Learning from New York – The Tenement Building

New York City marks the last of the three major cities in which I have lived thus far. This is home to perhaps the richest and most complex history of housing I have yet explored. Manhattan alone is home to a vast array of housing types and lifestyle options. The Tenement building symbolizes the way housing developed from early immigrant times through the adaptive reuse of many of these historic structures today.

A typical Tenement facade

The island of Manhattan has represented a roller coaster of real estate development since immigrants first started flocking to this land through the present day. The relatively small footprint of this land in comparison with the overwhelming density of people wanting to live on this prime real estate has created, throughout history, a dynamic of skyrocketing price points and plunging quality of spaces.

One of the earliest examples of this phenomenon is the Tenement Building. This architectural style first began appearing in the 1850’s – long before housing standards or enforcement procedures were established in the United States. These buildings evolved as a result of landlords making efforts to maximize their rents by increasing the density of their properties – often at the sake of human comfort and sanity. In an effort to accommodate the maximum number of people in the smallest amount of space, many necessities of healthy living became obsolete. These buildings sprang up in areas of the lower east side of Manhattan and were occupied by a tidal surge of working and lower class immigrant families, arriving in America in search of a better life.

The Tenement Building can be loosely defined as a structure of five stories, built on a plot measuring twenty-five by one hundred feet in area. Often as much as ninety percent of this plot was occupied with built structure, leaving little space for outdoor comfort, air circulation, or lighting. Often, only rooms facing the street offered windows, and back lots became filled with waste and debris. At the earliest inception of these structures, there were no regulations in place to require plumbing, electric, or fire prevention or escape, and as a result the earliest tenants of these buildings often went without all of these seemingly essential components of design.

A typical 'dumbbell - shaped' Tenement floor plan

Many hazards were associated with these designs, the dominating factor being fire hazard, but also including disease and health issues. As it became increasingly apparent that these living conditions were unsuitable for human society, regulations began to pass, laws were put in place, and eventually a regulatory system was established to improve conditions in Manhattan and throughout the United States. The culmination of these movements became the Tenement Act of 1901 – the first governance of its kind. This sent minimum size requirement, required indoor bathrooms and plumbing, and most importantly established the Tenement Housing Department to enforce these mandates.

This history of housing in New York City is as rich and storied as any aspect of America’s largest urban metropolis. It is a city that draws flocks of new residents each year, and must continually adapt to meet the needs of this ever-expanding population. As the urban structure of New York grows and expands, it adapts to a society that is increasingly aware of healthy living standards. Manhattan continues to set standards for density of living, and thanks to acts and reinforcements like the Tenement Act of 1901, is able to do so in positive and adaptive ways.

Book Release: The L!brary Book

The Architectural League held a panel discussion tonight focusing on key players in the L!ibrary Initiative Project. To quickly summarize, this movement began in New York City in 2000 with lofty goals of retrofitting every public school in the five Burroughs with not just a space for books, but a dynamic and interactive containment of learning and imagination. Since that time, the initiative has worked in three phases to make its way though over fifty city schools, creating attractive and thought-provoking spaces in each through an interdisciplinary collaboration of the highest degree. This initiate has become the largest public-private endeavor in history, with the Robin Hood Foundation (a private organization) teaming with city agencies, architects, and builders to create not just individual libraries, but a motion of excitement and a passion for learning opportunities for entire communities.

I can merely gloss over the achievements and accolades surrounding this large of project with a single blog post. Rather, I hope to be able to capture the excitement and enthusiasm for public change that I witnessed tonight and pass it along to others. When one contemplates the physical form of a library, it is easy to neglect the deeper symbolism behind such a space. As the panelists pointed out this evening, it is often easy for a library to become a place to store books - a place one goes to get something....perhaps the equivalent of a grocery store. However, the library can, and must, be much more than a place to access and store information. A primary objective of 'The L!ibrary Initiative' became to create spaces that encouraged creation and exchange. A variety of factors contribute to this over-arching goal, which the opening speaker and author of The L!brary Book, Annoradha Iyer Siddiqi, did an excellent job of outlining.

Throughout the process of 'reinventing the library' these steps were followed:

1. Redefine Mission:

How can a new library better serve its intended community?

2. Rebuild:

Renowned architects were recruited (all working probono!) to create truly engaging designs. Spaces were carved out of existing building structures, often combining two or three classrooms in a centralized location. This gave the new library a prominent and influential position in the building and ensured that each school was dedicated to this new space.

3. Replenish:

Many generous contributions were made, and new books and technological equipment was provided. This step encompassed a mission to combine technological advancements with a traditional library structure to aid in the creation of an advanced age of education.

4. Retrain:

A library space cannot fully come to life without a trained an knowledgeable librarian to guide its process. As the library evolves, it becomes not just a static resource, but a dynamic space. For this reason, excellent classroom teachers were chosen to achieve Masters of Library Science degrees in order to better foster this new environment.

