36 N. Front Street

Click for larger version (252 Kb) Added some new shots in the Philadelphia photo album today.

On the Radar Screen

Given my interest in urban planning, it is shameful that I have yet to read this book hailed by many interested in the development of cities as an essential tome; as a seminal text of the New Urbanism movement. According to critics and pundits, the observations and predictions within The Death and Life of Great American Cities were prophetic. I'll have to check it out. Anyone out there who has read this?

The Design of Cities is a discussion of city planning principles dating from ancient Athens to modern Brasilia and is also considered an essential text. I must admit that my principal interest in it would be his discussion of Philadelphia. Edmund Bacon was the principal city planner who converted and developed Philadelphia throughout the 50s, 60s and 70s -- with mixed results.

Always wanted to get this DVD but always found some odd excuse not to get it at the moment. I could go on and on about the riddle of how Tarkovsky can manage to communicate philosophical and mystical themes without too much dialogue, but that would be a bit much and contrary to the spirit of his films. Watching Nostalghia provides the same phenomenological qualities as spending a long time watching rain and fog do their thing on a craggy, mossy landscape. Doesn't that sound like fun?

By the way, I decided to provide a public service for all of you who have a difficult time figuring out what gifts to give me -- a link to my Amazon Wish List. This is part of my quest to increase epistemic clarity for all.

| Project for Public Spaces | Eric's Amazon Wish List |

My Architect: A Son's Journey

Just came back from the Ritz 5 after viewing My Architect: A Son's Journey and chatting a bit with D.C. about it. This is a documentary about architect Louis I. Kahn made by his son, Nathaniel.

It is a wonderful film and not, as you may suspect given the themes of this blog, only because it surveys and discusses Kahn's architectural works and battles. The documentary gracefully allows other themes to bubble to its surface without any apparent dramatic manipulations. These themes include:

- the tension between pragmatic/political pressures and the artistic ambitions of architecture
- a clear-eyed resistance against "great, misunderstood artist" interpretations
- an unforced exposition of how families create myths and narratives to make sense of their lives

In a woeful nutshell, Kahn's works exhibit a reverence for the inherent properties of the materials used in his structures paired with a generous and gracious use of space allowing light and human movement to interact with these materials. You can view several of his works and plans at the Architectural Archives of the University of Pennsylvania. You can also find some images of his best known works here.

The film presents interviews and conversations with several figures ranging from architecture icons such as Philip Johnson and I.M. Pei to former lovers to cab drivers that used to shuttle him around Philadelphia. The profile that emerges from all these discussions is incomplete and often contradictory, yet nevertheless illuminating.

Two aspects of Kahn struck a chord. He rarely settled in one place for long, preferring to travel to and fro and to remain holed up in his office rather than to interact with human beings -- though for a hermit, he did manage to leave a couple of children from extra-marital relationships. His nomadic nature is, in essence, an example of how to be a modern flâneur. It also presents a paradox in his character -- though he preferred not to engage with inter-personal relationships in a sustained fashion, one of the central motivations of his work was to create spaces were people could live with inspiration.

Finally, the film's treatment of Kahn's participation in the design and construction of the Capital Complex in Dacca, Bangladesh is, simply put, an emotional knock-out. The presentation of the building (and, I would assume, the building itself) is stunning. Kahn was often involved in the design of religious or political structures though his motivations for his involvement were focused on providing people with an inspiring space rather than with the endorsement of any particular religion or political structure.

Near the end of the film, Nathaniel discusses the Assembly Building with a Bangladeshi architect he meets inside the building. This architect delivers an emotional, loving account of Kahn and the ultimate impact of the building. It is a powerful account and it helps us understand many of the previous themes explored by the film in one crystalline, beautiful moment. I have to find this architect's name -- I'll post it when I do.

Highly recommended.

| Louis Kahn @ Great Buildings.com | Salk Institute by Louis Kahn |

Disconnected Urbanism

"But the cell phone has changed our sense of place more than faxes and computers and e-mail because of its ability to intrude into every moment in every possible place. When you walk along the street and talk on a cell phone, you are not on the street sharing the communal experience of urban life. You are in some other place--someplace at the other end of your phone conversation. You are there, but you are not there."

Disconnected Urbanism; Paul Goldberger

Sputtering along...

