The Street Aesthetics in New York City

Here's some more of New York City.

It's a great short video called 'The Street Aesthetic of New York City' shot by Christian Andersen.

Christian’s describes the video as 'I had a chance to go visit one of the greatest cities this summer. Right when I got of the plane and arrived downtown New York, I took my camera and strolled out through the busy streets of New York City. I wanted to capture the great culture and street aesthetic of New York and I think it turned out really well. The video includes recordings from both Manhattan and Brooklyn, where I spend hours capturing the culture and everyday life of native New Yorker.'

The Street Aesthetic of New York City from Christian Andersen on Vimeo.

Well done Christian and enjoy!

Francesco …

Why Waste the Outside of Buildings

Although it’s the inside of most buildings that’s most important to the owners and residents, there’ s plenty of ways to use the outsides too.

One of the more spectacular is parkour or free running, the sport of running, jumping, climbing and tumbling on and over buildings and other structures.  I am fascinated by how these people do it (and don’t get hurt).

So, here’s another amazing short film of some free running in the UK.

Enjoy!

Francesco …

Cities are made of Music

Cities are all about buildings, roads, parks, stores, trains, buses, cars and people.  But they're also full of sounds and one of the more socially interesting of them is the music that is played and heard by the people of the city.


Since the advent of the walkman there's even more music going in cities and since MP3s and iTunes in in greater and greater variety.


In this interesting and amusing short film by Tyler Cullen he asks random New Yorkers wearing headphones what song they are listening to.  There's some interesting selections to fill the city with music.





Enjoy!  


And, see you with your headphones on soon.


Francesco ...

Fly over San Francisco in a Zeppelin

I always like to see cities from the air as it shows the myriad of buildings, maze of streets and lanes and natural and built topographies of the places people live in so well.

And, San Francisco is a particularly attractive city to see from any height.

So here’s a great story and some photos by Andre Torrez of flying over San Francisco from an airship.

Enjoy and see you in a Zeppelin soon.

Francesco …

Another NYC Timelapse

Why do so many photographers and cinematographers focus their lenses on NYC? 

I suppose that’s because despite everything else there is that’s great about it, NYC is one of the biggest and most spectacular metropolis around with many, many huge buildings, even more people and water surrounding it.

Whatever the reason here’s another beautiful time lapse video of New York City by James Ogle.

Enjoy.

new york city. from James Ogle on Vimeo.





Francesco …

People Interacting with the Built Form

Buildings and the man made structures are there for people to use. 

Conventionally that’s typically on the inside of them.  But a few more adventurous humans prefer to interacts with the outside walls, roofs, ramps and ledges. 

You may know them as proponents of the sport called Parkour (or free running).

It’s crazy and looks extremely dangerous.

And, here’s a video of some San Francisco Parkourers, and free running masters Ryan Doyle and Brian Orosco recently came to San Francisco to demonstrate their acrobatic Red-Bull fueled wizardry in Parkour and Free Running with Ryan Doyle by Tylor Troy Bohlman.

The YouTube link is - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkx9t_dEGi0

Enjoy.

Francesco ...

NYC Timelapse

Do you like NYC?

Well, here's a great timelapse video by Josh Owens. The music is “Down to the Cellar” by Dredg.

NYC - Mindrelic Timelapse from Mindrelic on Vimeo.

Enjoy!

Francesco

Go ... and Get Urbanised

The design of cities is a serious business for planners.  And, it make a difference to everyone who lives and works in them.

So, it's always interesting when someone popularises the issues and makes them accessible to us.

Urbanized is a new documentary by Gary Hustwit currently in production about the design of cities. 

Urbanized looks at the issues and strategies behind urban design, featuring some of the world’s foremost architects, planners, policymakers, builders, and thinkers. Gary's been traveling around the world interviewing people and filming specific urban design projects that represent the issues facing cities today. 

And, Gary has set up a Kickstarter project to help raise funds to complete the film.

Check it out and watch out for the finished documentary.

Francesco …

Can’t Sleep - Why Not Watch Strata Cases Online ???

For many years Judge Judy (now Judge Marilyn Milian) and the Peoples Court have been a TV hit (no matter how bad some of the parties and cases are).

Well move over Peoples Court … and make way for Strata Court!

In Florida, where I’ve already blogged about a few adventurous initiatives, they’re televising legal submissions in their Supreme Court including strata cases.

Here’s a link to the closing arguments in Susan Cohn versus The Grand Condominium Association presented on 11 February 2011 by Eric M Glazer Esq., Daniel S Rosenbaum Esq. and H Hugh McConnell Esq.


Ms. Cohn and The Grand Condominium Association are involved in a dispute over the condominium's method of electing its board of directors and the constitutionality of a state law dealing with the election of condominium officers. The trial court ruled the law was unconstitutional as applied in this case and the Court of Appeal also found the law unconstitutional.

Despite all the jokes I could make about televised US Court hearings, it’s actually fantastic that we can see real legal issues being debated and the laws being interpreted and re-interpreted in this way. 

This is the kind of transparency that will actually bring about effective changes … since the abstraction of disputes into legal concepts and litigious process is too artificial for real people, in real places, in real situations.

