National September 11th Memorial - 2011

After two months of waiting for the date of our reservation to arrive, Andy and I went last Friday to survey the progress on the 9/11 Memorial.  The experience was moving, impressive and well managed.  After being asked by seven (7) different attendants for our proof of reservation and I.D. along the maze of stanchioned entry paths, we arrived at the airport-style security room.

New Construction Makes Modern Rocky Ruins in Veitnam

This amazing office (by this architectural firm) in Ho Chi Minh City has stolen my heart this morning.  It's like a modernist batcave and a secret jungle hidey-hole all wrapped into one.  Thick found-stone walls and carefully placed windows keep it cool, and the playful curves keep you guessing in a soothing way.  From Inhabitat.com.

Christie ate a whole tunnel (filled with 3 BILLION of "free Federal monie")

Notorious fatty and car LOVER, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has halted the largest American infrastructure project currently -- the ARC rail tunnel under the Hudson River -- based on his own numbers of possible cost overruns.  He plans to GIVE UP THREE BILLION DOLLARS from the Federal Gov't. earmarked for mass transit, and funnel the remaining NJ monies into roads and bridges.  All this to avoid raising NJ gas tax because HE promised no new taxes.  New Jersey has one of the lowest gas taxes in the nation.  The tunnels we are currently using are 100 years old, and at capacity.  As Andy said to his home state,

"Enjoy your cheap gas while your state crumbles away into obsolescence."

Thank you Andy, that's very direct.   I think that ignoring a 3 Billion dollar gift (NJ may have to pay back the money already sunk in . . . . the tunnel is already significantly under way) is an impeachable offense, but what do I know?  This guy is notoriously anti-public transit.  The project promised to grow the economy, shorten commutes, broaden the region, and cut emissions.  Thanks a lot knucklehead.  Here's the only way to get under the Hudson currently:

 

Detroit -- musings on metropolitan makeover

It's losing its symphony?  It's flirting with Hollywood.  It's burning, it's shrinking, it's artistic, it's stinking . . . what is to be expected from the next decade in Detroit?

the Spirit of Detroit

pizzicato on the heartstrings
I want so much to be that rotting giant's Jane Jacobs . . .
move myself, a garden, and the power of theater and music
out of the hall
and into the husk of fled industry,
sing folk songs on the twisted steel and
light the toppling bricks with amber-gelled hope for renaissance . . .
and teach the kids to love to listen
to move around and
cluster all the left-behinds to become
strong villages, and the in-betweens to become
fields of strong corn.
and the singing and the working meet the
hammers that forge huge windmills
sending the Spirit of Detroit back
to the Pantheon of Industry
but this time,
cloaked in green.


And now from some hastily jotted poetry, to a hastily assembled gallery after the JUMP:

New LEED gold certified tower in Miami can handle blow.

This sleek new Miami tower is blue, green, and strong.  It has LEED gold certification and boasts not only 40 plus bike parking spaces, but also showering and changing facilities for those who bike to work.  40% of the materials came from within 500 miles of the building site, 70% of waste was recycled.  It is clad with an outer curtain that can withstand 300 mph winds, and is large-missile impact resistant glass.  I wonder if it lifts up it's curtain daintily when the ocean levels rise?

London sky-scraper integrates turbines

Lately London has become the city to watch when it comes to contemporary architecture, and this 42-story tower is no exception.  Three huge turbines are embedded into the concave facade of it's uppermost section, and are projected to provide 8% of the power the building needs. . . a small percentage compared to some, and far from a carbon-neutral building -- this is at the very least what every tall building should incorporate.  If you've ever opened a window above the 30th floor of any building, you'll know that there's plenty of potential for energy whipping around up there!  Full gallery from Inhabitat HERE.
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Energy Positive Building in Austria

By researching the patterns of wind and sun in the building's location, designers have created a building with solar and turbine features that is beautiful and MAKES MORE ENERGY than it consumes.  Bravo!


Gallery HERE.
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Enough with the Race to the Skies - or - The Future of Prestige is Green

While the developing nations of the world race to build spires that amaze with their glimmering glass, it might do us a load of good to remember that those kind of accomplishments also require hot water and poop to be pumped up and down a MILE IN THE AIR, which is stupid.

Check out this green Ski Resort from architect Michael Jantzen:  SLIDE SHOW HERE with a built-in slope, wind and solar power and heating, and plenty of luxury amenities.
 
Cool is what we ask for.

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