Here another try to call the attention to the city's main river.
To see the video, just click here.
Source:
Trailler do piloto do programa Brazil Secrets
Apresentação: Bill Hinchberger
Produção: Rodrigo Gontijo
Fotografia: Crys Nascimento
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Activate Public Awareness
Last year the artist Eduardo Srur tried to call the attention to the alarming situation of São Paulo's water pollution and the negation of the river as part of the public realm.
Image source: Pra ver e Pensar
From Srur's website:
"PETS, 2008 - Urban Intervention consisting of 20 monumental inflatables in the form of colored pet bottles along the margins of the Tietê River between the Limão and Casa Verde bridges in the city of São Paulo. A special lighting system activates the giant sculptures visually during the night. The work will be seen by more than 1.500.000 people daily. During the exhibition, 8000 school children from state schools will have access through monitored visits by boat on the river. The public will also be able to make the boat trip. Once the exhibition has closed, all the material used to produce the inflatables will be transferred into backpacks and donated. The work, 'PETS' is an integral part of the 'Nearly Liquid Exhibition', with Cauê Alves as curator ad Itaú Cultural responsible for organization and production."
To see a video about the Project (in portuguese) click here.
Image source: Pra ver e PensarFrom Srur's website:
"PETS, 2008 - Urban Intervention consisting of 20 monumental inflatables in the form of colored pet bottles along the margins of the Tietê River between the Limão and Casa Verde bridges in the city of São Paulo. A special lighting system activates the giant sculptures visually during the night. The work will be seen by more than 1.500.000 people daily. During the exhibition, 8000 school children from state schools will have access through monitored visits by boat on the river. The public will also be able to make the boat trip. Once the exhibition has closed, all the material used to produce the inflatables will be transferred into backpacks and donated. The work, 'PETS' is an integral part of the 'Nearly Liquid Exhibition', with Cauê Alves as curator ad Itaú Cultural responsible for organization and production."
To see a video about the Project (in portuguese) click here.
Friday, March 13, 2009
The measure of man
Vaclav Havel, President of the Czech Republic, received the Philadelphia Liberty Medal at Independence Hall on July 4, 1994. Here's an excerpt of his remarks.
"We may know immeasurably more about the universe than our ancestors did, and yet it increasingly seems they knew something more essential about it than we do, something that escapes us.The same thing is true of the nature of ourselves. The more thoroughly all of our organs and their functions, their internal structure and the biochemical reactions that take place within them, are described, the more we seem to fail to grasp the spirit, the purpose, and meaning of the system that they create together and that we experience as our unique self."
"We may know immeasurably more about the universe than our ancestors did, and yet it increasingly seems they knew something more essential about it than we do, something that escapes us.The same thing is true of the nature of ourselves. The more thoroughly all of our organs and their functions, their internal structure and the biochemical reactions that take place within them, are described, the more we seem to fail to grasp the spirit, the purpose, and meaning of the system that they create together and that we experience as our unique self."
Drawing by Benjamin Eiband.
The importance of good places
When you degrade the public realm, you automatically degrade the human being.
We don't need places that tell us, "YOU ARE NOT LOVED".
We need places that are meaninful, that have quality and character, that help us remember who we are.
- - -
It's an emotional experience listening to James Howard Kunstler's view about public spaces and the need to transform them in a physical manifestation of common good.
I highly recommend it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1ZeXnmDZMQ&feature=related
Summer Altstadtfest, Freising, 2008
Pinheiros riverbanks with its multi-lane highway, São Paulo, 2007
Here are some quotes from Kunstler's speech. (The world's financial crisis was not that bad, as he gave this speech. But it is getting worse each day. His comments apply not just for americans, but obviously for all of us.)
"We gotta a lot of work to do."
"We are sleep-walking into the future. We are not ready for what's coming at us."
"So I urge you all, to do what you can."
"Be prepared to be good neighbours."
"Be prepared to find vocations."
"Please, stop referring to yourselves as consumers."
"Consumers are different than citizens."
"And as long as you are using that word 'consumer' in the public discussion, you will be degrading the quality of the discussion we are having and we're gonna continue being clueless going into this very difficult future, that we face."
We don't need places that tell us, "YOU ARE NOT LOVED".
We need places that are meaninful, that have quality and character, that help us remember who we are.
- - -
It's an emotional experience listening to James Howard Kunstler's view about public spaces and the need to transform them in a physical manifestation of common good.