5. Reasses:

Much talk was given to quantifying the success of such a project. Perhaps my favorite point of the evening was that this initiative is impossible to quantify. For we are not striving merely to increase test scores and graduation percentages, but to create a quality of education and physical space that will foster growth and a sense of achievement within a community. It is too early in such an endeavor to truly judge the success of this mission, but as the founder and executive director of The Robin Hood Foundation pointed out - the hundreds of people and millions of dollars dedicated and poured into this initiative are not doing so to receive gratification or witness quantifiable results to know that it is a worthy mission. Rather, all of these individuals and organizations are dedicated to this mission because they know it is the right thing to do.

This was probably one of the best panel discussions I have attended, and that number is quite high. I was impressed with each individual's ability to portray their role and point of view, while feeding off one another to delve into aspects of the initiative in detail. It was a discussion orbiting around a collective passion for this project and for the mission of establishing in every child's life the opportunity to learn and create. In a way, this panel symbolized the overall mission of The L!ibrary Initiate, for it is when we are able to work together to initiate ideas and discuss problems that we are able to produce great work and benefit society as a whole.

The L!ibrary Book

I was so impassioned by the lively discussion this evening that I immediately purchased The L!ibrary Book by Annoradha Iyer Siddiqi. As a young architect who practically lives in front of an ephemeral computer screen, this commitment speaks for itself! I encourage you all to look into this informative read as well.

Learning for New Olreans - Shotgun Style Homes

This post continues my urban tour of housing trends and influences in America. I bring you the New Orleans Shotgun home.

a typical Shotgun facade

The indigenous New Orleans housing model, the shotgun house, reigned during the period following the Civil War through the 1920’s. A true ‘shotgun’ home consists of a single story structure featuring three to five rooms in a row with no hallways. These homes are usually no more than twelve feet wide. It is these features that inspired the ‘shotgun’ title, due to one’s ability to fire a shotgun from the front door of the home, strait through and out the back door without interferences.

The shotgun home has a rich and complex history, including many variations upon this theme as well as modern advancements to this simplistic design idea. However, it is this basic design and layout from which modern societies can continue to draw inspiration. There are many practical necessities that drove the creation of the shotgun form. These solutions to circumstantial problems actually prove to be excellent sustainability initiatives.

For instance, shotgun models are long and narrow to meet the needs of a population largely without personal transportation vehicles or modern air conditioning. By utilizing narrow lots of no more than thirty feet wide, more people are able to live closer together, thereby reducing reliance on individual transportation and increasing one’s ability to utilize already established public routes. In turn, but reducing the width of each structure, one is able to create increased natural cross-ventilation. A structure consisting of narrow, continuous spaces can be easily ventilated in a hot and humid climate. In addition, kitchens were commonly found at the rear of the house in order to contain heat generated by cooking to a singular area. These seemingly simple concepts are often lost to modern society’s technological means.

a typical Shotgun floor plan

The shotgun housing model fell out of favor during the 20^th century, often seen as a symbol of a lower or working class populations. As society modernized, so did its housing forms. However, the shotgun home remains a symbol of a simple time, a New Orleans tradition, and many modern variations on this theme have been developed in recent years. Regardless of what the future of housing may bring, we must hold on to these early forms of successful habitation as proof and inspiration that our obstacles can be overcome and sustainable living can be achieved through relatively modest means.

Learning from Chicago – The Bungalow

Inspired by a new writing assignment and in honor of the places I have lived thus far in my life's journey, I am beginning a loose 'research project' into the evolution of housing in major urban centers throughout the United States. I begin with my hometown - Chicago - and delve into the origins, influences, and future development of the Chicago-style Bungalow.

a typical Chicago city block

There is a reason that most large urban populations over time develop a distinct housing style. When a singular housing style is established, it can in turn be easily reproduced for lower costs and at faster speeds. Materials become easier to obtain in large quantities and builders become more efficient and adept at repetitive tasks. In addition, a consistent form of housing enables an entire class of society to achieve the ‘American Dream’ in a simple and standardized way. This concept is readily apparent in the Chicago-style bungalow.

The bungalow first appeared in India, where it was built for British subjects. From this point, the squat, rectangular style was popularized in California and, from 1910 to 1940, swept across Chicago’s landscape. These forms became so popular that a ‘Bungalow Belt’ soon formed and one-third of single family homes in the city were built in conformance with the traditional bungalow style. These homes were composed of standardized fixtures and became the first symbol of affordable single-family living for the middle class.

a typical Bungalow floor plan

In many ways, the Chicago Style Bungalow serves as an embodiment of Midwestern values. They were built for a rapidly growing population of families flocking to a city booming with manufacturing and industry professions during the first half of the twentieth century. Key characteristics of a Chicago Bungalow are sturdy brick construction, a roofline perpendicular to the street, one or one and one half stories, detailed windows and stone work, and sheltered entries and porches to protect from harsh Chicago weather conditions. These structures developed as a segment of the Arts and Crafts movement in America, emphasizing craftsmanship and a strong connection to nature.

