer stay at the traditional values remaining separated still provides some values. Thus the search for natural solutions of social distribution should probably conclude with the situation of two or more concentrations of features proper for each culture and of the border zone in between, where the intercultural exchange becomes possible. Describing the whole in terms of data we may say that we refer here to continuos data rather than to the discrete set. Like in XIX century Lodz, Poland, where four different cultures were represented. Or like in the info-graphics showing the spatial distribution of races in contemporary American cities - below.

CHICAGO BOUNDARIES, Bill Rankin, 2009, source: http://www.radicalcartography.net/index.html?chicagodots

Prognosis of the future life style

2011-08-30T13:13:00.000-07:00

Politicians seem not to understand contemporary society. At least in Poland. They think that the times of mass consumption and mass media last forever. Apparently they haven’t read the book by Jose Ortega y Gasser which treats about the Revolt of the masses, and still think that the society is an easy to conduct, thoughtless set of people sitting in front of theirs TVs and admiring the talking heads. But the situation is slightly more complicated. There are many groups, of different views, of different ideas. Partly this is the result of internet technology and the possibility of choosing the alternative sources of information. But not only, the preferences of these who do not use the newest media also change in time. People decide to follow the options which fulfill theirs needs, they are no longer rabbit-like obedient creatures.

The civilisation development is not linear. There are many different groups living one next to another. Let’s look at a simple example of an attitude towards a car as a mode of transportation. Which at the same time is very important for the development of cities.
There are many who think that it is a confirmation of their social status. There are also many who still would like to use motor vehicle in their daily life - but cannot afford it and remain using public transport or just walking. But at the same time and just next to them there are representatives of another group who consciously follow the Lefebvre’s opinion that car is “un instrument de déculturation"**. Who prefer to experience the city directly, avoiding standing in huge traffic jams or who would like to live like citizens of many of European countries and just do not need this artefact of the former era.
As Sachs says there are groups who belong to different civilisations in the same country, city, the groups who live one next to another. The social structure is multidimensional. I sometimes wonder - again following the Lefebvre's considerations, whether the state of changes is not more constant than the resulting one.

All of the above listed people share the same streets, touch each other. But their life styles and life patterns are different. Similarly like theirs choices concerning every singular piece of life and politic preferences. And what follows directly: the politicians' stories concerning the achievements and promises for future.

Urban planners should prepare design for people here and now, or for people few years ahead. We cannot design society. But at the same time we should make prognosis. And we have our own opinions and preferences. We obey the prognosis of scientists concerning the following changes of climate. We try to reduce danger. Being properly prepared for effectuating our profession we try to persuade, to prove, to show, to explain. Our job requires working with people to fulfill their needs and expectations.

And they - the people responsible for the governing and implementation of our plans follow the public will. Or rather they follow theirs own convictions and imaginations concerning public preferences. Usually there is the problem that what they choose to follow are theirs own preferences. In the election campaign the plans and good choices or even a common sense are less important than ordinary PR, including the most primitive publicity methods like selling with sex. During the elections huge investments seem appear better than the real work for the community. Big things and dreams about great future look better than taking into account the needs of citizens. Usually citizens are treated as brainless creatures. I’m just curious whether the results of such stupefying activities may satisfy anybody.

**«L’automobile a tué les villes, elle a tué la vie urbaine, elle tue encore beaucoup plus que ça : c’est un instrument de déculturation, d’anti-civilisation extraordinairement efficace. C’est le type de l’objet que l’on présente comme objet de consommation durable et dont on aménage l’obsolescence de façon à ce qu’elle se détériore le plus rapidement possible. » H. Lefebvre, 1972, after http://carfree.free.fr/index.php/2011/05/27/inadaptation-a-la-bagnole/

Modraszki

2011-06-03T23:30:00.000-07:00

Recently the number of different social initiatives serving protection of natural landscapes/heritage objects/ public spaces or just greenery in Polish cities has increased significantly. Once, few years ago I tried to describe them in the framework of the mojemiasto.org.pl service although as the quantity exceeded my perception I was compelled to resign. But let me somehow come back to that threat as some of these initiatives suprise and impress with form. The aim of such thinking is obvious - to attract the attention of media and broad public and in this way to get sufficient support.

Photograph from Gazeta Wyborcza Katowice

Just after the catastrophe of Polish President aircraft there was a trend, which could be observed in numerous places to use a cross as a symbol of citizens fight. Which has also some former roots - like the activities in Nowa Huta connected with trials to erect the church there lasting since 60's - shown in film on Karol Wojtyła (2005 Karol, un uomo diventato papa). But lets leave this thread now - it's another story.

Source: http://modraszekkolektyw.blogspot.com/

Among many recent citizens movements one attracts my attention particularly - just thanks to its form. The Society for Protection of Zakrzówek, Cracow took on the form of blu butterflies and uses it everywhere they appear.

