This elaborate bronze casting identifies and celebrates a historic building in Shanghai’s Jingan neighborhood. Quite a contrast with the simple rectangular markers seen on historic structures in the US.
Historic Building Marker – Shanghai-style
Category: Blog
No Sign for Stimulus
The Ohio State Senate has passed a measure banning signs that tout federal stimulus spending. Construction signs promoting public realm improvements, and their politician sponsors, are common around the US, but apparently not in Ohio if the federal government is involved.
City Musicscape
Norwegian director, André Chocron, installed a number of cameras across a small Oslo hamlet, filming the city’s architecture throughout the night until the early dawn. The video captures residents going about their lives, turning lights on and off in their apartments. What makes this video special is the post-production editing… Read more »
Messing up Modern
Here’s a dramatic example of Mid-century Modern commercial architecture, but the current owner just doesn’t get it. Degrading the clean lines and spirited design are tacky painted-on Italianate ‘gates.’ Nothing adds old-world charm like spray-painted wrought-iron stencils.
Frame the Painting, not the Artist
Even spellcheck, had it existed back then, wouldn’t have caught this ironic typo.
Type on the Go
In this era of digital printing and dynamic messaging, the simple picket sign still manages to attract attention and deliver eye-catching content. Made from inexpensive materials, the signs can be produced quickly and scaled to fit any message. The objective is to deliver a message that will not be eclipsed… Read more »
You Figure it Out – No.4
We know about seeing-eye dogs, but can they read, too?
Sticker Shock
Graffiti is bad and deservedly gets its share of public shame, and, hopefully, legal penalties, but what about those awful stickers? The self-adhesive promotional stickers handed out at clubs, skateboard shops and music stores have become a new kind of urban blight. Ironically, the slacker kids that stick them on… Read more »
Modern Fossil?
Organic objects often leave their marks long after nature or decay has taken the originals away. We usually think of fossils as prehistoric, but the process is continuous and, if you look carefully, can be seen everywhere.
Gas Price Signs – Lose the Tenths
The price for an average tank of gas is $59.62 for the sign on the left and $59.64 for the other one. Yes, the fourteen-gallon fill-up would cost you only 2 cents more if they just dropped the 9/10s charade and simplified the price signs. Okay, who’s first? Chevron? BP?… Read more »