Goethe-Institut - Blog Cityscapes - Entries from May 2011

Tuesday, May 31. 2011

Built Up in Singapore

Singapore is small. It takes 45 mins to drive from the far east coast to the far west. With land such a scarce commodity, many old buildings make way for new ones.

Continue reading "Built Up in Singapore" »

Posted by

Ben Siow

in Singapore at 23:53 | Comments (2) | Trackbacks (0)

Lately Jakarta government is promoting various programs to preserve the old buildings from the colonial era. But, this program seems forced too much.

When I visited the district of 'old town' (Kota Tua), it seems only a few buildings are preserved. But the most of the building was abandoned.

The Jakarta government appears to be more enthusiastic to build new buildings and shopping malls that automatically make older buildings even more immersed in the splendor of fictitious city of Jakarta. Continue reading "Built up? – Jakarta" »

Posted by

Agan Harahap

in Jakarta at 23:52 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

Berliner buildings: heritage & further use

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Video by Charlotte Noblet
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Posted by

Charlotte Noblet

in Berlin at 16:33 | Comments (3) | Trackbacks (0)

Future-proofing against future slums

Heritage architecture creates a beautiful softness and stillness in contemporary urban fabric through its age, materiality and scale. Continue reading "Future-proofing against future slums" »

Posted by

Ri Williamson

in Auckland at 07:32 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

Singapore Heritage: The Old and the New

"Singapore has had very consciously ordered growth patterns, (unlike) many Asian cities. There is a much greater degree of control of how that urban growth happens, largely due to the work of agencies like the Urban Redevelopment Authority.""

That was what architect Mustafa Abadan, of the renewed architecture firm SOM, told me in a recent interview. Mr Abadan, who has been involved in numerous projects in Singapore, is also directing a project in the historic district of Tanjong Pagar.

Continue reading "Singapore Heritage: The Old and the New" »

Posted by

Nicholas Yong

in Singapore at 06:50 | Comments (4) | Trackbacks (0)

Monday, May 30. 2011

The steel and concrete heart of the city.

This is what Sydney looks like.

Winding wooden structure from the inside of the Sydney Opera House

These are...

Restaurant umbrellas in the foreground, Sydney Opera House and harbour in background

... sails.

Continue reading "The steel and concrete heart of the city. " »

Posted by

Jessica Tapp

in Sydney at 17:23 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

The Auckland plan: Safe as houses?

I'm going to try get some photos of the houses I mentioned here. You can find the Auckland Plan at www.theaucklandplan.govt.nz

"The House She Lived In" The Veils, "Little Boxes" Malvina Reynolds, and "Let's Go Home" Voom

Sahar Lone

Posted by

Sahar Lone

in Auckland at 14:01 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

Sunday, May 29. 2011

Jakarta, Batavia: The Lost Jewel of Asia

Every time I have visitors from abroad who have never been to Jakarta before, naturally they want to do some sightseeing. Continue reading "Jakarta, Batavia: The Lost Jewel of Asia " »

Posted by

Katrin Figge

in Jakarta at 07:41 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

Friday, May 27. 2011

Previewing

Continue reading "Previewing" »

Posted by

Refik Anadol

in Istanbul at 19:22 | Comment (1) | Trackbacks (0)

Thursday, May 26. 2011

Sky Box

From my window, 26th floor
The world is in my sight, river, cloud and sky
Day and night
People passing by on the bridge with motobikes
people
small, quiet and I cant see their smiles
Continue reading "Sky Box" »

Posted by

Nga To Thi Van

in Saigon at 13:53 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

Earthquake City? - Auckland

There is over four hundred commercial buildings in Auckland which may not survive a moderate earthquake. After the recent earthquake in Christchurch which damaged countless buildings and took many lives the spotlight has turned to Auckland questioning the safety and future of it's heritage buildings.
Continue reading "Earthquake City? - Auckland" »

Posted by

Jonathan Brooking

in Auckland at 04:09 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

Wednesday, May 25. 2011

Manila: Paint It!

Manila needs a major, major paint job.

I do not exaggerate when I say the city needs that much renovation, nor do I simply take off from what in the last year has become a very popular catchphrase in the country (“major, major”, because of this). I say it because the last ten years has seen parts of the city enshrouded in the most unlikely, and dare I say it, the most awful of color schemes—thanks to political and tourism campaigns that fail and change as quickly as people in position do. Continue reading "Manila: Paint It!" »

Posted by

Pia Benosa

in Manila at 05:58 | Comments (0) | Trackback (1)

Saturday, May 21. 2011

A Tale of Two Towers

Staring at each other across the Chao Praya river, which runs through the heart of Bangkok, stand two towers.

Neither are finished.

One never will be.

"The River" is a high-end residential development. It's currently under construction. It's marketed as THE place to live in he city. This photograph shows "The River" as seen from a tower on the opposite side of the river- "The Sathorn Unique"

Here is "The River"'s website - http://www.theriverbangkok.com/

Continue reading "A Tale of Two Towers" »

Posted by

Liam Morgan

in Bangkok at 09:12 | Comments (4) | Trackbacks (0)

Hanoi - the remnants of it

Even with the Hanoi now has little chance to be a time to admire the ancient houses from before the French colonial domination and discover the little secrets to create the charm of Hanoi . In the storm of the urbanization process, an integral part of the name Hanoi is gradually lost in the apartment building ...