Source: http://modraszekkolektyw.blogspot.com/

Characteristic blu flies were seen during the critical mass - the everymonth passage of cyclists. Blu flies surround me on Facebook among all my friends who are connected with Cracow.

Myself - I also have a Modraszek photo.

The team of artists engaged in the protection project made the flies a piece of art. There are workshops serving manufacturing of flies, it is also possible to express one's support for the action asking for adding the flies picture to the emailed photograph (it should be sent to Mateusz Beźnic: mateusz@cafeocean.com ).

Zakrzówek is the area in Cracow, located in District VIII Dębniki. The most characteristic part of this former village includes Skałki Twardowskiego - limestone rocky hills. Former quarry had been flooded and the water basin and adjacent areas serves the citizens as the place of relaxation. It is also used by plongers as their training place (really intersting - I tried plonging there once, great experience). The meadows nearby are the location of 'modraszek' butterfly (Phengaris teleius or Polyommatus icarus) and their protection from erecting there the new housing estate and the road is the objective of the movement. 'Modraszek Collective' gathers ecologists, artists, consious citizens of Cracow- interested in protection of this natural site. This Sunday, at 5 p.m. they gather in the 'modraszek place' to show their passion towards this site. Today starting from 2 p.m. the site is going to be cleaned. If anyone wants to join them - in reality or virtually show the support - he/or she is welcome. To show you the beauty of the place and the idea of undertaken activities - a short video message.

Fragile things

2010-11-26T12:52:00.001-08:00

The title of the post is inspired by the title of Neil Gaiman's book containing short fiction stories: http://www.amazon.com/Fragile-Things-Short-Fictions-Wonders/dp/0060515236/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_3. I particularly like the one on emperor of China who build a model of his emperium as an island. Just have a look at it - there are many threads closely connected with our considerations on GIS, modelling and simulations.

"The tale is the map which is the territory. You must remember this.

There was an emperor of China almost two thousand years ago who became obssessed by the notion of mapping the land that he ruled. He had China re-created in miniature on an island which he had constructed at great expense and, incidentally, a certain amount of loss of life (for the water was deep and cold) in a lake in the imperial estates. (...)"

To conlude - I just place myself among the followers of Subhrajit Guhathakurta, the author of an important (in my opinion) paper: Urban modelling as storytelling: using simulation models as a narrative: http://eprints.ucl.ac.uk/259/ I am convinced that making a model, drawing a picture and telling a story is a part of the process of communication which has the addressee and a channel of communication. The channel as well as the form of communication must be chosen in a way which is appropriate to the given situation. etc, etc. Thus modelling is only a mean to get to the purpose not the purpose itself.

Crunchiness according to Seth Godin

2010-11-17T13:24:00.000-08:00

Let's quote Seth Godin: 'Crunchy:
The term 'crunchy granola' has been shortened to crunchy, a term used to describe people who willingly alter their lifestyle to make less of an impact on the environment. It's crunchy to give up your car for a bike, or to use mesh companies or to become vegan.
I wonder what happens if we broaden the term to describe someone who changes their lifestyle for a job or a brand or a passion? "Eric is getting really crunchy about his job at Microsoft... he even gave up his iPad." Or perhaps, "Cheryl is crunchy about Vuitton... it's all she wears."
Does success for you depend on creating crunchiness among your customers and fans?'

Complete misunderstanding of the purpose of altering the lifestyles to make less impact on the environment. Making impact on the environment becomes an extremely vaque issue. As our environment when seriously altered by human activity makes (and will make ) huge impact on our lifestyles.

For these who do not understand what I mean I would like to recommend a lecture. The one by Rem Koolhas in conversation with Homi Bhabha from the Ecological Urbanism Conference which took place last year at the Harvard University. It is also available on iTunes for the lovers of the 'other' mark.

What about the future of Europe GIS?

2010-10-26T12:16:00.000-07:00

That is just incredible. I read about progress, about INSPIRE, about Plan4All etc. Listen to talks concerning the opensource projects. Read about them - like the one by ESRI. Although there still remains the problem of DATA.

Tim Berners-Lee on the next Web from http://www.ted.com/

Two weeks ago I bought some data (for the university, just simple parcels and buildings layers) for two areas in Warsaw (capital of Poland - for these who happen to not know). The data was quite cheap as for education purposes it is not expensive. But.. It was not impossible to get it online (even paying). I had to wait few days for my data to be prepared, after go to the office, sign at least two pages and I had to get the CD (quite obselete isn't it?). As the employee who prepared the data for me made a mistake (and prepared my data in wrong file format) I felt justified not going there any more and asked to send me that via email. The clerks working there were extremely helpful so after few minutes of conversation and having taught them how to use .zip software I finally got my data.
I am just simply asking. What kind of progress are we going to achieve with such methods. And with SUCH methods as well?