These are ideas and qualities that are still held in high regard in Chicago and the Midwestern Region as a whole. It is now evident the simple ideas that drove the creation of the Chicago Style bungalow are characteristics that will remain prominent in working class families as our cities grow and progress into the twenty first century.

A Tale of Two Parks

Central Park

New York City is home to two of our nation's most impressively and intricately designed public parks, the famous Central Park in Manhattan and the lesser-known Prospect Park in Brooklyn.

These two parks, both designed and executed during the mid-19th Century mark the advent of the fundamental idea that urban structures must contain public parks, equally accessible to all inhabitants. This concept, one often taken for granted in modern societies, formed as a result of a collaboration between Frederick Law Olmsted and architect Calvert Vaux. These two highly skilled men teamed to enter a competition to design first Central Park, later Prospect Park, and eventually a great selection of public spaces throughout the United States. In doing so, these men created the concept of landscape architecture and, in effect, established the first landscape architecture firm.

Prospect Park

It would take a great deal of time to familiarize oneself with detailed layout and characteristic qualities of either park. Central Park covers an area of 840 acres, while Prospect Park spans a mere 585. However, from preliminary observation, it becomes quickly apparent that the two parks share many defining qualities and similar ideas. A key component of each design is the ability of topographical changes to create unique experiences and allow visitors to create individual paths of travel. The varying levels of terrain and trails mimics architectural forms in its ability to layer space in such a way as to create an entirely new form altogether. This concept is embodied by the elegant bridges strategically placed throughout both parks.

As one studies these structural pieces, the similarities are enough to tie each design back to its creator, as Vaux was largely responsible for these elements. Yet, each bridge mark a singular instance, grown out of its surroundings rather than standing in contrast. Each bridge is able to work harmoniously with both the natural elements that it serves to connect as well as create a unifying structural feature spanning the distance of over 1000 acres of public land and two burroughs of New York City.

Central Park

Prospect Park

Characters in an Urban Society

This is one time I do not feel guilty shamelessly plugging another website's entry. This deals directly with the current exhibit at SUPERFRONT, a contemporary architecture collaborative located in Brooklyn, New York, of which I have recently become involved.

SUPERFRONT Gallery - Jimenez Lai

Jimenez's drawings accomplish the remarkable task of compiling perhaps the most complex issues surrounding urban structures and architectural language and streamlining his own thoughts on these matters into coherent trails of visual communication. As one progresses through this series of drawings, an attachment develops not only with the human characters featured, but also with the built structures beginning to form. A thought that resonates with me in the above video is when Jimenez refers to 'architecture as characters'. I believe it important as an architect and designer to acknowledge the fact that buildings are not passive structures, placed in the background of our everyday urban lives, but rather active players in an ever-changing scene. The push and pull of urban topographical advancement plays a vital role in public interaction. In contemplating the future of society as a whole, one must take into account the decay, resurrection, and creation of built form. For as the world's population tips toward a dominant modern city culture, we all become integral characters in the tale of urban evolution.

New Yorleans State of Mind

When contemplating the true essence of a city and its inhabitants, I cannot name two places more fundamentally opposed than New Orleans and New York City. Which is why I was so very excited to participate in one of New Orleans oldest rites of passage right here in my new home, a second line parade. To give a very brief history of this event, a second line forms for many occasions: births, deaths, holidays, celebrations, mournings, or just a sunny afternoon. It is an impromptu parade in the truest sense of the word, for the only people actually part of the 'parade' are the select few initiating the event, always including members of a brass band. The rest of said parade are merely people the revelers pick up along the way and form a 'second line' of paraders, in other words people strolling along behind the band and in effect forming a second line of marchers.

This type of event symbolizes a selection of New Orleanian values: music, comradery, and relaxation. Participating in such an event across the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City highlighted a true clash of cultures. At its climax, the parade probably reached about two hundred people. Understandably, this large of a group, along with a few tubas, dominated the path of travel in both directions. Of course, this made New Yorkers not involved with the event more than a little frustrated. New York is a culture built around a fast pace of life, a driven energy, and the desire to get from point A to B in the fastest possible way. As bicyclists and runners encountered this second line parade, many became frustrated and turned around, a few got angry and forced their way through the slow moving crowd, but an even greater number were captured by the light-hearted sense of togetherness the parade emitted. Bikers dismounted their rides, joggers slowed to a stroll, and together we crossed the bridge in true New Orleans style.

The second line was lead across the bridge by the ever energetic DancingMan504... a Treme resident. Check out his website for a more informative history of the second line and some videos of his sweet moves.

and he dances on long into the afternoon...

