City Illustrations - Rowan Moore book cover

I am in the process of reading this book - so more comment on it in the future. For the moment I just want to have a post centred around this illustration - just the sort of thing I admire.

Essex House

I know this is a bit random because I haven't added anything to this blog for over a year. Its not there hasn't been anything to "catch my eye", but I guess I have allowed things that "catch my time" to dampen the spirit.
I came across this in bdonline. It wouldn't be out of place in Russia. Good luck to the designers and to Living Architecture for commissioning it.
Since publishing this post earlier today my copy of the RIBA Journal was delivered. The image is featured on the cover and the article inside explains that Living Architecture is a commercial venture by philosopher Alain de Botton. This is one of several holiday homes which amongst other things have an educational purpose to the extent that he calls the venture a "social enterprise". I think I am even more impressed.

City illustrations - Lotta Nieminen

I came across the work of Lotta Nieminen recently. Many of her illustrations depict the city or depict global networks. For me her style is charming and compelling.

City illustrations - David Downes

While I'm at it I will also broadcast a link to other artists with intriguing work that shows the city. Have a look at David Downes.

City illustrations - Hartwig Braun

This is another seriously interesting way of illustrating the character of parts of the city. Take a look at the rest of his work.

Frank's Cafe and the City Edges

Frank's Cafe caught my eye - featured briefly in AJ 080710. A temporary installation with cultural and social intent - it's edgy and not glossy but comes across as full of spirit. Intriguing to know what the show is like.
For me car parks are part of the city edge (edge of a hole?), they are low grade in terms of city quality and we should learn from activities like this that bring them into fruitful play. Carolyn Steel's piece in BD 090710 - Why not try living on the edge? - insightfully opens up some thoughts along these lines. How many car parks do we know that lead a double life with car boot sales at the weekend? While car parks are a necessity of the current human condition, the ability to make use of them when they are not being used for their prime purpose, does the city a great favour. What other uses have you observed or would like to see?