Urbanism of Snails

2010-10-25T12:32:00.000-07:00

Snails have theirs huts which they carry with them wherever they move. The huts allow snails to keep warm. They are warm wherever they move. They move slowly as it is impossible to move fast with the hut, but even so they are happy in theirs huts snailing around.

Snails leave theirs huts in warm and cosy places. There where they feel protected (eg.). As they have theirs huts with them all the time they do not need much more shelter really. They do not need additional closures, like former squares and streets. They have theirs huts.

There are few paradoxes related to snails. The most dangerous is the one concerning theirs dreams. Helas they dream of being tigers or gepards and to move quickly as wind. But as it is impossible to eat an apple and to have an apple at the same time - it is just a stupid dream. They remain snails in theirs heavy huts.
The city of snails is no longer the same city as it used to be before. Snails think that they do not need the city - remaining in theirs small homes all the time. And some of them become angry or at least anxious because of that. 'That can't be - I want to get to my destination fast!' - they say (no matter that with the hut it is just impossible).
Snails are everywhere - they try to occupy all spaces which used to serve other species, like lawns, pavements and even parks /see below/.

What a beautiful autumn! Photo by Mariusz Wasilewski

What is the most funny - our snails do not realise beeing snails, still dreaming of being powerful and fast.

For illustrations I've used the inventory by students of Institut of Architecture and Town Planning of Technical University of Lodz (Andrzejczak, Czyż, Flaszka) made in 2006 and showing the frontages of Aleja Mickiewicza in Lodz. The study of snails (below) is mine.

The other study - just to cheer you up a bit - by my small daughter:

Different planning approaches

2010-02-21T14:06:00.000-08:00

I am just thinking, looking at this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvJyz2PhjX0&feature=autofb and this:http://www.spacesyntax.com/ that in planning situations I do prefer to ask the citizens than to model theirs behaviours or to trace theirs movements.

Taking into consideration that in any of the methods above people are the most important element of city scape. As Norman Foster says about the Space Syntax: “I know that these techniques work from the tough environment of practice. I love the world of analysis, observation, of research, but also passion, imprecision, the hunch. Space Syntax is the testing of the interaction of these opposing worlds.”
This is not the lack of respect towards the great scientifique apparatus. It seems that in certain situations modelling is really the best solution. Observation, especially the indepth one like the one realised by Alex "Sandy" Pentland and his colleques at MIT and Sense Networks allows to get the extremely useful knowledge on the social behaviours of humans in different situations. And it provides the evidences for many thesis which many of us presume, like the need for direct contacts to get the innovative environment. But both methods - modelling as well as observation - treat humans as an object of the research. In participation techniques people become the subject. They preserve theirs free will. There is no invigilation nor prediction. There is just life.

'Going Green' and World's Nest

2010-02-08T14:31:00.000-08:00

'More and more big businesses, consumers, and schools are Going Green these days. Helping lead the way are Robert Plarr and Michael Fulton, founder's of Angel's Nest, a research house in New Mexico that showcases the latest developments in 'sustainable living.' They are co-authors of "The Secret of Sustainability."'

What "Going Green" does mean in practise? The use of renewable energy, limiting the use of fuel, constructing and functioning in the energy-saving way.

And here we approach the meritum. E.g. - Robert Plarr and Michael Fulton, the founders of so called Angel's Nest, the research unit in New Mexico, that showcases the latest developments in 'sustainable living.'

Michael Fulton and his Angels' Nest , source: https://secure41.inmotionhosting.com/~summer5/html/home_building.html

So, everything seems just perfect isn't? I am not so sure as a matter of fact. Looking at the photos of Angel's Nest I have the huge problem to understand what does the saving of energy means if we assume the life and normal functioning in the middle of a desert. Where the location compells us to use a car as a basic transport unit. Where we must use the maximum of energy to keep our home warm (even if it is perfectly energy-saving). Probably only a wind may help us as in such circumstances (in the middle of vast empty spaces) it happens to be extremely fort. We had the occassion to check it in Poland last year, in summer, when few tornados went through the central part of the country, a video below.

I have a very strong impression that there is something wrong about this idea. And that ecologist, with all the respect towards the "Going Green" movement should be aware that the location of development is clue for energy saving and environment protection. More - I am just deeply convinced that this moment is very close when the ecologists admit the need of urban planning as one of the basic methods of nature protection. Because Going Green - understood as an environment protection and the sustainable development - does not mean living in the distant desert nor living in the distant countryside suburbs.

