Category Archives: Development

Costly design in Pyongyang

Posted on July 1, 2015 by David Brussat

It appears that the architect of Terminal 2 of North Korea’s international airport, Ma Won Chun, was executed because the Dear Leader failed to appreciate the design. This according to “Kim Jong Un EXECUTES airport architect because he did not … Continue reading →

Posted in Architects, Architecture, Architecture Education, Art and design, Development, Humor | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Helsinki Gugg goes glug glug

Posted on June 29, 2015 by David Brussat

After all that jumping up and down, with 1,715 entries from around the world, the competition to design Guggenheim Helsinki has coughed up a winner, by Paris-based Moreau Kusunoki Architectes, of decidedly modest design, “an indistinct jumble of pavilions faced … Continue reading →

Posted in Architects, Architecture, Art and design, Development, Other countries, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Ugly Belgian House blog!

Posted on June 28, 2015 by David Brussat

I just spent some good quality time with the Ugly Belgian Houses blog. Its originator, who self-identifies only as “@hannes_BHC,” has only this to say to explain the blog: “Because most Belgian houses suck. Even mine. Seriously. My English sucks … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Development, Humor, Other countries, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Klaustoon: Pimp my Warsaw

Posted on June 27, 2015 by David Brussat

It looks like Warsaw, which during Poland’s communist era restored the beauty of central Warsaw after the wreckage left by the Nazis, is selling itself the rope with which to hang itself. Is this what Poland jettisoned communism for? At … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Architecture History, Development, Humor, Other countries, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Newport and its discontents

Posted on June 25, 2015 by David Brussat

The Providence Journal has published an AP story called “Spat over Newport’s Vanderbilt family mansion, The Breakers, gets public and nasty.” The story concerns a proposed welcome center at The Breakers, but is really about how the Preservation Society of … Continue reading →

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How to make cities better

Posted on June 25, 2015 by David Brussat

I spent the early morning hours today wondering what I could do to make cities more beautiful. Then I got up, went to my computer, and found this marvelous video of 14 minutes, “How to Make an Attractive City,” made, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Architecture History, Art and design, Development, Urbanism and planning, Video | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

St. Florian does Parcel 12

Posted on June 23, 2015 by David Brussat

Disappointment has generally reigned over the proposal by First Bristol to erect a hotel on Parcel 12 in downtown Providence. It has neither enough traditional chops nor the unabashed modernist ugliness to emerge from the slough of suburban schlock. But … Continue reading →

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Lovely N’Awlins proposal

Posted on June 23, 2015 by David Brussat

Michael Rouchell, a New Orleans architect who frequently participates in the TradArch conversation, sent this design of his for an apartment building there. In allure, it is far and away beyond anything that has been proposed in Providence for decades. … Continue reading →

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See Paris while it lasts

Posted on June 21, 2015 by David Brussat

Many years ago I marveled at the Art Deco building that houses La Samaritaine department store along the Seine. And I recall eating at the café behind the giant letters on top. That end of the building will survive, at … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Architecture History, Art and design, Development, Preservation, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Xroads for Prov ped bridge?

Posted on June 20, 2015 by David Brussat

Pressure to delay or even kill the proposed Providence River pedestrian bridge has reached such a level that news of it has been reported in the Providence Journal. “The oft-delayed pedestrian bridge over the Providence River, to connect the city’s … Continue reading →

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