Chalk Talk #3

The featured image is from a private collection of documentary photography tracking the eviction/demolition process of the C.J. Peete Public Housing Developments in New Orleans, LA. The demolition of this housing development is part of a larger revitalization plan that embraces the development of "mixed"-income housing to replace areas of concentrated poverty.

Currently, it is estimated that the homeless population in New Orleans has been unofficially estimated at 13,000. Roughly 5,000 units of public housing have been slated for demolition as a result of being labeled "blighted" or "distressed."

To learn more, click on the following links:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5151102

http://www.democracynow.org/2007/12/20/the_battle_to_save_new_orleans

This question of "How do we preserve people?" follows the previous two questions regarding "How do we design cities?" and "How are we planning buildings?" The wordplay is an attempt to deconstruct the traditional paramaters of planning and preservation, extending the lens of focus beyond that of the preservation of cultural tradition of 'buildings' themselves to a fundamental respect and appreciation of humanity devoid of race or socio-economic class.

The questions that arise:

"How is blight defined, evaluated, and justifed?"

"Is this more than simply a redevelopment strategy?"

"What happens to the people immediately affected by displacement?"

"Where do people go?"

"Where are we in this picture?"

Chalk Talk #2

The featured image of phase two of the installation is sampled from reknowned photographer Edward Burtynsky (http://www.edwardburtynsky.com/index.html / http://www.edwardburtynsky.com/WORKS/China/Large_Images_Book/CHNA_UBR_05_04.htm). According to his artist's statement, Burtynsky states that his images "are meant as metaphors to the dilemma of our modern existence; they search for a dialogue between attraction and repulsion, seduction and fear. "

Following from the last question asking "How do we design cities?" phase two of the installation offers the question "How are we planning buildings?" The wordplay is meant to deconstruct the traditional paramaters of design oriented focus on building creation, scaling the lens of focus out from the notion of the building as a singular object to the interplay of buildings within their larger societal context.

A question arises: "Where are the people?"

Chalk Talk #1

The image featured in the installation is an existing ad created by the Financial Times (http://www.weliveinfinancialtimes.com/). Sampling from a montage of contemporary architectural monuments from around the world, the imagery depicts a virtual scene which aims to convey a utpopian ideal of the world's integrated economy. The header of the ad states: "World business. In one place... We live in Financial Times."

The installation builds upon the existing ad with the question "How do we design cities?" that extends down the corridor leading into the cafe.

Questions that arise:
How has globalization affected the interplay of exchanges between Architects, Planners, Urban Designers, Real Estate Developers, and Historic Preservationists?
How has this process of globalization altered the traditional ways in which we design cities?

the beginning

Who was responsible for shaping New York as we know it? Who has the power?

We are presented here with two New York icons. One is famous for his cutthroat matter for making projects happen. One is famous for taking a stand and for bringing to light the qualities of a city that were overlooked. We can agree that both have had an impact on the built environment, and not simply in New York. The power, the message, of the icon has made its way into many modern United States cities.

So here we address several questions: What is our role in creating place? Who indeed has the power to dictate the built environment? How do we work together to create better cities? And how to we battle against the forces of bad decisionmaking and poor design?