The Gregory Mantell Show -- Going Green - Funny blooper videos are here

The Harmony of Simple Things

2010-01-20T09:32:00.000-08:00

I've translated the story below into Polish and I am just delighted with the way of seeing and the way of looking at certain things. As Rob Forbes says - we appreciate the beauty in the city, sometimes even we make it without conscious. The public spaces of cities have preserved the originality, which does not easily become the subject of globalisation. The local combinations of textures, pavements, an arrangement of elements creating the unique patterns.. The lighting.. Once again the ouvre of Rene Dubos returns to mind - A God within. Polish translation of the title is The Praise of Diversity. It is difficult to find in the contemporary - so much unified and fashion influenced - design. Much easier is to find the diversity in the cities' public spaces, in ourselves. And this is the most precious..

Just look yourself... And my translation is ready :). It should be yet verified according to the TED procedures and in some time you will be able to see it in the official service.

The great buildings attract people

2010-01-14T14:38:00.000-08:00

Another truism but very often we do not realise its importance. The great buildings - I mean great public buildings - in the history usually the churches and cathedrals, now the buildings of culture: theatres, operas, museums. But lets look at this phenomena a little bit closer. What are the possible locations of great buildings within the city structure? Here we find very different solutions.
Usually the great buildings are connected with great public spaces. This was the case of Egyptian pyramids and the ceremonial procession road, as well as the procession road from the Ishtar Gate to the ziggurat in Babylon. In the second case theirs direct neighborhood consisted of private housing.

Similar situation took place through ages. Citing Camillo Sitte the cathedrals used to be a part of a city not a separated construction. The temple was present in the city structure through the multiple vistas, usually well thought and composed.

Cathedral, Piaza dell Duomo, Florence, Italy, source: Google Street View

The same situation took place in the Renaissance when the role of public spaces became more important and along with the discovery of the perspective the vistas became longer and created with the awareness of the peculiarities of human sight.

All the time the public edifices were surrounded by the common buildings, which formed a background, the obvious environment. The great building attracted people and the close environment profited of this phenomena as well as of the beauty . The beauty, which discovered part by part used to be much more attractive than visible in whole in the middle of a great square. A bit like a dressed body I suppose.. The commerce, the services, the living public spaces appeared. The profits for the inhabitants were obvious. (Of cause the concept discussed here is not new, e.g. J. Jacobs talked of the same things).

The invention of geometry and the role which it took in the history of urban planning since the Enlightenment seems to had been similar to the unbounded believe in the potentialities of human mind. Which as we learned after the II world war occurred to be fault. Just let’s look at the current philosophical thought like the oeuvre of Habermas and his successors. The same situation takes place in the field of urban planning. Camillo Site, cited above, started to criticise erecting the public buildings according to geometric rules already in the end of XIXth century (City Planning According to Artistic Principles ,1889) . The real come back to urban planning which respects the basic rules of situating the important building within the city structure allowing them to play their proper role had to wait yet a bit. In the meantime we had the modernism with its believe in the role of open green spaces and the inhuman scale of urban spaces, like e.g. in Brasilia, notabene with the beautiful structures by Oscar Niemeyer. But the crowd is absent..

Just let’s look at few examples of contemporary public buildings which add new values to the surrounding structure.

The Guggenheim Museum by Frank Lloyd Wright, photo source: http://www.architecturesdesign.com/

The Guggenheim Museum II by Frank Ghery, photo source: http://www.mrrena.com/2002/postmodern.shtml

The Opera a Lyon by Jean Nouvell, photo source: http://houseoftalin.blogspot.com/

The Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park in Chicago by Frank Ghery again, photo source: http://www.e-architect.co.uk/chicago/

The Akron Art Museum by Coop Himmelb(l)au, photo source: http://news.architecture.sk/

As a matter of fact in the smaller scale the similar role may be also played by more common buildings like some bigger stadiums or exposition halls. The context seems the most important, as well as the ability to inscribe the building into the surrounding structure.

Boca Juniors stadium, Buenos Aires, Argentina, photo source: http://jerzyciszewski.bblog.pl/

Urban agriculture and the shrinking cities

2010-01-10T16:39:00.000-08:00

When reading a very interesting article concerning the urban agriculture plans for Detroit, formerly the forth city of the USA, I've just thought how to evoid similar mistakes elsewhere.
Why calling this mistake, even huge mistake? Although "Alex Krieger, chairman of the department of urban planning and design at Harvard, imagines what the settled world might look like half a century from now, he sees "a checkerboard pattern" with "more densely urbanized areas, and areas preserved for various purposes such as farming." And even if " After studying the city's options at the request of civic leaders, the American Institute of Architects came to this conclusion in a recent report: "Detroit is particularly well suited to become a pioneer in urban agriculture at a commercial scale." Of course that in the current situation of Detroit the best solution has been chosen. But..

