Category Archives: Urbanism and planning

‘So let’s build 500 Shards’

I’ve posted about Create Streets before. The London urbanist organization’s Paul Murrain, who once worked with Andrés Duany on downtown Providence, has written a thoughtful and passionate “J’Accuse!” – called “London Deserves Better Than This” on PDF at the website … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Architecture History, Art and design, Development, Other countries, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

In Boston on Boylston

I was up in Boston yesterday to attend the chapter board meeting of the Institute of Classical Architecture and Design. I went by train, MBTA, and emerged at Dartmouth Street, lingered to capture the Richardsonian beauty, and headed on down … Continue reading

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College Hill places fourth

GoLocalProv.com posted a story this morning ranking College Hill as the “fourth most beautiful neighborhood in America.” The website Thrillist.com published the list, and ranked Boston’s Beacon Hill as No. 1. It’s hard to argue with that. But Thrillist cast … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Architecture History, Art and design, Providence, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Dredging? Yes, dredging!

Yes, dredging. The view above depicts Waterplace Park’s basin at low tide yesterday afternoon. I got a call from Joan Slafsky, among the city’s most “connected” citizens, who helps keep WaterFire running. She promising a surprise if I showed up … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Architecture History, Development, Humor, Providence, Rhode Island, Urbanism and planning, Video | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Outpost of beauty at I’On

Northeast of Charleston, over the Ravenel Bridge across the Cooper, in the town of Mount Pleasant, is the curiously named I’On, named for a historic personage of South Carolina. It is worthy of the name – quaint, charming, beautiful, historic … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Architecture Education, Architecture History, Art and design, Development, Urbanism and planning, Video | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Pleasant PawSox palace

I see little reason after a half-season of public discussion of the plan to move the Pawtucket Red Sox to a proposed stadium in downtown Providence to get off the fence. A more detailed plan was released by the new … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Art and design, Development, Providence, Rhode Island, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , | 12 Comments

Capturing Charleston charm

Here are more than a few photos of Charleston. There are none of the city’s beautiful civic buildings on this post. Instead, I’ve tried to reveal the breadth of ornamental elegance in all of its 50 shades of great, from … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Architecture History, Art and design, Development, Landscape Architecture, Photography, Urbanism and planning, Video | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Trading TradArch trash talk

The gloves came off at TradArch on Sunday, not in the least a day of rest but one on which a host of disputes were engaged. Nothing was resolved, or was likely to be resolved. Each time a voice rang … Continue reading

Posted in Architects, Architecture, Architecture Education, Architecture History, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , | 20 Comments

Fisticuffs at garden party?

Not yet! This reporter can state categorically that no roundhouse punches were signed, sealed or delivered at yesterday evening’s TradArch garden party, in Charleston, at least none that William Hazlitt would feel obliged to discuss in a latter-day version of … Continue reading

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Crank up the cliche machine

I am reprinting Denver architect Jeff Sheppard’s reply to my reply to his reply to my post because my host, WordPress.com, supplies no avenue to continue discussions beyond two or three levels, depending on how you count. In Growing dull … Continue reading

Posted in Architects, Architecture, Architecture Education, Architecture History, Art and design, Development, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments