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The Urbanophile

The Urbanophile

The Death and Life of Great American Cities Cybergeo : European Journal of Geography Streetsblog New York City Essential World Architecture Images- Search by style Chicago school (architecture) Chicago's architecture is famous throughout the world and one style is referred to as the Chicago School. The style is also known as Commercial style. In the history of architecture, the Chicago School was a school of architects active in Chicago at the turn of the 20th century. First Chicago School While the term "Chicago School" is widely used to describe buildings in the city during the 1880s and 1890s, this term has been disputed by scholars, in particular in reaction to Carl Condit's 1952 book The Chicago School of Architecture. Some of the distinguishing features of the Chicago School are the use of steel-frame buildings with masonry cladding (usually terra cotta), allowing large plate-glass window areas and the use of limited amounts of exterior ornament. The "Chicago window" originated in this school. The Home Insurance Building, which some regarded as the first skyscraper in the world, was built in Chicago in 1885 and was demolished in 1931.

BLDGBLOG Do You Read These Planning Magazines? I'm frequently asked for recommendations for good planning magazines. As editors of Planetizen, we come across a staggeringly impressive and diverse array of web-based content. But sometimes there is nothing quite like browsing a good magazine in your hands as you commute home on the subway. Here's my quick rundown of a variety of printed planning magazines you might consider reading. (If I've missed your favorite, please add it the comments, and mention why you like it.) GOOD Magazine Self-described as a "collaboration of people, businesses and nonprofits pushing the world forward," Good's 'live well and do good' ethos comes through in the tone and outstanding selection of articles in the magazine. Publication schedule: 4 issues per year Editor-in-Chief: Benjamin Goldhirsh, Casey Caplowe, Max Schorr and Zach Frechette, co-founders Publisher: GOOD Worldwide, LLC Website: Print circulation: 60,000 per issue Publication schedule: 4 issues per year Editor: Brian C.

Emergent Urbanism, or ‘bottom-up planning’ I was asked to write an article around ‘bottom-up planning’ by Architectural Review Australia a while ago. It was published in the last issue, and I’m re-posting here. ‘Bottom-up’ is hardly the most elegant phrase, but I suspect you know what I mean. Either way, I re-cast it in the article as ‘emergent urbanism’ which captured a little more of the non-planning approaches I was interested in (note also the blog of same name, which I didn’t know about beforehand). It partly concerns increased transparency over the urban planning process but also, and perhaps more interestingly, how citizens might be able to proactively engage in the creation of their cities. And for those of you outside Australia, there are a few subtitles required to read this. And regarding this broad idea of emergent urbanism, a particularly inspirational recent project over this way has been ‘Renew Newcastle’ (Newcastle, New South Wales that is) initiated by Marcus Westbury. Yimby = Yes In My Backyard

DIY Urbanism The current economic crisis has proven to be more than a challenge to our wallets: it has tested our faith in personal agency and our optimism in the future. But this malaise has met its match in the Bay Area, where a spirit of fierce independence has always thrived. Here the bad economy has a silver lining: it has reinvigorated and mobilized the community of do-it-yourself urbanists. A mere snapshot of this burgeoning movement, this exhibit — on view at the Urban Center from September 7–October 29 — includes a selection of these projects, organized into four categories. Together these projects reveal the ways in which small or finite efforts can blossom into larger-scale, ongoing transformations. They also signify a porous — and more productive — relationship between grassroots activists and local government. DIY: Streets Outdoor Living Rooms The second generation of furniture recreates the front stoops and sidewalk benches where historically community residents gathered. Sunday Streets

Paris est sa banlieue

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