After the emense success of Vaux-le-Vicomte and Versailles in France, inspiration of great magnitude spread through Europe. The french formal garden became the obsession of garden designers – they coveted it’s size, fame and it’s ability to manipulate nature. So sprung a series of gardens throughout the continent that would mimic formal vocabulary. This included … Continue reading
Governors Island is located at the mouth of the East River, a beautifully almost untouched island with spectacular views of manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. It was previously used as a base for the United States Army and later for the Coast Guard, but ceased all its’ operations in 1996 leaving the island in … Continue reading
End is Nigh for EV Sidewalk ATMs By Ian Duncan. Article here. Starting in May, graffiti infested ATMs adorning the East Village streets will be eradicated in hopes to brighten one of New York’s coined most raunchiest neighborhoods. The East Village is reported to have more ATMs than any other area in New York. This … Continue reading
Interior of Fifth Ave. Bank Building Is Named a Landmark By Andy Newman. Article Here. In February of this year the Landmarks Preservations Committee gave landmark status to the midcentury modern interior of 510 Fifth Avenue, Manufacturers Hanover Trust building designed by Skidmore, Ownings and Merrill LLP in 1954— the squat, transparent former Manufacturers Trust Bank Building … Continue reading
According to the insert that was in the planter on purchase, it is best to keep the tulips out of direct sun light and keep it’s environment cool. So I have it in the most strategic place in my bedroom – where as before I would run out of my house, I now make sure … Continue reading
Crystal Palace, Joseph Paxton, London, 1851 As I had discussed in my post concerning suspension bridges from the nineteenth century, new materials were starting to gain popularity amongst construction of the newer architectural designs. In London, architects experimented with the implementation of a structure made entirely of iron and glass – the Crystal Palace. It’s main function was to … Continue reading
Abu Dhabi Guggenheim Faces Protest by Nicolai Ouroussoff – Article Here A new protest group of over 130 artists are planned to boycott displaying their pieces of art in the Guggenheim to be constructed at Abu Dhabi if the Guggenheim does not promise to improve the conditions for their laborers. News spread wide about the mistreatment … Continue reading
During the nineteenth century there was a shift in materials used for construction; iron and concrete gained significant popularity. With these heavier materials and increased desire for functionalism, architects sought new advances to technology to support weight. The bridges of the time are the greatest remnants of their success. The iron suspension bridge was introduced in … Continue reading
Today I would like to introduce a garden term you may not be too familiar with, the Ha-ha. Ha-ha is a type of trench that most thought about in the 18th century, England. It was designed with two views in mind: one side would show no signs of sudden drops in terrain as to not … Continue reading
On March 14th, 2011, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn announced the release of Vision 2020: New York City Comprehensive Waterfront Plan, a 10-year vision for the future of city’s 520 miles of shoreline. This plan provides a sustainable framework for more water transport, increased public access to the waterfront and … Continue reading
Architessica 