Be sure to check these links: The New York Times Magazine published an architecture issue titled “The Next City.” It tackles questions such as why are sidewalks essential for democracy and can an instant city ever feel like the real thing? City Journal features a story about how New Orleans is rebuilding from the bottom [...]
Tag Archives: Architecture
A suburban Subway on an urban street
by Jon Swerens on February 10, 2008, in Architecture, City culture, Downtown, Urbanism
“Urbanism starts with the location of the parking lot.” — David Sucher (Jon) When the downtown Fort Wayne Subway shop was torn down to make way for Harrison Square, it was a safe bet that it would rebuilt nearby. And with the recent emphasis on downtown renewal, this property at the southeast corner of Jefferson [...]
The architecture of altruism
by Jon Swerens on February 3, 2008, in Theology, Urbanism
(Jon) An article over on Comment magazine by Calvin College professor James K.A. Smith nicely encapsulates much of what we hope for in Fort Wayne. Below are lots of quotes from Loving our neighbour(hood)s: The architecture of altruism. It’s full of good stuff: The culture of “automobility” engenders a residential architecture where the three-car garage [...]
Do you want this in your neighborhood?
by Jon Swerens on January 28, 2008, in Architecture, Neighborhoods
(Jon) In response to my call for neighborly modern home architecture, Scott rises to the challenge. He points us to an article and photos in Dwell Magazine which discusses this house built in a distressed neighborhood in Dayton, Ohio. The builders of the home were warmly welcomed: Luckily for the couple, there weren’t any stringent [...]
The house of the past’s future
by Jon Swerens on January 22, 2008, in Architecture, Urbanism
(Jon) While we await some architects to respond to the last post and show off some neighbor-friendly modern housing that’s isn’t a throwback to the Victorian era, here’s an idea from the past — the 1971 fab prefab Venturo: The advertising pitch, from Treehugger.com: “A lake, land and sea, a beautiful valley, incomparably compatible settings [...]
Must New Urbanism look old?
by Jon Swerens on January 22, 2008, in Architecture, Neighborhoods, Urbanism
(Jon) Neal makes a valid point regarding my post, “New Urbanism blooming in Bloomington”: A neat development in a neat town, but the main problem is that the new houses are old-fashioned looking. What part of “New Urbanism” says it has to look like the thirties? I know the looks are a response to what [...]
Indy’s new downtown library
by Jon Swerens on December 9, 2007, in Architecture, Urbanism
The Indianapolis Central Library opened today in downtown Indy, and The Indy Star gave its front page to a review by architecture critic Lawrence W. Cheek. He finds the library astonishingly well done, despite budget overruns and delays. But I thought his discussion of the purpose of the library’s glass atrium may be applicable to [...]
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