Admiral's Row

In his novel, The World Without Us, Alan Weisman contemplates nature's ability to reclaim the earth when and if an opportunity arises. If humans are to neglect a constant upkeep and development of built form, nature's power is quick to manifest itself and revert back to a landscape previous to architectural form.

At the time I read these ideas, the concepts seemed surreal and intangible to a committed city-girl. In my mind, the massive structures of concrete and steel I surround myself with day after day serve as fortresses against nature's commanding, yet subtle presence in this city.

Then I discovered Admiral's Row, a stretch of Second Empire style homes once occupied by naval officers at the Brooklyn Naval Yard. The property is now owned by the Army Corps of Engineers, although the original Navy yard was closed in the mid-1960's and all homes were abandoned by the mid-1970's. Some of the houses date back to the civil war, and much debate has been waged over whether or not the properties could qualify for inclusion on the National Registry of Historic Places. I've now found mixed accounts regarding the future of this property. Many call for the preservation of these historic structures, making strong cases for adaptive reuse and restoration. Others fight for the razing of the entire property in order to make room for a new supermarket and commercial center.

I'm sure you can all guess which option I would support, so rather than entangle this entry in the decades of debate regarding this land, I encourage you to read a selection from the New York Times documenting the potential demolition of the homes as well as The Municipal Art Society's plea for preservation. These sites link to a wealth of research and facts and highlight two options for the future of this space.

However, what truly fascinates me is what is happening on the land at this very moment. I refer back to Weisman's ideas and contemplate a world without human influence. The following photos speak for themselves as proof that nature truly does have the ultimate power in a constant struggle to sustain. One has to wonder what would happen if the landscape is left to reign in this environment. The evident dichotomy present in these photos highlights a struggle between order and chaos, a disconnect between man and nature. Observing this scene is at once serene and disturbing; perhaps it is this duality that creates a true beauty in an absence of place. Enjoy.

Photographs of a Neighborhood

Sometimes, the simplest things can really make you smile.

Discovered on Lincoln Avenue, hanging above the subway tracks.

BUILDING in THE FUTURE: Recasting Labor in Architecture (Book Release)

Last night, I attended the book launch of, BUILDING in THE FUTURE: Recasting Labor in Architecture. The speakers/contributers were: Peggy Deamer (theorist), Phillip G. Bernstein (technologist), Christ Noble (legalist), and Scott Marble (architect). These four seemingly wildly disparate individuals have come together to produce a cohesive and in-depth analysis of our profession today, and a prediction of where it will go in the future.

Each spoke of their viewpoint and contribution to the work, which, as Peggy summarized deals with:

1. The work we do as architects, not the products we make.

2. New technologies, but with the viewpoint that while these do support change, they are not the driving force behind such changes.

3. Our profession cannot invoke change while examining work in silos of productivity, but rather we must examine together across fields of discipline.

4. A theoretical examination need not be an abandonment of critical work, but rather a catalyst for the progression of such work.

I have highlighted a universal subject prominent in Phillip's talk below:

As you can see, Phillip discussed an idea I seem to keep running into: the popular notion of the moment that Integrated Product Delivery will be the future of building, the future of our profession. The above diagram represents the ambiguity now present between designers and constructors. Each holds a specific role, yet somewhere in between intention and execution, the linkage breaks down. Phillip raised the question, what causes this rift? Is this a question of power, productivity, or profit? A combination of the three? Ultimately, what causes this gulf of separation is the dichotomy between risk and reward. The issue now on the table: how do we break down this boundary we have spent years working to establish?

Ironically (or perhaps not), this talk raised many of the same questions the same topic did back in Chicago. For example:

Q: Is IPD synonymous with BIM technologies?

Panel answer: No, of course not. However, by the time IPD is truly a universal practice, two dimensional representations of built work will be a thing of the past.

Q: What would stop contractors from taking 'cartoon sketches' of ideas from architects and creating their own BIM models? In other words, won't this devalue the need for an architect even further?

(Somewhat nerve wracking) Panel answer: The progression of our field is up to us as architects. Contractors have already started doing just that, making it imperative that we embrace these technologies and use them to our benefit.

This brought up an excellent thought from the evening: the transition from pen to computer drafting was evolutionary, yet the transition we now face from computer drafting to Building Information Modeling will be revolutionary. This is no small feat, but rather a dynamic shift in the way our future will be designed and built.

Q: How will this help us to make more money/get sued less?

Panel answer: It is a bad habit to look to contractual documents to solve our problems. These problems need to be solved with design and with collaboration instead. They went into great detail siting personal examples of previous work, you will have to read the book for more details.

Q: How will this serve the end user? How will someone untrained in complex model software be able to use this work for building maintenance in the future?

