Hi, my name is Renuka Sookram and i would just like to thank every one who visited my blog, and please feedback is always welcome. I began with Urban Culture because i taught that cities are filled with culture and norms that cannot be found elsewhere. Urban In sites focus on everyday sites in the city, problems you might find and solutions.
When i visited other blogs i was very impressed, a lot of them was related with what i had to say, for instance Kelly Bhim's blog Urbanmorphologh.blogspot.com had a post for San Fernando. In this post she spoke about a new high rise building which serves as a teaching hospital. This relates to my post with Le Corbusier, who proposed that high rise buildings occupied less space but still functioned well.
Another blogger David Quamina caught my attention with his forsaken buildings post. His blog Urbancries.blogspot.com said that old buildings are only conserved if they are perceived to have worth. My post on ghostly spaces directly relates to this, buildings should be preserved and maybe even restores and reused even though it does not belong to a majority group. This is because its architecture may be unique and it would add greatly to the city's history and richness.
Finally Karen Bally of the blog Karrenballyconcretecity.blogspot.com, posted about traffic. I also posted about traffic, we both had interesting ideas as to solutions. However the most intriguing solution came from Karen, she had a video of Tax collection in Sweden where people would pay to enter the city. It would encourage individuals to carpool and studies showed a significant reduction in traffic. Very cool idea.
Although i did not get to review everyone's blog i will try to do so. I hope you all enjoy reading, and until another time. Bye.
Wednesday, 17 April 2013
Vertical or Horizontal?
We have spoken about vertical streets and architecture of buildings and also space. This three story building is being used as a Primary School in Tunupuna. There is even a car-park under the building for teachers and staff, it doubles as a play area for students as well, as there is limited space. It is amazing how we fit so many things into a very small space in urban areas. The kids here seem to be okay with it, as they usually run about and play on the concrete surface during their brakes.
Modern is what some may say, because if it didn't have a sign and kids in uniform i would have said "hai what a nice place for a shopping mall." Concrete and steel structures take up mush of our urban cities, there is hardly any room for movement, as this building has so many functions. Would you like to go to a school without a playground?
Photo one
space in an urban area. With the right architecture and design you can have it all in just one lot. High rise buildings provides all that can be found in horizontal construction, the only difference is that they go up.
photo four.
Less Traffic = More Mobility.
"We have moved into an era where we are not simply concerned with a trip to work and back but with the multiple journeys that have become not just desirable but necessary in order to sustain our lifestyles each and every day. It is not an exaggeration to suggest that much of our life in cities is bound up with issues of how to get somewhere." (Jarvis et al. 2001:2).
What does this statement mean, simply put it means, that there is so much traffic which is a barrier to mobility, that people choose where to go depending on the traffic. Some areas in the city may be impacted negatively because of this, consumers will refrain from traveling to cities. Mobility and free movement is what makes the city appealing, if this is removed it makes the city or certain parts inaccessible to consumers, potential investors etc. Traffic also causes air pollution and in some cases noise pollution. Basically, less traffic means more mobility.
A solution to the reduction in traffic was examined previously in my blog, please be sure to look it up.
Photo showing traffic light.: Limited Mobility
Photo showing lots of mobility
Sources:
- Barrett, H. and Hall, T. (2012) Urban Geography (4th edition). Oxon : Routledge. pg 283.
- Jarvis, H. , Pratt, A.C. and Cheng-Chong, P. (2001) The secret life of Cities: The social Reproduction of Everyday Life , Harlow:Prentice Hall.
- http://www.artie.com/20030826/arg_race_car.html
Hidden Identity.
"Globalization: The increasing integration of national economies through international flows of trade, investment and financial capital," (Guinness and Nagle 2002). We know when globalization has hit when you see all the brand name fast food restaurants around every corner, when clothing stores are all brand name. What then happens to our local retailers who can't afford high priced stores to sell in, does this make their product less valuable.
In Chagaunas, vendors used to set up on the side of the streets and sell their goods, not any more. All local vendors were told to pack up and set up their shop in the old car-park of the old Health Center. The white tents that you see are vendors who are now blocked off from the 'walking consumer', their new location is some what out of the way, this then takes away from the values of their goods and services.
Each vendor may have the same as most stores or even better, but their location, their stature in society and the way they are labeled, sends a message to the public that they themselves and their product is less valuable. This has always been a part of our culture, street vending, but they say that the vendors don't fit in. But i say it is the vendors who adds identity to the city, without them every city would just be tall buildings and traffic. Don't you think?