Just look at the second part of the film below:

Detroit Wildlife from florent tillon on Vimeo.
Another, also very interesting film I've found on You Tube. A bit more controversial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pz_vDOrqOOQ

When looking at the pigs, hens and horses strolling next to the former factories and offices, as well as empty housing estates of height intensity, there is nothing like thinking of the Medieval Ages, when the new life was born on the ruins of former Roman civilisation. Anyway this contrast of country and city scape combined together shocks me. It is something different then the urban gardening, presented e.g. here.

The source: Gazeta Wyborcza Biznes

The problem of shrinking cities should become subject of integrated urban planning. Like in some German towns, e.g. Hoyerswerda (above), where the blocks of housing built during the times of prosperity are demolished and the new parks are created and forest is planted. And as the prevention is always better than treatment the urban development plans should reduce the supply of new areas for development.

The former fire depot in Sienkiewicza Street, demolished, source: http://www.dlalodzi.info/ , more info on Lodz and its industrial heritage: http://www.dlalodzi.info/

The city of Lodz where I live also shrinks. It is quite similar to Detroit - the architecture is similar as well as the industrial character of the downtown. After the closure of great public textile factories the social problems have been growing and the number of inhabitants has been shrinking.

The picture showing the layout of planned zones of development in the subsequent plans, the lack of continuation is evident. The source: the materials of study of conditions and development of Lodz.

The former plans used to indicate new areas for development. Which was quite easy in Poland because of the low importance of private property, which was easy to expropriate in the times of socialism. This is quite complicated issue, and as I imagine: difficult to understand for people who have not lived here in these times.

Current study of conditions and directions for our city (which is the general urban planning document concerning the whole city, according to Polish legal regulations) which was approved by the City Council in 2002 assumed the main objective: to stop the new development. And now we see the first results, e.g. the new development in the downtown. There are continous trials to change the document. The debate between the land proprietors and the rest of inhabitants has not even started really. But this is another subject.

What is important for this and similar issues here is the obligation of the European regulations to provide the technical infrastructure: piping, etc for all the urban areas. And the costs of these undertakings stop the appetites , at least a little bit. So maybe we won't breed cows and chickens in the center..

Eden Bio

2010-01-03T10:32:00.000-08:00

One of the comments under the entry in dezeen magazin blog 's just made me laugh. The article concerns the project of 100 social housing, which are to be realized in Paris in the form of three story buildings along the main pedestrian alley. The designer is French architekt Edouard François.

Source: http://www.treehugger.com/

The comment is what a fantastically innovative way to not actually design anything. The housing of utterly simple, traditional form is very interesting because of urban design, e.g. the silhouette of interior street and thanks to landscaping solutions and first of all - the greenery design. The idea of innovative green wall's been introduced - which is explained e.g. here.

Source: http://www.treehugger.com/

These comments are symptomatic. The architecture is expected to provide the originality for every price. Utterly senseless. Especially when speaking about social housing. The architecture may be rich because of the materials used, the relations of volumes, the shaping of environment. See yourself. I just find the project great.

Below the first photographs of realisation (source: http://www.treehugger.com/ ).

I like modernism

2009-12-29T08:38:00.000-08:00

I like modernism. It is quite a strong feeling. I've always found the contemporary forms of buildings attractive and the argumentation of Loos on redundancy of ornaments in architecture convinces me as well.

Das Looshaus am Wiener Michaelerplatz: http://www.phwien.ac.at/

I like the oeuvre of Le Corbusier as well. I visited many of His buildings and I find them very convincing. The life in Unite d'Habitation at Marseille is quite agreable - regard yourself.

Pay attention please at the care towards the maintenance of building - vide way of conservation the door frames and the way to keep the floors tidy.

The early modernist housing estates are just genial place of living. Let's look at the Montwiłł - Mirecki neighbourghood in Lodz.

source: http://i204.photobucket.com/

The distibution of law blocks of flats, the inside courtyards, beauty of architecture and the approximity of greenery - all this forms great environment for living and social relations. I'm convinced as I used to live there for a couple of years. The cosiness is also supported by different width of passages and streets, distribution of services and - what important and interesting as well - fences in form of brick walls, but with the open passages.

There are many people who like modernism neighbourhoods of small scale, e.g. Teofilów or Radogoszcz West in Lodz. With many trees, facilities, playgrounds, and of small scale of constructions and spaces inbetween the blocks. Because these places are cosy and nice to live in. Even if the buildings maintenance needs some additional efforts.

Also Le Corbusier in the realised project of the town renounced of the former theorethical concepts of gigantesque towers. Chandigarh - also called a beautiful city - consists of many distinquished units of theirs own infrastructure, including schools, kindergardens, services.