(Radical) Panel answer: In the future, end users will simply be able to point their IPhone, IPad, I(whatever apple comes up with next) at a portion of their completed building and access Building Information Modeling information. For a very prosaic example, a light needs to be replaced - interject IPhone magic - instructions: buy X light and obtain ladder.

I simply cannot do justice to the work of these incredible individuals in a single blog post. Instead in conclusion, I commend the four speakers for a cohesive and thought provoking evening, and encourage you to read their newly released work:

I leave you with this thought, which I believe Phillip stated as the presentation concluded: 'It takes a recession for the building industry to be truly reflective and begin to make changes'.

This thought, I think, can leave us all with hope for what lies ahead for the profession and for our built communities.

Broken Angel

One of my favorite qualities of New York City life is the ability to wander aimlessly around nearly any neighborhood in this vast metropolis and somehow stumble upon architectural treasures. I found this gem on a lovely Sunday afternoon stroll to a friend's abode.

Of course, after stumbling upon this enchanted castle-esque structure. I had to uncover the history behind such a building. This turned out to be almost as fascinating as observing the structure itself.

The building is located in the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn, at the intersection of Quincy and Downing to be exact. For those of you who are unaware, this building served as the backdrop for the documentary film 'Dave Chappelle's Block Party' in 2006.

How did this house come into existence? Through a twenty-seven year commitment of labor by two artists, Aurthur Wood and his wife Cynthia. Together, they purchased the property in 1971 for an astounding $2,000 (as this neighborhood gentrifies, the lot has since skyrocketed in value). Aurthur is a self-taught artist, contractor, and architect. He dedicated the next twenty-seven years of his life to creating his ideal home. In a truly sustainable spirit, Aurthur and Cynthia reused items to create the structure, bottles, pipes, anything they could get their hands on was used to create an artistic oasis.

In this home, they cultivated a spirit of creation and experimentation. Many of the 'rooms' were exposed to natural elements. I read that they kept a jar full of water in their kitchen and when the water froze, they sent their son to stay warm with friends. Many of the 'stories' were simply half-formed slabs, precariously suspended from walls and ceilings. The Woods lived peacefully in their sanctuary until a fire in 2006 finally gave the Department of Buildings just cause to inspect the property. I don't know the details of what they found inside, but the building was vehemently disapproved for habitation, a risk to human life. What followed has become a battle of epic proportions between artist and developer, those who want to preserve and those who want to create a unified, condo driven street scape.

Of course, I am in support of such eccentricity and a strong proponent of preservation, if merely for the building's ability to invoke critical thought. A film was created by Margot Niederland and filmed at the Sundance Film Festival in 1991. She is quoted in an LA Times article as referring to Wood as "a crazy New York Gaudi". While this sentiment may draw a question mark for many architectural historians, there is something special at 4 Downing Street in Clinton Hill. Just last month, Cynthia Wood passed away after a long battle with cancer, the community has left this homage to her memory. I hope that the community can also find a way to create a lasting, and functional memory from this fascinating dedication to the built form.

I will leave you with this thought, from Aurthur Wood himself. It was said that Aurthur questioned whether people should live in the bottom of a cube of space. Rather, he questioned why people can't exist diagonally in this cube. Despite the apparent legal 'unsafe and unlivable' conditions that this sentiment provoked in the Broken Angel, the question bears cause for thoughtful contemplation and critical architectural thought.

A Vegetable Grows Here

A very important petition is underway. The citizens of New York are taking action, and working to show Mayor Michael Bloomberg that an organic vegetable garden in front of City Hall would not only improve the health and wellbeing of New York's urban population, but would also set a precedent for cities around the world.

The petition reads:

To Mayor Michael Bloomberg:

We, the undersigned people of New York City,

respectfully request that a vegetable garden

be planted in front of City Hall.

This garden will represent New Yorkers' commitment to

education, public service, healthy eating, and

environmental stewardship. This garden will be tended by

NYC public school students, in collaboration with the

NYC Department of Parks & Recreation and our region's

talented gardeners and farmers. The harvest will be

donated to a nearby food pantry to feed the hungry.

This garden will represent the vision of a more sustainable,

livable City for all New Yorkers, and will contribute

to achieving the intents of PLANYC by 2030.

As New Yorkers look to the first lady for inspiration, we are showing that we are ready to take the next steps in making New York a more sustainable, healthy city.

A post in New York Time's Diner's Journal highlights key points advocating for the garden and its beneficial elements. Please read and also sign the petition to make New York City a greener place: http://peoplesgardennyc.org/petition/

I look forward to updating on the progress of this petition and the garden that will soon grow in front of New York's City Hall.

Urban Density vs. Natural Landscape

A driving passion behind my architectural studies has always been the dichotomy between urbanity and the natural world. Can the two worlds exist together? Can an intensity of both concepts exist to support and even enhance the other? I have struggled with this concept for years, basing much of my thesis research around this harmonic notion.

