Tag Archives: architecture

Parking Structures

Posted on November 12, 2013 by Paleo Retiree

Paleo Retiree writes: Calder Loth wants to know: Why are so many of our urban parking structures so damned ugly? Great passage: “These vapid works of naked engineering are little more than concrete shelving to store our vehicles, blaring the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

How To Make Use Of An Unwanted Opera House

Posted on October 30, 2013 by Epaminondas

epiminondas writes: I don’t know how much longer this will last, but at the moment it is the most interesting bookstore in the world.

Posted in Books Publishing and Writing, Travel | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Quote Du Jour

Posted on October 26, 2013 by Paleo Retiree

Paleo Retiree writes: Today’s quote comes from the great American urbanist William H. Whyte: It is difficult to design a space that will not attract people – what is remarkable is how often this has been accomplished. Why do we … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Narrow Streets

Posted on October 21, 2013 by Paleo Retiree

Paleo Retiree writes: Enjoy a beautiful collection of photos of narrow streets — and wonder, as I often do, why the U.S. doesn’t have many more attractive streets than it does. Crazy, utopian concept: A street shouldn’t be just a … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Linkage

Posted on October 16, 2013 by Blowhard, Esq.

Blowhard, Esq. writes: A photo gallery of airships. Which country do you really belong in? Take this 31-question yes/no quiz to find out. I got Croatia. Christine Franck recommends a book or two on architecture and urbanism. It would be … Continue reading →

Posted in Linkathons | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Official Buildings, Old vs. New

Posted on October 14, 2013 by Paleo Retiree

Paleo Retiree writes: As I was scrolling through some pics I snapped during a trip the Question Lady and I took through the Midwest a few years ago, I was struck — for about the zillionth time — by the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture | Tagged , , | 21 Comments

Prison/School

Posted on October 13, 2013 by Paleo Retiree

Paleo Retiree writes: Which is the prison, which is the school? Shouldn’t the architecture be giving us more of a hint than it is? And why do we sentence children to spend many years of long days in buildings that … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Education | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Quote Du Jour

Posted on October 10, 2013 by Paleo Retiree

Paleo Retiree writes: “Whether we like buildings as pure formal objects is another matter, and not of primary significance. What is truly significant is whether architecture creates a place.” Link.

Posted in Architecture | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Linkage

Posted on September 28, 2013 by Paleo Retiree

Paleo Retiree writes: Christine Franck explores Rocky Mountain classicism. Don’t miss her Flickr photoset. Once again, Japan leads the way. Roy Baumeister argues that we do indeed have free will. JayMan disagrees. Starchitect Santiago Calatrava makes buildings that are overexpensive … Continue reading →

Posted in Linkathons | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Nevada City and Architectural Theory

Posted on September 6, 2013 by Paleo Retiree

Paleo Retiree writes: One of the biggest cons in the world of aesthetics is the central notion that the architecture establishment peddles: the idea that architecture-and-urbanism is, and should be, a complicated, intellectual, theory-driven, abstraction-and-cogitation-heavy field. (Also that architects are, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, The Good Life | Tagged , , , , , , | 21 Comments