I highly recommend it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1ZeXnmDZMQ&feature=related
Summer Altstadtfest, Freising, 2008
Pinheiros riverbanks with its multi-lane highway, São Paulo, 2007
Here are some quotes from Kunstler's speech. (The world's financial crisis was not that bad, as he gave this speech. But it is getting worse each day. His comments apply not just for americans, but obviously for all of us.)
"We gotta a lot of work to do."
"We are sleep-walking into the future. We are not ready for what's coming at us."
"So I urge you all, to do what you can."
"Be prepared to be good neighbours."
"Be prepared to find vocations."
"Please, stop referring to yourselves as consumers."
"Consumers are different than citizens."
"And as long as you are using that word 'consumer' in the public discussion, you will be degrading the quality of the discussion we are having and we're gonna continue being clueless going into this very difficult future, that we face."
Monday, January 19, 2009
For a more human city
Today I read in a document from CERTU (Centre d'Etudes sur les Réseaux, les Transports, l'Urbanisme et les constructions publiques) the following sentence:
"Public spaces design has for a long time been restricted to a primarily functional approach: travel and parking have been given preferential treatment to the detriment of local life and the urban environment."
To plan cities starting from a automobilistic logic sounds quite illogical to me. Such planning position - unfortunately still blindly followed in São Paulo until these days - close all the doors to a more human city, in which the man is the protagonist, and not the machine.
It is a great irony to look at the city and see that the car is the king, and not the human being. The "nurturing" city is where I feel free to meet people, to move, to get inspiration from the experiences I live and unfold my creativity.
- - -
Hundertwasser said: "Architecture should elevate the man, not humiliate, oppress and enslave him. Architecture should offer something to human beings. We must feel secure and at home in there. Architecture must have the potential to be like a third skin.'
I bet he was referring to the public realm as well.
"Public spaces design has for a long time been restricted to a primarily functional approach: travel and parking have been given preferential treatment to the detriment of local life and the urban environment."
To plan cities starting from a automobilistic logic sounds quite illogical to me. Such planning position - unfortunately still blindly followed in São Paulo until these days - close all the doors to a more human city, in which the man is the protagonist, and not the machine.
It is a great irony to look at the city and see that the car is the king, and not the human being. The "nurturing" city is where I feel free to meet people, to move, to get inspiration from the experiences I live and unfold my creativity.
- - -
Hundertwasser said: "Architecture should elevate the man, not humiliate, oppress and enslave him. Architecture should offer something to human beings. We must feel secure and at home in there. Architecture must have the potential to be like a third skin.'
I bet he was referring to the public realm as well.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Lyon (Lugdunum) and its rivers - Urban Planning
U R B A N P L A N N I N G
Between 1985 and 1988, the Agence d'Urbanisme de Lyon reviewed Lyon's strategic development plan from 1978. New urban areas were identified for improvement and redevelopment. In 1989, Henry Chabert, the Deputy Mayor of Lyon in charge of Urban Planning at that time, embraced the idea to revert the deteriorization process of Lyon's public realm and to provide a new vision for the city. The city should be "humanized". The increasing number of cars and the growing rift between the city centre and the suburbs should be discussed.
In 1991, with the goal to rearrange and redesign the waterbanks of the Saône and the Rhône rivers, the Plan Bleu was adopted. The initial objectives of the plan were:
- the development of nautical activities - which was achieved through the construction and plan of river stops and ramps to the water;
- the redesign of the riverbanks, with the host of recreational activities (bike paths, recreational areas);
- the preservation and restoration of the natural character of the riverbanks, through partnerships such as the SMIRIL on the Rhône and the SYMALIM on Park Miribel Jonage.
The second version of the plan was expanded and envisions to integrate the urban rivers in the Greater Lyon, promoting a townscape enhancement strategy focused in the way the city meets its rivers. The process of recovery and improvement of Lyon's rivers contains three main aspects:
- Ecology, landscape protection and enhancement of natural heritage.
- The interaction of the citizens with the rivers: urban uses - recreation, tourism, etc.
- The 'economy of the river ": the transport of goods, river tourism, etc.
The main idea of the Plan Bleu is to bring together local initiatives and associations, while respecting the municipalities' choices. Under the influence of the Blue Plan, several large projects were launched: the refurbishment of the Rhone's banks, Blue Ring, Lyon-Confluence, etc.
Two other plans had an impact in the improvement of the city's structure:
- the green plan, focusing on public spaces and reducing the domination of the automobile - which helps strenghtening the local urban identity;
- the yellow plan, a lighting plan for monuments, buildings, streets, squares, promenades and parks.