The idea is a simple one in theory, yet it is so rarely found in American society. Usable open space often becomes overlooked and taken for granted in the suburbs and lusted after in dense urban settings.

So the battle becomes one of lifestyle choices. Does one forgo one luxury to achieve the other? Families flock to the suburbs to provide their children with safe outdoor areas, while giving up access to other areas of the city and the ability to travel anywhere without a car. Others value urban connectivity to the extent that they are willing to give up an abundance and freedom of outdoor space to stay connected to their urban roots and culture.

Ironically, my new home is located in an extremely accessible area of Brooklyn. My subway station is only one block away and I travel can from Lower East Side music venues to my bed in less than 45 minutes, I timed myself last night. I live in a six story building, yet can see Prospect Park from my writing desk! That's right, I have the delicate balance of dense urbanism and natural environments at my fingertips. So, this begins a series of posts dedicated to my continued study of the relationships fostered between inhabitants of this dense neighborhood and the sprawling natural environment to which we all enjoy access. How does it affect the lives of those who live nearby? How does it influence neighborhood connectivity and interaction? I intend to dedicate a portion of the following year finding out!

In addition, to show off how lovely this urban oasis is, I will update photos of the Park throughout the seasons. As you all know, we all got hit with a blizzard this week, thus follows the Park in all of its winter glory.

Even Apollo loves his access to nature!

Crossing into the Park.

Excelsior!

Excelsior:

The New York State Motto.

The title of a poem written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

A bar near my new home.

So marks a change in location and a new direction for this blog.
As I transition into a new life as a New Yorker, I carry the Latin translation of this word with me, and am reminded, 'ever upward'!

I leave you with the opening stanza to Longfellow's poem:

The shades of night were falling fast,

As through an Alpine village passed

A youth, who bore, 'mid snow and ice,

A banner with the strange device,

Excelsior!

I have recently uncovered my dormant passion for photography and discovered that scanning previous work into a digital format allows me to quickly and easily manipulate images digitally. Thus, enhancing and experimenting with what would have taken me hours and hours of dark room time to achieve. Of course, this is no ground-breaking discovery and does not replace the creativity that a true dark room inspires, but provides a way to archive delicate creations and experiment free of constraint.

It also allows me to post my work here and relive the creation of each image. I first created the above image as part of a series pertaining to duality. This was during a time shortly after Hurricane Katrina when a majority of my work centered around a comparison and contrast between my hometown of Chicago, to which I fled, and my adopted hometown of New Orleans. The above photograph symbolizes my struggle to merge the two places in my mind. As my heart and thoughts centered around the impending danger present in New Orleans, I was grateful for the comfort and familiarity I found in Chicago, but anxious and ready to return to New Orleans. Combining images from each place into photographic compositions helped me to understand the pull I felt from the two very different places.

City Views

UNStudio Pavilion

At long last, my account of the Burnham Pavilions constructed in Millennium Park this summer to commemorate the Centennial of Burnham's Chicago plan. I will keep this brief because quite honestly, I distinctly remember feeling underwhelmed upon my first viewing of the installments. Perhaps it is because I was so excited to observe the two projects, perhaps it is because I so want to hold Zaha atop an architectural pedestal and fall in love with everything she creates, or perhaps it is because the two pavilions appear so sleek and refined in photographs, but I held quite high expectations for my foray down to Millennium Park to finally see the projects in person.

In keeping with my expectations, I did snag a few intriguing photographs and enjoyed meandering among the spaces created by the unique forms. Yet, something about the presentation was unsettling to me. Both studios chose to work with pure white forms, which in theory would create a wonderful backdrop to the Chicago skyline and allow for a great play of color in the evening. However, in the reality of a harsh urban climate, the forms just came off as dirty and unkempt in the light of day. I had envisioned Zaha's pavilion to take on an ephemeral and light quality when I first saw it in photographs, but (and it pains me greatly to admit this) the form and materials looked rather cheep upon closer inspection. My last, and most upsetting, complaint addresses the lack of contextual expression present in the piece. Zaha's pavilion, aside from vaguely resembling the shape of the now iconic bean sculpture, really speaks nothing of Chicago to me. My mind simply does not connect the curvaceous stretched fabric and pliable form to a city built upon a rigid grid and unwavering working class values.

The UNStudio pavilion did entice me as an interactive urban structure. The stark planes interplayed beautifully with the sinuous support pieces, drawing visitors like the young boy above and myself to amble through the space, looking both at the structure itself and to the buildings beyond. In many ways, the UNStudio was able to integrate elegantly into the Chicago skyline. In the shot above, I admire the way the structure drew my eye through an elegant portal and into the city beyond. At the same time, I do note that despite the abundant number of noteworthy highrises visable from Millennium Park, this was really the only view I was able to capture through the sculpture's portals. Perhaps UNStudio meant to make a statement by choosing to highlight the newly completed Trump Tower. Is this the future of Chicago's historically innovative and vibrant architectural creations? Only time will tell.