The forms of constructions do not overwhelm - they may incite enchantment. Because of the detail, colours, forms, propotions, harmony. They find the admirers and are accepted.

It is difficult to accept the wrong solutions. Badly done, of materials of poor quality, not properly maintained and neglected. Overscaled. The blocks of flats produced in a mass in the factories, distibuted - as it was said then - according to the crane rout. To enable easier work of the crane. Not for people convinience. Without infrastructure, without services. Or the neighbourghood where new block where introduced to make former project denser. The conclusion comes to mind and seems evident - good things defend themselves. The only small reflection - verification lasts long and usually costs a lot.

Ideas in urban planning may occur detrimental

2009-12-27T14:44:00.000-08:00

The ideas which at the very first glimpse seem great may occur detrimental. An example of such an idea became the district Le Mirail in Toulouse erected in 60-ties XX century according to the design by George Candilis - one of the associates of Le Corbusier and successor of his ideas. At the beginning the argumentation seemed extremely attractive..

Look at the link: http://www.ina.fr/art-et-culture/architecture/video/I07110334/toulouse-le-mirail.fr.html

Traditional Place de Capitole in center of Toulouse is crowded with cars from the early afternoon. The parking place takes the whole surface of the square:

This as well as the following photos go from the film cited above which explains the design ideas and which was realized with the participation of the project author Candilis. The same as the ideas which are cited here.

That's why in the new quartier Toulouse le Mirail the car movement will be in the durable way separeted from the pedestrian movement. We do not want the squares and piazas to become taken by cars, we want them to be destined for people.

That's the reason of creation of the continouous wall of buildings which separates the two worlds - the world of people and rest and the world of cars and work:

The linear center of Toulouse Mirail is accompanied by linear drawing of formerly existing green areas.

Within the green areas there are the monuments historic which are to be preserved and reconverted to the contemporary uses.

The XIXcentury city is too dense. It should be replaced by open green areas. The inhabitants should be assured the appropriate living conditions.. The streets should be left for the sphere of work and the rest needs open green areas.

View of the whole of the project.

And the model of future constructions. Buildings in the form of block of flats of huge hight and length. Housing the appropriate number of flats - the same as in the tenement houses of the traditional city.

All these beautiful ideas and gorgeous aims were not realized. Or worse - the project had been accomplished and the effects occured different than the assumtions. The ideas of Candilis - the designer of Toulouse le Mirail were just fiction.

The film below is a series of photographs made in 2002, when the revitalisation of the quartier was decided as well as the restoration of the "scale of the city". The decision was followed by demolition of the important part of existing blocks of flats. The reasons for demolition: non-human scale, environment impossible to change and to reconvert into more humanitary one. The social problems: exclusion, crimes, sense of danger, drug-addiction, which took place in the quartier were also significant.

Bellefontaine - Etat des lieux en 2002
Załadowane przez: Architecture-urbanisme. - Obejrzyj najnowsze wideo

The quartier just before and during the demolitions :

Expropriations au lance pierre, d'un monde à l'autre. Part1
Załadowane przez: Architecture-urbanisme. - Gorące wiadomości

Very interesting film showing the interview with the designer of Le Mirail - George Candilis. He admits that the conceived scale of the housing had been too big and that he realised that after it was built: http://www.ina.fr/art-et-culture/architecture/video/I07113548/toulouse-le-mirail.fr.html

Below the demolition of one of buldings. The blocks which formed the barre dividing two worlds- as assumed at the very beginning: the world of cars and pedestrians, the world of work and rest - and which in reality became the walls of ghetto.

Démolition quartier Bellefontaine - GPV Toulouse
Załadowane przez: Architecture-urbanisme. - Obejrzyj najnowsze wideo

The ideas became fiction. But this is not the end of the story. The further actions which had to be undertaken in le Mirail to recover the quartier have been very expensive.

The reconversion project budget is 314 mln Euro and it is the highest budget for such project in France. It covers two main fields of activities: social and urban. The project aim is to reconstruct the traditional city in le Mirail. And the main issue - to liquidate the ghetto. The info goes from the GPV (Grand Projet de Ville) site.

The photo below shows "the street" which used to join two worlds. The photo is a cadr of film Expropriations au lance pierre, d'un monde à l'autre.

Was it really impossible to imagine this space, check the scale and think before the quartier had been constructed? It is difficult to judge now. That's enough to say that this experiment on human beeings.. did not succeed.

The fourth dimension of urban design

2009-12-07T15:02:00.000-08:00

It happens more and more often. Architecture, urban space becomes dynamic, looses the quality of being static. It becomes great, interactive screen like the Kunsthaus in Graz.

Or like in the design of Frank Gehry for Camerimage Center in Lodz, Poland, where a great wall - a screen is to present what happens inside.

