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It's Funny Because It's True (but Sad)

Posted by Bil on December 3, 2004 01:56 AM

I laughed out loud when I read this today:

Statistically, downtown is one of the safest neighborhoods in Providence. Its reputation for insecurity springs from perceptions arising from darkness, litter, graffiti, vandalism, public urination, modern architecture, auto break-ins, and the boisterous behavior of the sweetly stewed.

I appreciate jabs at the structural arrogance we call modern architecture of course, but it's actually true that the alienating-by-design philosophy of modernists does few things as well as permanently blinding "eyes on the street" as easily as it tosses beautiful ornamentation. Read Jane Jacobs for more on that, but you've already done that, right?

So henceforth consider it a civic duty to support your local law enforcement: fight modern architecture!

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Comments
R

Can't we distinguish between good modern architecture (like most of Montreal) and bad modern architecture (like New Haven), or are we just happy making blanket statements about an aesthetic style that is more diverse than we give it credit for?

December 14, 2004 11:12 AM
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