Below is a link to a you tube video about vendor rivalry, funny, but i think it shows how vendors now have to compete for their own space.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm1VHXkN18g
Sources
- Guinness, P. and Nagle, G. (2002) Advanced Geography: Concepts and Cases (Revised edition) Oxon: Hodder Murray, Pg 136.
A House Of Cars.
According to the website WWW.scalloway.org.UK, " There are two main problems that modern day cities face, namely urban decay where part's of the city become run down and undesirable to live in, and traffic congestion." Now, going back to our Swiss architect Le Corbusier, who taught that cities should have wide boulevards to accommodate traffic. WWW.scalloway.org.UK however suggests that where wide streets do not exists in cities, then multi story car-parks should be put in place.
I think that in some way they both propose the same thing, as Le Corbusier talks about high rise units and the site talks about high rise car-parks. Their common denominator, vertical expansion. In urban cities where open space is rear thing, you learn to work with what you've got. Many cities have vertical streets with high rise buildings for commercial, residential and even cultural purposes, so why not for parking.
This building has improved, greatly, the shopping experience for me in Chagaunas, you no longer have to worry about security or wreckers or even parking tickets. The consumers must be trilled for this and i am sure that sales and business in the area has improved due to the construction of a public multi story car-park. Do you think sales and business has improved, or has your experience improved? Let me know. I found a photo online that shows that most places have no public parking, so the addition of the car-park is a good solution to traffic as people no longer park at the side of streets, so the streets are open for traffic.
Sources:
- H. Barrett, T. Hall (2012) Urban Geography (4th edition) . Oxon: Routledge. Pg 136-137
- http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/n/no_parking_zone.asp, accessed on 17th April, 2013.
- http://www.scalloway.org.uk/sett16.htm , accessed on 16th April, 2013.
Wasting Away.
(Getis, Getis and Fellmann 2008), state that "solid waste will never cease to be a problem, but its impact on the environment can be lessened by reducing the volume of waste that is generated, eliminating or reducing the production of toxic residues, halting irresponsible dumping, and finding ways to reuse the resources that waste contains. Until then, current methods of waste disposal will continue to pollute soil, air and water."
Sunday morning in Chagaunas, and there is garbage along the roadside. If i am not mistaken, garbage collection takes place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Since the store in front of which was this display was closed then i would think they put the garbage out on Saturday evening when they closed. Right?
So then this will just sit here until collection Monday morning, agreeing with the above statement, i would also like to add that the disposal method used here will turn the heads of potential customers. It removes from the natural gist of the area. This is the mentality of people today, it has probably become a norn for this business to leave its garbage out on Saturday for Mondays collection, and since they are closed on Sundays when they arrive on Monday the area is probably cleaned. So typical,it does not affect them so they don't care.
Cities should have proper rules in place to deal with these situations. It degrades the area and in general, just looks disgusting. I chose a poem to reflect my photo which i think is a bit funny, so enjoy.
FRIDGE SPACE
My fridge is full;
There's no more space.
The odor pull,
A true disgrace.
So grab a sack;
Turn on the fan.
And let's attack
This garbage can!
Limp salad, toss;
The mayo, pitch.
That applesauce
Might make you itch.
And furry meat
Should be retired,
Not fit to eat,
It's long expired.
That greenish block,
A pungent lump,
Could take a walk
Right to the dump.
Seal up that bag,
Fast as you can!
This fridge might gag
My garbage man!
By: Linda Ann Nickerson
Sources
- Fellmann, J.D., Getis, A. and Getis, J. (2008), Introduction to Geography, (eleventh edition), New York : McGraw-Hill, pg 459.
- http://www.helium.com/items/850408-poetry-the-garbage-can, Accessed on 17th April, 2013, created on 8th February, 2008.
Low Class or High Talent?
According to the UN HABITAT (2003), "there are many factors influencing where people live and their access to housing options. What should also be clear is that these options are quite variable and that inequalities exists in access to housing. A key issue facing cities is that not all the people who want a home have access to one that adequately meets their needs. Globally, the scale of the problem is enormous with the United Nations estimating that over 100 million people lack any home, while over one billion reside in sub-standard and insecure accommodation with no services."