So, see you in Court on your computer screen or TV soon.

Francesco …

NYC Timelapse Video

I love big cities for many reasons.

The buildings, the scale, the noises, the variety of people and the many many things that are always going on.

Well, New York is one of the biggest and most busy.

So, here's NYC compressed in a timelapse video.

NYC - Mindrelic Timelapse from Mindrelic on Vimeo.

It's created by Josh Owens and the music is by Dredg.

Enjoy!

Francesco ...

More Street Art … Graphics hits the Wall

Colourful isn't it?  But that's not what today's post is all about.


Rather, today graffiti meets digital video art and hits the wall.


It's called Graphic Violence by Corridor Digital.  And, it's clever and amusing.

Enjoy!

Francesco ...

Sunset over Brisbane

Brisbane is a nice place.

And, here's a stunning video of the sun setting over Brisbane to make the weekend even more enjoyable.



It's by Richocam and the YouTube link is here.

So enjoy it.


Francesco ...

Aerial fly through of NYC

Here’s an fantastic video of New York City from the air filmed on a minituare camera on a remote control plane.

The you tube link is here.

It’s made by Nasty Cop and  it's amazing !!!

Francesco …

Santa has to live somewhere too …

Now we all know that Santa lives in the North Pole but what if he decided to move … where would he move to and what would he be looking for in a home ?

This paparazzi video catches Santa at a recent open for inspection.

And, the YouTube link is here.

I wonder … could (or would Santa) live in a strata building ???  It would need to have pet friendly by-laws.

Francesco ….

Sunset over Melbourne

Another nice way to end the week is to watch the sunset.

So here's a great video of the sun setting over the Melbourne cityscape made by John McLovin.  The YouTube link is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUu2nv5hypc



Enjoy.


Francesco ...

Run Rabbit ... Run Run Run

I was thinking about how the green agenda means that we should use cars less and more of other kinds of transport - like pushbikes, etc.  And in Sydney there is a significant push for that by the Hon. Clover Moore MP with her cycleways around the inner Sydney areas.

The most obvious things that's done to Sydney has been giving up some of the road ways to cyclists as you can see in these photos.

This is probably a trend that will continue (for good or bad reasons). 

But what if we took this kind of green initiative even further and promoted walking, jogging or running more and handed over the road ways to people (rather than limit them to the footpaths).  You might think it's a bit crazy and unlikely but stranger things have happened.

And if it does it might look a bit like this time lapse video of the runners at the 2010 New York Marathon taking over the roads, bridges and freeways.  It's amazing !!!

See you on the new Sydney running ways to be constructed in 2020.

Francesco ...  

Why not Visit a New City ???

Sometimes we can see urban landscapes in a different way through different eyes.
And, that's what's happening in this animation by Kangmin Kim called Visit.  It's very very cool and you can see it below or here.



VISIT_animation version from KANGMIN KIM on Vimeo.


Kangmin is studying for his masters in Animation at CalArts and this is his senior year project.  




Francesco

A Different Kind of Parking Problem

We know that parking is a continuing problem in strata buildings and so far no-one seems to have resolved it successfully.

But, here’s a twist on the parking dilemma in a short animation … that’s funny and unexpected.

Parallel Parking from Yum Yum London on Vimeo.

It’s by Yum Yum London, an avantgarde video artist. 

Enjoy.

Francesco …

Crazy City Cyclist

I love cycling as it’s a fast, fun and healthy way to get about.  And, it’s very green too.  But it’s not completely safe and not so popular with other road users.

Well here’s a film of one crazy cyclist pushing the safety and (un)popularity limits by terrorising New York City drivers, riders, pedestrians and pets.  


He’s Nigel Sylvester and the film is Run 4 Cover by The 13th Witness. You can see more about his antics here.

Run 4 Cover (Starring : Nigel Sylvester) from 13thWitness™ on Vimeo.

I’m not sure this is what Clover Moore is trying to encourage in Sydney with her new Cycleway.  But you never know ...

See you all over the streets (and footpaths) on a bike.

Francesco …

Strata Book, Film & Media Reviews

Often we treat strata title too dryly as land surveying, legal title, corporate governance, statutory compliance, insurance and risk management, alternate dispute resolution, accounting and audit, etc, etc, etc …

And, we forget that they are buildings filled with people and life –

• that people own and pay bills on
• where young and old people live and sleep
• where we house our family, pets and possessions
• which we entertain and socialise
• from which we view the world, and
• places where we live, love, hate and cry

In other words places where the pathos of life exists.  And, places that people write about, make movies about and create art about.

So, in my blog, I’m going to identify books, magazines, movies, tv shows, plays, poetry, music videos and other entertaining things that are about or feature strata title buildings, people and issues.  And, give you my thoughts about them too.

That will include more serious and useful things like text books and guides, exhibitions on buildings and architecture, shows like The Block and Underbelly that feature apartments and more.

 So, keep an eye out for these posts.

And, let me know about anything you find that my interest me and my blog followers.  You can post it to the blog or email me here.

Francesco