Little attention is given to the way urban morphology echoes resilience and how urban fabric can be linked to social construction. The connection between urban and social forms is often descriptive, elaborating on the homogeneity between the space and its occupation by various social/ethnic groups. But as underlined by A. Levy (1), the sense of […]
Author: Yky
Connecting art, urban grid and vulnerability
At D0, two windows: one is reflecting the outside, operating beyond the frame; the other leaves to imagine the inside mapping of the world. Mullions and patches frame an ambivalent scene inspired by Mondrian, with inhabitants’ bags having been hanged by their owners for an unknown reason. At D+, the two windows darken leaving the […]
Is NYC retreat inevitable?
At D0, two water tanks on a brownstone building roof reflect in an urban river. The sky threatens Manhattan. Imaginary boats are ready to accost the wooden piles. At D+, the sky darkens leaving the field to the two water tanks and their reflections. Manhattan buildings disappear. The city’s life adapts to its new environment. […]
Is NYC retreat inevitable?
Irene, Sandy, Andrea, Arthur, Bill, Bonnie, Matthew, Cindy, Jose, Maria, Philippe, Gordon, Michael. Thirteen names for thirteen cyclones during the past decade amongst a list of eighty-four that have affected the state of New York since the 17th century (1). New Yorkers are currently overwhelmed by the Covid 19 disaster. But the worst would be […]
When Hollings meets Kandinsky
At D0, a static and balanced block of five wall pieces surrounds a blue canvas representation. On each block, lines act as graffiti recalling the symbolic meaning of the word “dé-composer” as suggested in the figurative version of the work. At D+, the background darkens leaving the field to the blue canvas as a pictorial […]
When Hollings meets Kandinsky
Identifying and managing risks is nowadays key in any strategic planning. Under the wording risk management, companies aim to control and minimize the risk level that could impact their short or long-term profitability. In cities, risk management is expected to drive urban planning safety approach and better integrate hazards occurrence. It is based on procedural […]
Detroit resilience, from reporting lines to desire lines
At D0, the center, front, and rear parts of a rusted car recall the past glorious years of the “Motor city”. The background draws on the rust stains in a frame inspired by French artist F. Morellet . At D+, the rusted car fades in the background. From D0 to D+, Morellet and desire lines […]
Detroit resilience, from reporting lines to desire lines
On July 18th, 2013, the City of Detroit made U.S. history with the largest municipal bankruptcy in the country to date. “There is no roadmap for Detroit’s recovery,” declared the New York Times. Less than a decade later, the city is recognized amongst the leading ones for its urban resilience initiatives: numerous publications have detailed […]
Do cities learn from getting burned?
At D0, the half burnt man-tree destiny seems to be inexorably linked to his destroyed environment. The overall perspective raises the question of any possible resilient future. The dusky tonalities of D+ add to the apocalyptic feeling of the scene, but in the same time, the man-tree can be seen as a phoenix rising back […]
Do cities learn from getting burned?
A wildfire is an uncontrolled fire impacting a bush area. But as shown by the Australian tragedy, this definition could well be applied to urban centers. In October 2019, the flames licked the doors of the Getty museum, LA, 20 minutes driving from downtown. Urban forests canopies when not correctly maintained could increase fire risks […]