Source: GW Łódź

Like in the project of metro station Wileńska in Warsaw - where a new quality is added to the underground space. The walls which are to be screens showing what is upstairs.

Source: Bryla.pl

I like very much the idea of Mood Light. The project realised in Amsterdam for the underground passages within modernist neighbourhoods . The movement as an element inducing light pulsation, and the pulsation of space. It increases the quality of space and influences the feeling of safety.

Source: Bryla.pl

We are not only the cause of light movement - we stop to feel opressed, helpless towards the wall of dark unpleasant concrete. Like in the children room, when mum turns light off. And a kid is left alone. Such interventions increase the quality of space and do not cost so much as the redevelopment of current constructions.

Interaction, movement as an element of urban design. There is a great difference between this appoach and the one presented by the current trend setters of automotive industry. I.e. like these presented on the Discovery Channel in the programme Future Cars.

Development of methods to utterly isolate humans from the outside space. To ensure a mini center of entertainment and communication within a car. So what do you prefer? There is a choice: THE CITY or a car?

SPRAWL - two different approaches

2009-11-18T10:20:00.000-08:00

I asked one of my Italian student (ERASMUS) participating in Urban Planning Studio classes for Architecture Engineering to prepare the presentation concerning her former project, realised earlier at her maternal university. I've been intrigued about what she talked on computer researches with GIS concerning the isochrones of pedestrian access to the services, ie. shops. Girls - there are two of them - use to study environment protection in Italy. The subject of theirs project was the possibilities to regain soil after the urban sprawl for the agricultural uses.
So how it is - we in Poland think how to protect or - which is unfortunately more common - we work hard how to develop urbanised areas. Sometimes it happens to be ridiculous. And in Italy they think exactly the contrary. The group of Polish students seemed shocked.

Don't know what to do, lets pray for wisdom..

Althought there are places where we - Poles should start to worry, ie. below:

source: www.zumi.pl

Rabbit à la Berlin

2009-11-10T13:53:00.000-08:00

Yesterday a Polish TV showed a film Rabbit à la Berlin. The description of the city torn away, its durable functioning in abnormal situation and the slow process of scaring over - all these are only one side. The most sriking is the analogy to the socialist society. All of us, who used to live during the optimum period of rabbits'development - we are all stigmatized with the "rabbit sign". Rabbits do what they are said to do: spawning, eating, fuctioning without any question about the future, tied to theirs small burrows, etc, etc. Then rabbits began to go away but this is quite another story.. New rabbits, these who are born later are completely different. They are not afraid to express theirs feelings.

For me the film is extraordinary. Below an interview with the director of Rabbits Bartek Konopka.

Among the examples of contemporary urban design which I use to show to my students there is Lenne Square in Berlin by Topotek 1. The square - as a matter of fact - just a place in a rushy street, created to preserve the memories, the genius loci and as a homage to one of the greatest landscape architects. The double line of natural stones follows the tracing of the former Berlin Wall. The place created to interrupt movement, to stop the passers-by with the use of all possible design tactics. To force the moment of contemplation and reflection.

Source: Topotek 1

A corner shop

2009-10-19T00:02:00.000-07:00

Once again I watched the Smoke by Wayn Wang. I like the film very much, especially a story on every-week photographs - always from the same place and always at the same direction - done by the main hero.

Pay attention please how important in this film is the situation of the shop at the corner of two streets. If it is somewhere else less people would visit it. And it would be less important for its clients.

Jane Jacobs in the cult book Death and Life of Great American Cities writes that a cross road is the best place for a corner shop. There are places where the movement is higher than elsewhere. And she is undoubtly right.

Lets look at the way of thinking of Ildefons Cerda - designer of Eixample, the 19th-century "extension" of Barcelona. He must have thought in the similar way - cutting of the corners and creating small squares there. Look how much movement takes place there.

A typical cross road in Barcelona - source Google StreetView.

Corners use to be places where life flourishes. The thesis has a language acknowledgement - the corner shop.

I am not quite sure why the thesis above does not always prove true. Wayn Wang could make his film in some neighbourhoods only - not just at any corner shop.

People need anchor points

2009-06-03T06:28:00.000-07:00

People need anchor points for their activities. We usually follow the activities of others. When there’s nobody buying things at a vending stand the chances that somebody stops are smaller than when there is a queue of interested customers. Usually in an empty space we prefer to stand next to an existing object than in the middle of an empty, wide area. A fountain, a landmark, a gate, a kiosk, a statue, a tree, even a lamp post – all these items may become an anchor point for people to gather in a certain place. Without such anchoring points people stop less willingly.

