David Simpson promised me some pics after his tour of New York – and he delivered:
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Our visit to New York included a meeting with Green Map Systems, a global non-profit organization the helps communities map sustainable developments and amenities in their neighbourhoods and cities. We were taken on a walking tour of East Harlem to see the community gardens that have evolved over the years on undeveloped lots that have been preserved for this use.
We were led to this amazing sculpture garden set midblock and enclosed by multifamily residential buildings. The texture and proximity of the adjacent buildings enclosing the space on three sides made this space as fine an exhibit as any other modern art display, and it is free!
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On our walking tour of East Harlem: An example of some of the fine older buildings that have been brought back to life! New York definitely is a place of graphic art:
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All the exterior walls and roof of the iconic Apple store on 5th Avenue has been replaced. Now, instead of many smaller sections of glass the entire enclosure is made up of only 15 pieces of glass; three on each side and three on the roof. If you never saw the original glass it may not mean much to you – but if you have seen the old one you can appreciate the simplicity of the new glazing. This is an overcast day and the glass was very reflective, but I like it because the individual glass elements can be seen, including the glass structure within the cube.
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The Highline, an elevated train track, has been redeveloped into a landscaped pedestrian walkway. It is interesting to see how this public green space has inspired new residential development. Rather than try to merge with the existing context the new buildings have a fresh and dramatic character that contrasts with the old. The result is a very exciting urban texture:
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On an afternoon walk along a back street in Tribeca this old doorway caught my interest. The colours, composition, layers of weathered paint, and the decorated cast iron frame-like structure around it reminded me of a large work of art that could be hanging in one of the city’s many galleries.
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Here is a fun comparison. The Waterfall is in Paley Park on 53rd Street just a little west of 5th Avenue, in Manhattan. This is close to Rockefeller Center, the Museum of Modern Art, and all the best things money can buy. The garden is a community pocket park in East Harlem, just a little north and east of Central Park. Which one do you think would be more fun?
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I enjoyed the energy and the feel of the area around Canal Street and Broadway. This is the south end of the Soho district. Behind us in this photo is Tribeca. The varying scale of buildings, colours, graffiti, and pedestrian activity makes this area a lot of fun to wander through. A great people watching place. There are many places to eat, drink, and watch. And if you get there, check out Bar 89 on Mercer. You can even get a Rolex for $20 – guaranteed to be authentic.