Zaha Hadid Pavilion

Adaptive reuse....Uncovering hidden gems....Reinvigorating the past

No matter how you put it, this school is seriously cool.
Powerhouse High School, located in the North Lawndale neighborhood of Chicago's near Southwest side is a renovated component of what was once the powerhouse behind the mega company of Sears Roebuck and Company, literally.

When this looming structure was first inhabited at the turn of the 20th century, it served to provide electricity and heat to what was once the headquarters of the Sears franchise......including the original Sears Tower, long before Willis ever came along.



When Sears did move its headquarters to its now central Loop location, the building and much of the surrounding area lay vacant and decaying for decades. Then, someone (the government) came along and began evaluating the buildings one by one, as a way to determine how to renovate the buildings.

The Powerhouse, it was determined, would best serve the surrounding community as a high school. Thus began the long and arduous process of restoration. And so it happened that a building once used to process tons and tons of coal became a teaching tool of sustainability and growth to a new generation.

Top three design features of the new space:

1. The great hall, common space....once full of giant coal powered machines....



now where students gather before, after and between classes. Notice the original Tiffany tiles still adorning the walls, some things never go out of style.

2. The incorporation of original ductwork into classroom design....learning by observing.



3. Fire escapes, green roofs, geothermal energy....the most elegant threesome I've ever seen.



4. Ok, I lied, there were four 'top designs' ....but these teacher's work stations made from old tunnels are too cozy and intriguing to pass up.



My favorite aspect of this fascinating new/old learning environment? They are predicting it will achieve a LEED platinum rating for Existing Buildings, while also preserving what is now a National Historic Landmark building. In my opinion, this project highlights adaptive reuse of urban structures at it's absolute best.

This website has more great information and resources pertaining to the history and future of this great historic landmark: http://www.homansquarepowerhouse.com/

Thailand

I have been back from Thailand for nearly a month now and have not written a single word about the trip....why do I call myself a blogger? I blame my negligence on a number of factors, the first being the amount of time needed to mentally process such a world-wind trip to an incredibly fascinating foreign culture. The second factor came into play immediately upon return, the combination of extreme jet-lag with a terrible cold with a seemingly endless list of people wanting to hear about how the trip had gone. I became dismayed at what soon developed into an automatic and calculated response to questions about my voyage. In short, the conversations soon morphed into, yes the flights were long, yes the trip was short, absolutely I want to go back....as soon as possible, which of course will never be soon enough.

However, now that a significant amount of time has passed, I've amassed a wonderful collection of colorful photos, and the questions have subsided, I have finally been able to take a step back and really reflect on my short time traveling this summer. I've come to realize, though, that Thailand is one of those places that can never really be summed up in text (or photographs or video for that matter). Rather it truly is a place one must experience to understand and grasp.

I spent time in both Bangkok, a booming Asian hub, and Chiang Mai, a quieter, slower, Northern mountain town. I found that these two cities could not have been more different, while at the same time sharing all of the quintessentially Thai traits, customs, and nessesities. Rather than delve into any specific details or experiences at this time, I will leave you with a few impressions of these towns and the culture shock that is Thailand.

Let's start with Bangkok....a booming representation of the dichotomy between old and new. An intruiging mixture of old world customs and innovative modern technology. An intersection of poverty and high-class. A clash of a dense, fast-paced lifestyle and a heavily congested sea of pollution. A seemingly non-stop stimulation of senses. One of my favorite recollections of reflecting en route was realizing that at any given moment, each of my five senses were being bombarded by the activity unfolding around me. The hot air clung to my skin. The chatter of a language I had no hope of understanding filled my ears. The smell that at times made me want to run away, and at others made me instantly seek out the origin of the sweet fragrance, hung heavy in the air. The taste of each spice and sweet fruit made me long to eat my way through the entire city. Then of course there were the sights. Again, I find these nearly impossible to capture in picture or word. The grand palace itself was a visual overload. As we walked into the area, one of my companions stepped back and remarked, "I feel like a gold disco ball just exploded in front of my eyes". Whether or not this metaphor is a reverent description of a highly respected and powerful symbol of the history of Thailand, it fairly accuratly describes what we were all thinking at the moment.

Every single place I traveled in Thailand provided a pleasing, if at times overwhelming, calidoscope of color. If I take anything away from this trip, it's that there is always more to want, to feel, to have, to need....and Thailand is a physical representation of this vast expanse. I will continue to elaborate on specific aspects of the trip as time progresses, yet, right now, nearly a month after my return, I can still only manage a series of broken sentences and train of thought
ramblings as an attempt to piece together a semblance of explanation about my Thailand experience. Yet, perhaps that is exactly the way to describe such a place. Thailand is vast, fascinating, and mysterious.....how can one categorize such a country without taking away from the very aspect that gives it its magical intruige? I may never truely understand or be able to describe Thailand, but perhaps this is the exact reason I never want to give up trying.