Lyon counts today with several car-free status areas. An example is Vieux Lyon, west of the Saône River. In order to increase the pedestrian's orientation and spatial legibility, the planners stick to certain guidelines which define the type of materials, plants and urban furniture to be used throughout the city.
_________The Lyon Confluence
A major urban development project known as "Lyon confluence" was launched in the strategic zone at the far end of the "Presqu’île". The sector, which was long dedicated to industry and transport, shall be used for a major extension of the metropolitan area by freeing up large tracts of land. Plans for improved access and high-quality landscaping are an integral part of the project.
Le Rhône and the promenade
The city's geography influences the character of the neighbourhoods. The rivers divide Lyon's arrondissements in 9:
- The centre of Lyon is the Presqu'île , or "peninsula", a tongue of land just north of the confluence of the two rivers. Most of it lies within the 2nd arrondissement including Bellecour and the Perrache railway station.
- At the top end of the Presqu'île, as the Saône veers west, is the 1st arrondissement , known as Terreaux , centred on place des Terreaux and the Hôtel de Ville. This covers part of the city centre and the slopes (pentes) of the Croix-Rousse.
- The 4th arrondissement covers the Plateau of the Croix-Rousse, up to its boundary with the neighbour commune of Caluire-et-Cuire.
- On the west bank of the Saône is the old town, Vieux Lyon , at the foot of Fourvière, on which the Romans built their capital of Gaul, Lugdunum. Vieux Lyon is made up of three villages: St-Paul, St-Jean and St-Georges, and forms the eastern end of the 5e arrondissement.
-To the east of the Rhône there is Modern Lyon, formed by the 7th(with Parc de Gerland) and 8th arrondissements to the south, the 3rd arrondissement in the middle (with La Part-Dieu TGV station) and the 6th to the north, known as Brotteaux. North of Brotteaux is Lyon's main open space, the Parc de la Tête d'Or . The district of Villeurbanne , home to the university and the Théâtre National Populaire, lies east of the 6e and the park.
- The 9th arrondissement is immediately to the north.
UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
Between 1985 and 1988, the Agence d'Urbanisme de Lyon reviewed Lyon's strategic development plan from 1978. New urban areas were identified for improvement and redevelopment. In 1989, Henry Chabert, the Deputy Mayor of Lyon in charge of Urban Planning at that time, embraced the idea to revert the deteriorization process of Lyon's public realm and to provide a new vision for the city. The city should be "humanized". The increasing number of cars and the growing rift between the city centre and the suburbs should be discussed.
In 1991, with the goal to rearrange and redesign the waterbanks of the Saône and the Rhône rivers, the Plan Bleu was adopted. The initial objectives of the plan were:
- the development of nautical activities - which was achieved through the construction and plan of river stops and ramps to the water;
- the redesign of the riverbanks, with the host of recreational activities (bike paths, recreational areas);
- the preservation and restoration of the natural character of the riverbanks, through partnerships such as the SMIRIL on the Rhône and the SYMALIM on Park Miribel Jonage.
The second version of the plan was expanded and envisions to integrate the urban rivers in the Greater Lyon, promoting a townscape enhancement strategy focused in the way the city meets its rivers. The process of recovery and improvement of Lyon's rivers contains three main aspects:
- Ecology, landscape protection and enhancement of natural heritage.
- The interaction of the citizens with the rivers: urban uses - recreation, tourism, etc.
- The 'economy of the river ": the transport of goods, river tourism, etc.
The main idea of the Plan Bleu is to bring together local initiatives and associations, while respecting the municipalities' choices. Under the influence of the Blue Plan, several large projects were launched: the refurbishment of the Rhone's banks, Blue Ring, Lyon-Confluence, etc.
Two other plans had an impact in the improvement of the city's structure:
- the green plan, focusing on public spaces and reducing the domination of the automobile - which helps strenghtening the local urban identity;
- the yellow plan, a lighting plan for monuments, buildings, streets, squares, promenades and parks.
Lyon counts today with several car-free status areas. An example is Vieux Lyon, west of the Saône River. In order to increase the pedestrian's orientation and spatial legibility, the planners stick to certain guidelines which define the type of materials, plants and urban furniture to be used throughout the city.
_________The Lyon Confluence
A major urban development project known as "Lyon confluence" was launched in the strategic zone at the far end of the "Presqu’île". The sector, which was long dedicated to industry and transport, shall be used for a major extension of the metropolitan area by freeing up large tracts of land. Plans for improved access and high-quality landscaping are an integral part of the project.
