May 1968, photo by Gilles Caron.

“Residents interviewed through the city said that the cries that they heard emanating from many collapsed buildings in the initial hours after the quake had begun to soften, if not quiet completely.” New York Times (Jan 15, 2010)

Earthquake response teams in Port-au-Prince explain that there is a 72-hour period in which people trapped under collapsed buildings can be rescued alive. We’re now at 67 hours. While there are still people under the rubble and homeless children searching for their families in the streets, it may be too soon to reflect upon the horrible aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti. However, after donating as much as we can and still feeling helpless at the sight of the images in the news, this may be the best time. (more…)

In the window on the left there’s a bird, I think it’s some kind of brown dove? It built a nest there while I was away over the summer. When I returned, it was sitting there on two tiny eggs. One of them hatched the next day. The other followed the day after. There was another bird that would come in the mornings to feed the babies, giving the first one time to fly off. It would open its beak and let the little birds eat from there. Two weeks after hatching, they flew off on their own.

[Originally posted to Where] Camillo Sitte thoughtfully explained the interior qualities of his favorite public spaces. Though generally open to the sky, they were surrounded by varied building types and furnished with stairways, arches, and sculptures. They were intimate and often irregular, with engaging views on all sides. He lamented the abandonment of plazas as daily life moved increasingly indoors.

Today life moves increasingly online, but the places we inhabit — whether physical or virtual — are no less important. Even looking out the window affects our state of mind. This is hard to measure, but it’s fairly clear when we feel comfortable, depressed, inspired, fearful, or healthy in response to our surroundings.

Sitte envisioned outdoor space that didn’t feel desolate. When we think of The Great Outdoors, we usually mean forests, mountains, rivers — not cities. But in many ways forests have more in common with cities than with prairies or deserts. They are full of proximate activity, and contain many unique places. I wonder how cities might eventually be considered part of The Great Outdoors.

(more…)

[Originally posted to Where] The Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum is currently showing an exhibition on Tulou, an affordable-housing prototype designed by Chinese architecture firm Urbanus for the city of Guangzhou, China. The Tulou prototype includes 245 apartments, an inn, exercise facilities, a library, storefronts, and varied public space. The exhibition will feature two bedrooms at actual size, as well as images, models, and project information. It runs from October 3, 2008 to April 5, 2009 at 2 East 91st Street in New York. (more…)

The Municipal Art Society of New York has sponsored an exhibition titled “Jane Jacobs and the Future of New York” at the Urban Center in Manhattan. It focuses on Jacobs’s life, work, and enduring influence on civic activism. The accompanying website contains pictures, multimedia, and a great deal of information from the exhibition.

Exhibition website, includes an interactive map, videos, and podcasts:
http://www.futureofny.org/multimedia

Related article, a different perspective on the Jacobs legacy:
Outgrowing Jane Jacobs and Her New York by Nicolai Ouroussoff of the NY Times

The Pacific Institute is doing exceptional work in environmental conservation and sustainable development. They are currently cosponsoring a lecture series on water conservation with the Commonwealth Club of Northern California.

Quoted: The Pacific Institute is dedicated to protecting our natural world, encouraging sustainable development, and improving global security. Founded in 1987 and based in Oakland, California, we provide independent research and policy analysis on issues at the intersection of development, environment, and security. Our aim is to find real-world solutions to problems like water shortages, habitat destruction, global warming, and environmental injustice. We conduct research, publish reports, recommend solutions, and work with decision makers, advocacy groups, and the public to change policy.

Stewart Brand, co-founder of Global Business Network and author of How Buildings Learn, gave a fascinating talk on urbanization and innovation at San Francisco’s Commonwealth Club on June 14, 2007. The video of Brand’s presentation, titled How Urbanization Will Drive Innovation on is available on FORA.tv.

Photo credit: Mike Lee

Global Cities is an exhibition at the Tate Modern that focuses on the explosive growth of cities around the world. It is on display from June 20 to August 27, 2007. This article on the Global Cities exhibition from the Telegraph includes a slide show of work on display.