The photo above was taken along the Lady Young Road into Port of Spain, generally i took the picture to highlight the very artistic 'Christmas tree' at the far left of the photo. It was made of old CD's, and i taught yea, genius, what a cool way to recycle. After reviewing the photo i then realized that a child may have made it, and this child may be living in one of the homes along side it. From the outside it seemed broken, made with bits of board and galvanize here and there. Sad i taught, that people would have to live here. This shows that no matter where you come from its about what you can bring to the table.
Areas like these would fall under Burgess' (1925) third zone of Low-class residential in his concentric zone model of the city. In terms of Hoyt's (1939) sector model it would fall under the third sector which is also Low-class residential. This zone or sector basically houses the less fortunate in the city, generally i t is located just outside of the city's Central Business District, the close proximity ensures cheap accommodation, low travel cost and hopefully employment.
I chose a song to represent my photo today, by artist Babycham called Ghetto Story. Enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwnaGvIT0eY
Sources
- Hall, T. and Heather, B. (2012), Urban Geography,(4th edition). Oxon: Routledge. pg 40-41, 274.
- UN HABITAT (2003) The Challenge of slums, London: Earthscan.
Tuesday, 16 April 2013
Up Up and Apartments We Go!
According to Barrett and Hall (2012), Le Corbusier, a Swiss-born architect proposed a concept called the 'city of towers' which would impact the twentieth century urban planning. This proposal was in response to the problem of overcrowding in cities. His solution was to decongest the city, by tearing it down and increasing its density, this could have been achieved by building units or vertical streets. Units were highrise buildings with apartments that would house many families, the higher the building the higher the density, thus less space was being occupied. With the extra space he proposed wide boulevards to accommodate traffic.
Now although entire cities were not changes due to loss of history etc, many of these units can be found in cities worldwide. Even the concept is now being used not only for residential purpose but for commercial as well. The photo above was taken along the Lady Young Road into Port of Spain, it shows units of housing which Le Corbusier introduced. It increases the density of housing while using limited space. In the background you can see units being constructed. The construction is proof that this solution to housing and overcrowding may be working. What do you think?
Apartment House
A filling-cabinet of human lives
Where people swarm like bees in tunneled hive,
Each to his own cell in the towered comb,
Identical and cramped--we call it home.
--Gerald Raftery
Sources
- H. Barrett, T. Hall (2012) Urban Geography (4th edition). Oxon : Routledge. pg 136-137
- http://www.bossybetty.com/2010/04/poetry-tuesday-apartment-house-by.html, Accessed on 16th April, 2013.
Saturday, 13 April 2013
Urban Cities: Concrete with a pinch of Green.
An Author of Citizens for Conservation Trinidad and Tobago website, Geoffrey MacLean, says that the Queen's Park Savannah is the center for all forms of sport including cricket, football, hockey and has become the centre for miltary and carnival parades, bicycle races, jogging and walks. It also has a history for being the center for romantic liasons and vendors selling coconuts and oysters. The Queen's Park Savannah however is what geographers would call a Green Space.
Why should a city like Port of Spain or any city in fact have anything green, after all its supposed to be a concrete jungle? The answer: Sustainable urban development. You see according to Haughton and Hunter, 1994, "Many plans for sustainable urban development involve calls to 'green the city.' this is a recognition that plants play important roles in moderating the impacts of humans activities in cities such as absorbing emissions." Green spaces are important not only for beautification but also to add to the Tourism sector as these wonderful display of trees and sporting attractions lures many.
Green spaces also serve as barriers, barriers to expansive growth of cities, it helps set boundaries. In the city of Port of Spain alone there are many green spaces present for example: Victoria Square, King George V Park , the National Stadium and many more. I am sure you have passed many such places and did not consider them to this extent. Next time your in any city and see a lush green space consider what it does for the city, in terms of boundaries and barriers.
I chose a poem to reflect my photo.
A day in the park
Sun overhead,
Beaming Brightness,
Warmth as I Walk,
Through the trees.
Green everywhere,
Instead of grey,
Easier on the eyes,
Easier to stay.
People everywhere,
Some walk, some sit,
Some jog, some lay,
Having a day in the park.
Nothing eases the soul,
Like a day in the park.
By: Tony Northover
Sources:
- www.citizensforconservationtt.org , MacLean, Geoffrey,Citizens for Conservation Trinidad and Tobago, accessed on 13th April, 2013.
- Haughton, G. and Hunter, C. (1994) Sustainable Cities, London: Regional Studies Association. pg 118.
- www.helium.com, Northover, Tony, A day in the park, last modified July 2012, accessed on 13th April, 2013.
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