Le Rhône and the promenade
The city's geography influences the character of the neighbourhoods. The rivers divide Lyon's arrondissements in 9:
- The centre of Lyon is the Presqu'île , or "peninsula", a tongue of land just north of the confluence of the two rivers. Most of it lies within the 2nd arrondissement including Bellecour and the Perrache railway station.
- At the top end of the Presqu'île, as the Saône veers west, is the 1st arrondissement , known as Terreaux , centred on place des Terreaux and the Hôtel de Ville. This covers part of the city centre and the slopes (pentes) of the Croix-Rousse.
- The 4th arrondissement covers the Plateau of the Croix-Rousse, up to its boundary with the neighbour commune of Caluire-et-Cuire.
- On the west bank of the Saône is the old town, Vieux Lyon , at the foot of Fourvière, on which the Romans built their capital of Gaul, Lugdunum. Vieux Lyon is made up of three villages: St-Paul, St-Jean and St-Georges, and forms the eastern end of the 5e arrondissement.
-To the east of the Rhône there is Modern Lyon, formed by the 7th(with Parc de Gerland) and 8th arrondissements to the south, the 3rd arrondissement in the middle (with La Part-Dieu TGV station) and the 6th to the north, known as Brotteaux. North of Brotteaux is Lyon's main open space, the Parc de la Tête d'Or . The district of Villeurbanne , home to the university and the Théâtre National Populaire, lies east of the 6e and the park.
- The 9th arrondissement is immediately to the north.
UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
Lyon (Lugdunum) and its rivers - Geography
G E O G R A P H Y
The Lyon metropolitan area is the largest in the Rhône-Alpes region and lies in the natural plain of the Rhone Valley. In terms of waterways, the Rhône-Alpes region is among the best served in France. An abundant water supply has made the Alpine valleys and rivers the major vectors for the development of energy production for the area.
The Rhone valley has always been a major axis for road and river traffic and it can be considered one of France's most vital hubs of international connections - with many Alpine passages, navigable waterways, highways, tunnels and airports. Lyon has taken full advantage of the Rhone Valley's developed network of infrastructures: Lyon Saint-Exupéry international airport, the highly developed TGV network and a freeway system. The local authorities are further developing the urban public transportation system.
The city's geography is dominated by two large hills, one to the West (Fourvière, known as "the hill that prays") and one to the North (Croix Rousse, "the hill that works"); two rivers with very different characters, Rhône and Saône, that join at the southern part of the historic city core to flow down to the Mediterranean Sea; and a large plain which stretches to the East.
A continental climate marks the Rhone corridor with hot summers and hard winters. The Alps to the east, the Massif Central to the west and the Jura's Mountain Range to the south are subject to the climatic variations.
The confluence of the two rivers (Saône on the left and Rhône on the right). Source: http://www.lyon.fr/
The alpine Rhône is fast with a light blue color. Its once tumultuous waters were tamed by hydroeletric plants. The Saône, a tributary of the Rhône with many meanders and a darker water color, has a placid character embedded with history.
The Lyon metropolitan area is the largest in the Rhône-Alpes region and lies in the natural plain of the Rhone Valley. In terms of waterways, the Rhône-Alpes region is among the best served in France. An abundant water supply has made the Alpine valleys and rivers the major vectors for the development of energy production for the area.
The Rhone valley has always been a major axis for road and river traffic and it can be considered one of France's most vital hubs of international connections - with many Alpine passages, navigable waterways, highways, tunnels and airports. Lyon has taken full advantage of the Rhone Valley's developed network of infrastructures: Lyon Saint-Exupéry international airport, the highly developed TGV network and a freeway system. The local authorities are further developing the urban public transportation system.
The city's geography is dominated by two large hills, one to the West (Fourvière, known as "the hill that prays") and one to the North (Croix Rousse, "the hill that works"); two rivers with very different characters, Rhône and Saône, that join at the southern part of the historic city core to flow down to the Mediterranean Sea; and a large plain which stretches to the East.
A continental climate marks the Rhone corridor with hot summers and hard winters. The Alps to the east, the Massif Central to the west and the Jura's Mountain Range to the south are subject to the climatic variations.
The confluence of the two rivers (Saône on the left and Rhône on the right). Source: http://www.lyon.fr/
The alpine Rhône is fast with a light blue color. Its once tumultuous waters were tamed by hydroeletric plants. The Saône, a tributary of the Rhône with many meanders and a darker water color, has a placid character embedded with history.
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