Category Archives: Rhode Island

The ‘architecture’ of CVS

The pace of development drags in West Warwick, R.I., as in many other places, and the allure of a CVS drugstore grows. CVS, whose national headquarters is in Woonsocket, will not, it appears, even give special dispensation to a fellow … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Rhode Island | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Worthy R.I. Hall of Fame

Rhode Island has had a hall of fame, as distinguished from, let’s say, a sports or a music hall of fame, since 1965. It is, however, one of only four states without a true home for its pantheon of venerated … Continue reading

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

Providence PVDfest today!

We adventured into downtown Providence late this afternoon for PVDfest, the city’s second annual international arts festival (last year’s shindig was the Providence International Arts Festival – deemed too big a mouthful). Day was grayish but without any seeming threat … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Architecture History, Art and design, Development, Landscape Architecture, Photography, Preservation, Providence, Rhode Island, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

A job for new bridge group

The Providence Journal reports that a new organization, Building Bridges Providence, has been formed to push for progress on the long-delayed pedestrian bridge to connect the I-195 development land and its two parks on either side of the Providence River. … Continue reading

Posted in Architects, Architecture, Architecture Education, Architecture History, Art and design, I-195 Redevelopment District, Preservation, Providence, Providence Journal, Rhode Island, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Inside ProvModPedBridge

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation has announced a slight advance in the schedule for getting design, bidding and construction of the modernist pedestrian bridge that will (?) link two parks and the east and west parcels of development land … Continue reading

Posted in Architects, Architecture, Art and design, Development, Landscape Architecture, Providence, Providence Journal, Rhode Island, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

My Jane Jacobs river tour

Wednesday would be the 100th birthday of Jane Jacobs if she had not died in 2006. Saturday at 1 p.m. is my third tour of Providence’s new riverfront for Jane’s Walk, the international conspiracy to spread her urbanist wisdom around … Continue reading

Posted in Architects, Architecture, Architecture Education, Architecture History, Books and Culture, Development, Landscape Architecture, Preservation, Providence, Providence Journal, Rhode Island, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A modern sculptor’s lament

The grassy triangular plot of land at the corner of Kennedy Plaza and Burnside Park in downtown Providence – officially Parcel 12 of Capital Center – is unofficially called Bad Sculpture Park. A hotel is going to be built there, … Continue reading

Posted in Architects, Architecture, Architecture Education, Architecture History, Art and design, Humor, Providence, Providence Journal, Rhode Island, Urbanism and planning, Video | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The politics of preservation

Gail Wiesner is a real-estate agent in Raleigh, N.C., who, a couple years ago, raised concerns about a modernist addition to a neighbor’s house in her Oakwood neighborhood, a designated historic district. A more recent example, now resolved in court, … Continue reading

Posted in Architects, Architecture, Architecture Education, Architecture History, Art and design, Development, Preservation, Providence, Rhode Island, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

R.I. “Cooler & Warmer,” eh?

The Ocean State’s new slogan, just announced today, is “Rhode Island: Cooler & Warmer.” What does it mean? Is it about our temperature? Our climate? Is it about the waters of our Narragansett Bay? Is it about how our economy … Continue reading

Posted in Art and design, Development, Humor, Providence, Rhode Island | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments