It’s easy to get lost in Italy. Not a lot of straight streets, logical urban grids or intuitive addressing. The hilly topography doesn’t help either. Being disoriented a couple times a day is part of the Italian experience. Fortunately, as shown here, there is not much enforcement to prevent private… Read more »
Nearly every city sign code prohibits these freestanding folding signs, but nearly every city looks the other way when it comes to enforcement. Yes, these impromptu marketing signs can be unsightly, and yes, they often partially interrupt smooth pedestrian flow on downtown sidewalks. But show me a street with lots of… Read more »
This 9-block raised urban park in New York City has got to be one of the great public places built in the last decade. Constructed on the abandoned elevated rail platform on New York’s lower West Side, this is a linear landscaped park rich with plantings, art work and, best… Read more »
Artist Eric Staller developed a unique solution to the stuffy conference room. The ConferenceBike is a revolutionary way to bring people together. The Conference Bike is pedalled by 7 riders sitting in a circle. One person steers while the other 6 pedal (or not) as the bike moves effortlessly along. (http://conferencebike.com/)
I finally got a chance to visit the California Academy of Sciences this past Labor Day weekend. Having worked on a handful of museum projects and seeing the behind the scenes work that’s involved in putting together an exhibit, I think I’ve lost the ability to just enjoy going to the museum. I’m too… Read more »
There are many beautiful streets in Pasadena, but it is hard to beat aptly named Green Street in the late summer heat of September. Driving east from Los Robles to Hill Street under the massive near-continuous canopy of majestic fichus trees, you can actually forget that it’s 97 degrees, itchy… Read more »
Since when do we need a rocket launch-style count down to cross the street? 9-8-7 –geeze, I’ve only got six, no five seconds left to that far curb! Nothing like a little more pressure to clear the crosswalk to make way for street-owning motor vehicles. So, what happens when the… Read more »
There is a river back there somewhere, but you wouldn’t know because these nine signs block the view to Oregon’s verdant and scenic Mackenzie. Each sign probably meets a perceived need and solves specific problem, but taken together, all you get is visual clutter — a kind of posted littering. And what once was… Read more »
For many public places (parks in particular) providing clear regulatory information is key to maintaining a clean and safe environment. In developing regulatory signs, designers must walk a fine line between establishing appropriate communication and creating confusing visual clutter. Seeing a need for better solution to the sign examples shown… Read more »
Billed as Wikipedia for architecture, a newly released iphone app Open Buildings by Despark, encourages people to explore the architecture surrounding their city. It provides a database of user submitted buildings and provides a way to finally end the debate on “Who Designed That?”. You can also access the database… Read more »