The Philadelphia 76ers are 7-7. That record will cause many grumblings in this unforgiving town, but we should take note of the justifications (note -- "justifications" not "excuses"). For the past seven games, the Sixers have been missing all or two of their frontcourt starters:

Derrick Coleman at center
Kenny Thomas at power forward
Glenn "Big Dog" Robinson at small forward

It is no surprise, then, that they have been outrebounded in all but two games. Despite that, they have been holding the fort with gutty defensive performances that have been reminiscent of the vicious defensive stands of the 2000-2001 season.

Good news: Marc Jackson has demonstrated that he was not a simple "throw in" to allow for the Glenn Robinson trade. He has had strong offensive performances and he can shoot free throws. The team has demonstrated a relatively balanced offensive output during that stretch.

Wait-and-see: Samuel Dalembert has demonstrated some freakish athletic ability but he needs to develop a smarter defensive game. He has goal-tended too many shots and has a tendency to get caught in mid-air during pedestrian pump fakes.

Once all the starters are back in the rotation, I expect they will need some time to get into the flow of the game. So, my guess is that the Sixers will be flirting with a .500 record for the next ten games or so before stringing out some winning streaks.

Philadelphia Cityscapes

Decided to add a selection of some photos of Philadelphia in the photo albums. More interested in capturing the textures of walking through the city rather than focusing on the recognizable landmarks. I don't want to tax your download times so the photo sizes and quality have been reduced significantly -- some detail is lost in the process.

Even more about Old City!

There has been some talk about a new apartment / housing development taking root at:

1. The National Products Building on 2nd St. between Arch and Race, and
2. The empty lots between Bread St. and 2nd St.

I had only heard about this as an abstract plan, but I have bumped into some blueprints and visuals to accompany the proposal and a PDF of some of the changes to the plan resulting from community feedback.

There has been some concern about demolishing and/or altering the National Products Building -- concern that led to it being designated a historic building worthy of some protections. The other sector of the project, between 2nd St. and Bread St., fills some empty, blighted space left behind by a fire that razed some buildings about five years ago -- though there are some grumblings out there that it may "crowd" the narrow and rickety Bread Street.

| Center City Philadelphia Development Map 1992 - 2003 (PDF) |

More developments in Old City

Apparently, Yaron Properties has plans to revamp some spots in Old City.

The corner of Front & Market as well as the area around the corner of 3rd and Arch seem to be candidates for:

- a hotel
- a Stephen Starr restaurant
- a bank
- a "major national bookstore chain" ::shudder::
- a "5-star quality" spa

Of course, all this is subject to the impressive pressures known to be presented by neighborhood and historic associations -- so a "wait-and-see" attitude seems about right. Oh, and note that discussions about these initiatives have been going on for about two years now -- see "Related Topics" box next to the article in the Philadelphia Business Journal.

Last one from Paris

Confession: I ran out of battery power for the Nikon about five days ago and have been posting photos from the first three or four days of my visit. I'm actually quite glad that I forgot to bring the charger and have not thought about photography since those first few days. See Paris Photo Album.

WiFi at Jardin de Luxembourg

Found a Wireless Access point near the 38 bus stop at the Luxembourg Gardens -- powerful enough to upload the photos and leave you with today's entry. See Paris Photo Album.

Cafe Orbital

OK, found a decent Internet cafe that allows me to work with and upload photos. It is called Cafe Orbital -- right across from the Jardin de Luxembourg on Rue de Medicis.

I took some photos just to have some in the arsenal in case I bumped into a good Internet cafe. You can find them within the Paris Photo Album.

In Paris...

As some of you know, I will be spending the next 12 days or so in Paris. I plan on posting some notes every other day or so, depending on whether I find convenient Internet access points. If all goes well, I may post photos as well. In fact, I'd prefer photo-dominant posts, but that will depend on whether I can find Internet cafes that let me hook up the Powerbook.

Joe at Petit 4 has given me a small mission: take photos of his competition - sweet delicacies in Parisian patisseries. If anyone else has a special mission for me, let me know.

So far today, I've walked through the Bastille area, Ave. Ledru-Rollin, up to Rue Oberkampf and am currently in an Internet access shop on Rue Menilmontant in Belleville.

| Belleville-Menilmontant | Rue Oberkampf |