Book: Great Public Squares

FYI! This book is on my wish list :)
(http://books.wwnorton.com/books/Great-Public-Squares/)

"From the storied piazzas of Rome, Venice, and Florence to the elegant places of Paris via less familiar gathering places in Germany, the Czech Republic, Spain, and Portugal, to the former marketplaces and graceful Georgian-style squares of the United Kingdom, to the most interesting and impressive squares of the New World—Santa Fe, Portland, Boston, and New York—architect Robert Gatje offers new insights, stunning computer-generated plans, and color photographs to convey the spatial experience, supplemented by a brief history of each square and measurements to assess their success in meeting human needs for inspiring outdoor space. There is no other source for this comparative data in one place."

Its a good one!

Below is a photo of Place des Vosges, a famous square in Paris. I have great memories of lovely picnics and macaroons in this park :)

M.

Paris- La Cite de l'Architecture & du Patrimoine

It was a cold and gloomy winter day in February this year when I decided to visit La Cite de l'Architecture & du Patrimoine in Paris. http://http//www.citechaillot.fr/exposition/temporary_exhibitions.php?id=92.

Phillipe my Architect friend had never been and so together we hopped on the metro not knowing what to expect but hoping to discover something new and interesting. Little did we know we would spend 3+ hours loving every moment of the gallery and museum! Paris, such a historical city unfolded bit by bit through the displays of its planning history.



If you are lucky enough to be in Paris before the 1st of July 2010 you must stop through and visit the temporary exhibition 'Towards New Social Housing'. It features 16 recent (less than 5 years old) architectural works in France which represent a revival of social housing.



It was awesome, and inspiring! It made me excited for my future career and made me hope to be involved in such a creative, sustainable, social housing project one day.

Not to mention it had some of the most stunning views of the eiffel tower!