L.AT.E. ride

The most impressive part of Chicago's L.A.T.E. ride? The shear number of people who participate in it each year. Navigating the city streets down to Buckingham fountain where the ride began was nearly as exciting as the ride itself. As we got closer and closer to our destination, we could feel a building of excitement in the air as riders joined our caravan and common goal. When we broke onto Van Buren and caught sight of the fountain's grounds, I was amazed to be greated with a sea of bodies of all shapes and sizes dancing to music, chatting, and warming up for a night of riding. As you can see from my spot at the starting line this year, this is a very popular ride. Race organizers have been forced to cap the ride at 10,000 riders...that's right more than 10,000 crazy bikers want to ride the city streets all night in an organized critical mass. Despite truly impeccable organization by numerous volunteers, this fact was a little frustrating, as my five person group was almost instantly separated as the race began.


Luckily, I was able to stick with one of my teammates throughout the entire twenty-five mile ride, which brings me to my second favorite aspect of the L.A.T.E. ride...encouragement of costumes. As you can partially see from above, my friend and I came dressed to the nines, and received a stream of compliments for our stylish outfit choices throughout the ride. I especially appreciated the riders we passed multiple times who remembered us and called out 'ribbon girls!' or 'it's the sparkly divas!' and above all, the man who told me I would have won the helmet decorating contest had I been bold enough to challenge the competition.


Finally, we have wound through countless city streets, beat exhaustion, reached some sort of level of euphoria, and made it to the last leg of the race. The last perhaps seven miles of the ride runs down the lakefront path as the sun is beginning to rise and the city begins to awake. This is when I realize why more than 10,000 riders yearn to join the L.A.T.E. ride each year. Although my butt is sore, my eyes hurt, and I am wondering why I ever agreed to stay awake for this long without any sort of alcoholic aid, as we ride down the usually overcrowded and chaotic lakefront path in the peace of early morning, I am struck by the beauty of the city laying in wait before us. It is quiet on the path, as riders take in the serene beauty surrounding our critical mass. We experience the same peaceful sense of calm as wheels churn and faces turn to admire the wonderful dichotomy that is Chicago's lakefront path, a true intersection of man and nature broken by a smooth line of two wheeled power. Ok, perhaps we are all just tired and daydreaming about soft pillows and sheets and a hot breakfast, but I am going to remember this moment as euphoric and meaningful for all involved.


We make our triumphal return to Buckingham fountain and reunite with the rest of our riding group just as the sun has finished rising and daylight has officially set it, along with true exhaustion. We recap our riding experiences, say a few bleary goodbyes, and begin the long trek towards a comfortable resting place.

_A special thanks to all who made this ride possible, the great participants we met along the way, and words of hope for any injuries and accidents that become inevitable at this scale._

From A.B.C. to O.P.P.

Summer, why do I love thee...let me count the ways....

Here is a phase I never thought I would be able to utter..."I saw Naughty by Nature perform in an alley the other night....and LOVED it". Naughty by Nature performed at the Cans Festival a few weekends ago, and luckily this happened to occur the day after my birthday this year, so I was easily able to convince a group of friends that this would be the perfect way to celebrate the occasion. We hopped on our bikes and peddled down to Cans, and once we got within a mile radius of the bar, we could hear the beats bumping and the crowd cheering. We piled into the melee and began swaying to the beats along with maybe 500 other hipsters and yuppies sipping PBR tallboys and attempting to 'rap along'.

What a perfect 'venue'. Nestled in between two three flats, lucky (depending on your perspective) apartment dwellers sat in windows and dangled over back porches, watching over the mass of bodies undulating in front of the impromptu stage below. What really made the night for me was the multiple shout-outs to the late, great Michael Jackson. One of my favorite moments was when Treach screamed, "pump your fist in the air for MJ". As the crowd obliged, NbN broke into their first hit 'O.P.P.' who's beat sampled from the ever famous 'A.B.C.' by the Jackson 5.

I will leave you with a few quotes taken strait from my friends' mouths while at the concert...

As the show began, my one friend yelled 'lets see if we can get this whole crowed to perform the thriller dance, who knows the moves?!' quickly followed by him whispering 'man, I NEVER thought I would be at a Naughty by Nature concert...mostly because my mother refused to let me listen to them when they were popular in the early 90's'.....I would say these two quotes set the mood of the evening perfectly. As the night progressed, and the crowd responds to a 'you down with O.P.P?!' line, another friend leans over and says, 'I used to love this song, but I recently googled 'OPP' to find out what it means, turns out I am not so down with it!' To which I could only respond, 'to each his own' while keeping in beat to the music.