To fulfill the task of drawing people’s attention, an anchor point should be situated outside the main traffic flow. Our ancestors used to situate monuments in an admirable way, by neglecting the rules of geometry (especially ignoring the geometric center of a square and the laws of symmetry). Au contraire, they used to enrich the aesthetic values of architecture with the qualities of sculpture which were treated as a part of the architectural oeuvre. The object of art, situated next to, but not on the common paths of passers-by has the chance to become a landmark or a meeting point. It attracts people, encourages them to stop and have a moment of rest, to stand and stare, to talk, maybe to exchange opinions. Empty space does not generate such temptations.

Concavity

2009-03-03T14:20:00.000-08:00

"Concavity – presence of a background hill or curving street which exposes further objects to the view."

Kevin Lynch uses the notion of concavity to describe the city scape. The concavity is one of the form qualities which adds the visual scope to the view. The visual features which increase the range and penetration of vision, either actually and symbolically allow for the perception of distant landscape.

This notion adds lots of beauty to the city scape. It introduces the forms which are coherent to the nearest scape. At the same time the silhouette of buildings gets some delicacy and refinement which just naturally derives from the shape of street or from the backgrounging landscape. Just look at the picture below.

The photograph made during holidays in the south of France few years ago. When visiting one of the animateurs of APARE. One of the nicest holidays I remember. And one of the nicest villages as well...

In the Ocean of Participation

2009-02-07T22:57:00.000-08:00

Today I would like to use a quote from a report of network PARTECIPANDO which aim was to exchange so called "good practices" in the field of citizens participation in planning . This was one of networks of URBACT I programme, which second edition - URBACT II - has been called last year.

An icon at the left circulated in Rome and in the world of electronic communication in the end of 2004. It became a logo of social groups and independent media there.

"In the philosophy of basic social groups and independent mass media activists who have made it their own shared logo, it represents the contrast of arguments between the world of ‘concertation’ (where a few strong actors – sharks – swallow a host of small social, locally organized actors, but who are fragmented in their struggles) and a way of ‘participating’ which can ‘snare’ the nebula of so many basic battles in civil society and give them contractual strength in negotiating territorial choices.

In essence, it means ‘focussing’ on different forms of territorial action within the theme of ‘social dialogue’ intended as the new frontier of local politics. And then they must be compared, paying attention to plurality and creativity in the different ways that can be tried out in weighing up the different social, economical and institutional actors when taking decisions on urban government. (...)"

from www.urbact.eu

NO for Revolution!

2009-02-03T16:26:00.000-08:00

I am irritated (maximally) with the calls - which appear from time to time - to start the revolution. In the field which is close to me - that is in the field of public participation in the urban planning and in shaping of the cityscape. This stays in conflict with the idea of social participation in planning.

What, as the matter-of-fact, is citizens participation in urban planning? This is - explaining it shortest possible - cooperation. The escalation of conflict - which is in natural way present in planning - is the contradiction to participation.

The model describing social participation as a ladder, proposed by Sherry R. Arnstein in 1969 is no more actual. In the literature the paradigm to pose citizens in the opposition to the local authorities was recognized archaic in the early 80-es.

The development of net technologies as well as the development of civic society create the favourable conditions for the development of model of social participation basing on the net structure. Which can be defined as work in small groups over specific subjects. In such a model the differences between the process participants become less significant. Everybody is working together, act to complete the goal. Everybody that is: interested citizens and users of space, investors, owners, organisations acting in the given area, authorities and local administration, planners, scientists - everybody who is interested and engaged. The goal is to improve the quality of environment of everybody's life. That is all. Nothing more. There is no Revolution. There are: sustainable process and durable effects!

Paradox? About the real public space designing

2009-02-02T01:15:00.000-08:00

Along with growing area of contacts in virtual space the interest in real space for social contacts increases as well . Is there a paradox in this observation?

The emerging groups of citizens interested in improvement of theirs' environments prove the truth of the above thesis. I observe many such occurence in Poland for last two years.

The scholars' fear prophecies concerning disappearance of real public space as an effect of virtual spaces development do not come true (Castels 1999, Mitchell 2000 ). The scientists claimed that the whole of contacts will transfer to virtual zone, and the physical aspect of a city - public spaces, social spaces, team spaces - and theirs importatnce would be lost.

According to the research on development of telematics (Graham, Marvin 2001) the real and virtual space are the two mutually supplementary worlds. The mutual influence is greater that we could ever forcast.

The discussions in virtual space are practised along with real meetings to agree the principles for projects aiming to improve public spaces.

First example which comes to mind - which is an excellent example - the project of transformations of public spaces of New York streets .

Below preliminary visions of transformation of municipal streets proposed in the spring 2007.

Here the reference to final project - which included the opinions of the public - future users - presented in November last year.

This is the efficient way for realization of such projects everywhere in the world.

Source: www.streetsblog.org