Tuesday, November 13, 2007

investigations from last meeting

franklin park
- tourist group
-doesnt go north

narratives
-hipster
-student
-resident
-tourist

people that arent there
interviewing
-teens
-students
-children
-elders

checking out ridge subway

perception of journey and experience
-what are the stories about how i want to use those for

what are the uses that are needed?
-enjoyable through it

deadzones
-how it changes
-whatis fertile ground

get on viaduct

bramante
-milan vs rome
-monumental
-emptiness is monumental

4 comments:

Andrew H. said...

FYI it's Bramante

jpron said...

Other issues, beyond PECO:

Wish you had added more- I will not be able to be at Monday's meeting, and so I am responding to what you've posted so far.

-Good discussion on the site- its getting more multi-layered to explore- the Viaduct as it passes overhead, the subway underneath. And I would also argue for willow Street itself- the watercourse (originally lined with willows) that determines that street's meanderings- it sets the topo that slopes down to it from all directions. Can the "surgery" regain something of its topographic and hydraulic origins?

A creative mix of users- some who already exist, some who will be drawn to it as you rethink and redesign it....and I do think that maybe some combination of interviews of actual persons combined with some creative 1-page "profiles" of users would be not inappropriate. Give me a set of short stories- people, their activities, their motivations drawing them to the neighhorhoods. If the users, real and projected, can be personified, well then...maybe that's exactly where the program can emerge from.

And finally, I would argue for consideration of the notion that a sustainable monument is maybe a non-permanent monument. A monument with a shelf life, physically speaking may better suit your intentions. Back to definitions of "sustainability" and of "monument". Maybe, in the 2nd millennium, dead marble put in place for eternity is not meaningful. Maybe sustainability itself, dealing with the healthy reinforcement and nurturing of living, changing processes in equilibrium on this planet means that its monumental infusions must do the same. It exists, as a real artifact or place, only as long as it supports larger defined issues- then it continues only in memory or mythology...and that is not necessarily less potent. Again, the Temple of Solomon is long gone, but its power continues to provide a living motivation for Israel to exist as a cultural and a religious entity, as a nation, right there. And if it did actually exist- it would reduce the memory because in fact it was a far more modest and disappointing building than the Old Testament would have it. Furthermore, its religious function has changed- Jewish high priests no longer sacrifice oxen to placate a god who has power over the fertility of the soil. Jewish rabbis preach a very different gospel of spirituality and fellowship- its changed. The ancient Yahweh is not their current godhead. So....I wonder, should your sustainable monument to sustainability mutate over time, metamorphosis in the service of other more critical issues than its own sense of pseudo-permanence?
It evolves in its functions and in its meanings. Nothing is permanent on planet earth- even continents move. And we are getting globally warmed over as we speak.
jp

jpron said...

Other issues, beyond PECO:

Wish you had added more- I will not be able to be at Monday's meeting, and so I am responding to what you've posted so far.

-Good discussion on the site- its getting more multi-layered to explore- the Viaduct as it passes overhead, the subway underneath. And I would also argue for willow Street itself- the watercourse (originally lined with willows) that determines that street's meanderings- it sets the topo that slopes down to it from all directions. Can the "surgery" regain something of its topographic and hydraulic origins?

A creative mix of users- some who already exist, some who will be drawn to it as you rethink and redesign it....and I do think that maybe some combination of interviews of actual persons combined with some creative 1-page "profiles" of users would be not inappropriate. Give me a set of short stories- people, their activities, their motivations drawing them to the neighhorhoods. If the users, real and projected, can be personified, well then...maybe that's exactly where the program can emerge from.

And finally, I would argue for consideration of the notion that a sustainable monument is maybe a non-permanent monument. A monument with a shelf life, physically speaking may better suit your intentions. Back to definitions of "sustainability" and of "monument". Maybe, in the 2nd millennium, dead marble put in place for eternity is not meaningful. Maybe sustainability itself, dealing with the healthy reinforcement and nurturing of living, changing processes in equilibrium on this planet means that its monumental infusions must do the same. It exists, as a real artifact or place, only as long as it supports larger defined issues- then it continues only in memory or mythology...and that is not necessarily less potent. Again, the Temple of Solomon is long gone, but its power continues to provide a living motivation for Israel to exist as a cultural and a religious entity, as a nation, right there. And if it did actually exist- it would reduce the memory because in fact it was a far more modest and disappointing building than the Old Testament would have it. Furthermore, its religious function has changed- Jewish high priests no longer sacrifice oxen to placate a god who has power over the fertility of the soil. Jewish rabbis preach a very different gospel of spirituality and fellowship- its changed. The ancient Yahweh is not their current godhead. So....I wonder, should your sustainable monument to sustainability mutate over time, metamorphosis in the service of other more critical issues than its own sense of pseudo-permanence?
It evolves in its functions and in its meanings. Nothing is permanent on planet earth- even continents move. And we are getting globally warmed over as we speak.
jp

jpron said...

Tim-

to clarify: good site issue in terms of "urban surgery", and good discussion of a creative set of stories on a creative mix of users.
BUT...I just realized that I wrote about Sustainability and Monumentality as if I was writing to Paul, not you. (I did stop for dinner mid-blog and forgot who I was writing to). I will send that passage to Paul. And let me jangle my thoughts this Sunday and pick up the threads of my writing to you. so, expect a bit more. this is the danger of having a glass of wine, mid-thought. jp