August 10, 2005
Cerebral Venus
Extraordinarily harsh words for London's hi-rise strive: "The chief sponsor of this so-called “f***-you” planning is Livingstone himself. High buildings policy is one of the few powers he has vested in him. Early in his reign he visited New York and returned with a bad case of “Manhattan syndrome”, a belief that skyscrapers are the key to a mayor’s virility. With his office in what he himself calls “the testicle” he craved erect phalluses all round him. Developers with fad architects in tow promptly beat a path to his door."
Joining the international City Building Boom, Calcutta builds to the sky, to varied reactions: "This year, nearly 20 million sq. ft of floor space, both residential and commercial, is being built in the city, up from under five million sq. ft five years ago" -- "CMDA (Calcutta Metropolitan Development Authority) CEO P.R. Baviskar says that the population of the Calcutta metropolitan area — made up of three corporations, 38 municipalities and 22 Panchayat Samitys — is expected to balloon from 14.69 million to 21 million in two decades."
A new reality show where: "a panel of "experts", will be able to tell the rest of us which buildings you would like to see demolished. From October, Channel 4 will be running a four-part Demolition TV show" - but there is danger in demolishing hated building, hated in response to the vagaries of fashion.
The City Center of Havana - Cienfuegos - now a World Heritage Site, the first 19th Century City to be added to the list.
A tour of the new Moshe Safdie Holocaust History Museum...
Posted by jmarston at August 10, 2005 10:25 AM