Site visits are always a struggle
when you get caught in an unexpected rain shower. This site gives
real time radar of the weather.
So now you know if you will need
rain gear or not.
Never be caught out again.
Updates are also
available for iphones etc.
Streetsfilm.org report from Velo-city 2010, in
Copenhagen.
Cycling has been made a realistic alternative with
cycling routes on most streets. All cyclists are encouraged with
raised cycle lanes with enough width for many users. Cargo bikes
carrying children can go slower. Street cycle counters show how
many bikes have passed sections of the route proving for all
the popularity of cycle transport.
Jan
Gehl - Cities for People - out 6th October 2010
"First life, then spaces, then buildings--the
other way around never works." - Jan Gehl
Jan Gehl's latest work is released on 6th October 2010. Continuing
his research on how people live in cities and how to design the
best urban environments for people. He
clearly explains the methods and tools he uses to reconfigure
unworkable cityscapes into the landscapes he believes they should
be: cities for people. Cities for People: ISBN - 159726573X
Always worth a re-visit is,
Life Between Buildings
ISBN - 8774073605
CABE
new reports on the importance of good quality public space
CABE space launches two publications
on the central importance of good quality urban green space.
Community
green reports examines the impact of the quality
of local green spaces on the health and wellbeing of people
living in six deprived areas. It makes the connections between
green space, ethnicity and inequality.
Decent
homes need decent spacesCabe, working with the
National Housing Federation, has produced anaction
plan to improve open spaces in social housing areas. Social
landlords can provide more opportunities for residents of all
ages to enjoy the space on their doorsteps, whether they want
to grow vegetables, compete in sport or simply chat with their
neighbours in a safe and pleasant environment. Creating a physical
environment which will allow communities to thrive.
Handle
with care - vintage WPA poster from Congress Library
The Missouri W.P.A. Art Project,
commisioned this poster in 1943,
promoting safe driving showing a traffic signal and a steering
wheel. The simple graphic style of the silkscreen print really
packs a punch.
Many more and varied posters can be seen on the
Congress Library website.
Clifton village in Cumbria is on the major trunk
route of the A6. It is used by large farming vehicles and is
an emergency route alternative for the M6.
The low cost calming scheme has slowed traffic through the village
and restored the village rural quality. Simple and low cost methods
include planters, reduced white lines and built out kerbs. Drivers
are encouraged to slow and the character is enhanced with soft
landscaping and simple signage at the village entrances.
The scheme complies to Department for Transport Guidance and
is featured in their document, LTN 1/08 'Traffic Management and
Streetscape' Link: www.dft.uk/pgr/roads/tpm/ltnotes108.pdf
London is seeing a renaissance of water fountains
in public spaces, with both new and old styles.
Hyde Park’s is a sculptured piece of modern art by sculptor
David Harber. The 1.2m sphere of polished marine steel
with copper petal design and varied height drinking points.
The parks 5 million visitors will be able to have a drink of
water with the additional benefit of no cost or packaging. Hyde
Park water fountain: images and details
.
The City of London’s St Laurence fountain (left) was erected
in 1866 by Metropolitan Drinking Fountain Association. Then was
dismantled during the 1970's redevelopment of the Guildhall but
never replaced. Now it will be sited on a major pedestrian route
between St Paul’s and Millennium Bridge. City
of London, St Laurence fountain web page
A book with the aim of putting travel choices
in context. It gives alternatives to the car for the every day
journeys to work, school and shops.
While looking at the benefits of walking and cycling for towns
and cities with cleaner air, thriving communities and improved
levels of fitness.
ISBN-13: 978-1856267755
Cycle
Superhighway - London's new radial cycle network
The Cycle Superhighway will form
a safe and fast network that is both a continuous and convenient
way of getting by bike from Outer London into Central London.
Cyclists will also be able to hire bikes from on street docking
stations. A similar scheme works well in Paris.
Opening summer 2010, are
CS3 - Barking to Tower Gateway on A13
CS7 - Merton to City on A24 & A3
What do you think? If you are cyclist using
this route let us know what you think. publicrealmprian@aol.com
For map of the routes, opening dates and more
info click here: Cycle
Superhighway
NYC's
Park in the sky -
High Line
The High Line is one of New Yorks
newest parks created by transforming a disused railway line.
See Inhabitiat's great video explaining how it
all happened.
Biodiversity
Day in Paris: Champes-Elysees goes green
Paris's Champes-Elysées was transformed into a
green prairie on 22/24 May for World Biodiversity day.
The monumental work has been devised by street artist Gad Weil
with visual artist and landscape artist Laurence Medioni. It
will start at the Arc de Triomphe and cover 3 hectares.
The avenue will be closed to traffic and Parisians
will be able to enjoy peaceful green space.
After the event the plants will go on sale to the public.
Istambul is to be the next green project. He is
also keen to turn his sights to somewhere in the UK. Saying to
the Independent, "I would be delighted if Boris Johnson
approached me to work with British farmers to similarly transform
Oxford Street into a green space,"
They also have querky transport T-shirts and mugs.
Every
care is taken to design most cycle lanes...
...but some may just slip through the gap.
Cycle lanes are best when they relate to their
surroundings.
Maybe Einstein, seemingly a keen cyclist, could have developed
a 'relativity' theory to help?
Notion
of speed speedometer
hmmm...
This made us think - ...
...speed is a movable concept!
Pavement
art with a punch
Pavement art taken to the extreem with a large icy crevasse.
Excellent fun for East Pier in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland, as part
of the town's Festival of World Cultures.
The art only works from one view point but get it right and the
impact is huge.
Lost
London - 1870-1945
Lost London is a fascinating
look at how London has evolved. More than 500 images of streets,
buildings and the people are a rich resource.
Lost churches, shops, inns, villages within the
city and sad sight of ruins are shown. Included are curious
places known to Dickens, which you can see for yourself.
Lost London 1870-1945
Philip Davies,
English Heritage
Transatlantic Press
ISBN: 978-0-9557949-8-8 Available to order from the Sunday Times Bookshop - 0845 271
2135
A
new approach is needed to deliver high quality public realm.
Current professions are segmented and often required to argue
for opposing/conflicting needs of street users.
Urban Engineering is a new discipline evolving from within the
professions working on the Public Realm. It combines a broad
understanding of the practicalities of traffic and highway engineering
as well as the opportunities of urban design.
Large schemes are designed by multi-disciplinary teams but smaller
schemes don’t have this luxury. They may be carried out
to answer single issues such as road safety, street lighting
or adjustment to public transport. They are too small to warrant
the expense of multi-disciplinary teams but they have a huge
cumulative impact on the public realm.
The IHIE, English Heritage and PRIAN have
joined together in a unique training course seeking to produce
the new generation of Urban Engineers.
They are supported by a number of like minded institutions and
organisations as well as leading industry experts.
Shop
Fronts
Every shop front tells a story.
Most multiples present the same well washed and brushed, yet
bland face to every high street.
Here are some characterful independents:
a little rough around the edge yet fiercely individual.
Inside, you can imagine there is real human interest.
Link to see more:
