W E L C O M E ..T O ..T H E ..U R B A N .L O V E R S ..W O R L D
 
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"Urban Lovers"
NEWS-LETTER
by
A Vision of Europe
in collaboration with
CIVICARCH - University of Ferrara
2008 / II
 
 
COMPACT CITY
vs
SUBURBAN SKYSCRAPERS
Perspectives for an Ecological Smart Growth
CIVICARCH 2008 International Workshop
University of Ferrara - A Vision of Europe - Fondation pour l'Architecture
Another AVOE Goal !
University of Ferrara, 2008 March 4
Gabriele Tagliaventi (AVOE) and Maurice Culot (FpA)
New compact cities presented at the University of Ferrara
as an ecological alternative to obsolete skyscrapers.
A campaign to develop and enrich EU-city begins
Enrico Sicignano (University of Salerno)
Federica Ribera (University of Salerno)
Chiara Casati (University of Naples
Donatella Diolaiti, Alessandro Bucci
CIVICARCH – Laboratory of Architectural Design and Building Technology
University of Ferrara - Via Saragat 1, 44100 Ferrara, Italy
Phone ++39-0532-974915 Fax ++39-0532-974870 civicarch@unife.it
 
THE PROJECT OF THE MONTH
Potomac Greens, Alexandria, VA
www.eya.com
Located just off the GW Parkway in Old Town Alexandria's Historic District, Potomac Greens features 120 EYA townhomes designed in classic colonial style. As part of the Potomac Greens neighborhood, EYA also designed and constructed Potomac Plaza - a 15,000 square foot retail shopping center that features restaurants, clothing stores, dry cleaner and other neighborhood serving amenities.
photos courtesy by : www.eya.com
 
POSTCARD OF THE MONTH
Anybody can make good use of this photo !
Greetings from Neumarkt, Dresden, Germany
photo by Chiara Casati, 2008 February

Neumarkt Reconstruction: the new buildings
THE MONSTER OF THE MONTH
Milano, new facilities of the Bocconi University
"The new facilities of the Bocconi University is a monster, Students commite suicide as they enter the building. (...) I sugegst to visit it in order to realize how ugnly things are..." (2007, Adriano Celentano)
/"La nuova sede dell'Università Bocconi di Milano è un mostro. Gli studenti appena entrano si suicidano..(...) Consiglio di visitarla, perchè si veda fino a che punto le cose sono brutte..." (2007, Adriano Celentano)
 
THE VIRUS OF THE MONTH

Space Invaders (Type A)

Space Invaders (Type B)
NEW !
Readers are invited to vote and suggest ideas. Many are the possibilities.
The editing committee is confident that an interesting set of candidatures will emerge.

Milano, Italy: suburbs "propellers"
 
THE DEMOLITION OF THE MONTH
Demolition of the ABC Tower
Cité Balzac, Vitry-sur-Seine
2007, February 14th
...
 
THE CONFERENCE OF THE MONTH
CNU XVI: New Urbanism and the Booming Metropolis
Austin, Texas - April 3 trough 6, 2008
How do we make New Urbanism flourish in the suburbs and boomtowns of high-growth America? How can regions preserve their local character and environment while creating vital new and renewed communities? From new rail systems to infill transit-oriented development to the downtown high-rise boom, Austin is the place to see how New Urbanism is making a difference on the front lines of American growth. Attend the premier gathering of new urbanists April 3-6, 2008.
* * *

Ecocity World Summit 2008
April 22-26, 2008 in San Francisco, California
Throughout Earth Day Week, April 22-26, 2008 in San Francisco, California, the Ecocity World Summit (7th International Ecocity Conference) will be convening an international community of inspired change-makers; courageous individuals who are addressing problems of the world's environment with thoughtful long-range solutions that are truly sustainable, ecologically healthy and socially just.
The International Ecocity Conference Series brings together the key innovators, decision makers, technologists, businesses and organizations shaping the conversation around ecological and sustainable city, town and village design, planning and development. We intend to put these issues on the economic and environmental agenda for 2008 and beyond.
 
THE BOOK OF THE MONTH
Présentation
Imaginez une commune de 21000 habitants, en faillite, comptant près de 75 % de logements sociaux à l'abandon. Imaginez-vous élu à sa tête à 33 ans...

Ce fut le cas de Philippe Pemezec, élu maire du Plessis-Robinson en 1989. Dix-huit ans plus tard, il a su faire de ce bastion de la "ceinture rouge de Paris", de cette banlieue à la triste mine, une ville recherchée du sud de la capitale. Une ville qu'il a reconstruite pièce par pièce, en appliquant des principes qui s'imposent aujourd'hui : rénovation urbaine, mixité, centralité, urbanisme de rue, architecture classique, accession sociale à la propriété... Au-delà du témoignage se dessine le véritable combat d'un élu pour réhabiliter la banlieue et offrir à ses habitants une ville à visage humain. Un bonheur de ville.
Titre :
Bonheur de ville

Sous-titre :
Un maire au chevet de sa banlieue

Éditeur :
Editions d'Organisation

juin 2007

Édition :
1ère édition

Support : aucun
Nb de pages : 126
Format : 15 x 22,5
Couverture : Broché
Intérieur : Noir et Blanc

ISBN10 : 2-212-53894-4
ISBN13 : 978-2-212-53894-6

EAN13 : 9782212538946
www.editions-eyrolles.com
 
THE MOVIE OF THE MONTH

Charlie Wilson's War

Director: Mike Nichols

Writers (WGA):Aaron Sorkin (screenplay)
George Crile (book)

Release Date: 8 February 2008 (ItalY)

Genre: Biography / Drama more

Tagline: A stiff drink. A little mascara. A lot of nerve. Who said they couldn't bring down the Soviet empire.

Plot Outline: A drama based on a Texas congressman Charlie Wilson's covert dealings in Afghanistan, where his efforts to assist rebels in their war with the Soviets have some unforeseen and long-reaching effects.

Plot Keywords: Show Girl / CIA Officer / CIA Agent / Blowback / Belly Dancer more

Awards: Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 10 nominations

User Comments: A Bittersweet Political Comedy

 
CLIP OF THE MONTH
Everybody needs good Neighbours
1986
Neighbours is a soap made by Grundy TV and shown in 55 countries.
Neighbours was born in Australiaa, following the lives and relationships of the residents of Ramsay Street in the fictional suburb of Erinsborough. Neighbours explores the romances, family problems, domestic squabbles and other key life events affecting the various residents.
The secret of Neighbours’ longevity lies not only in the show’s consistently strong storylines but also in its constant supply of talented actors.
Neighbours has launched the successful careers of international stars such as Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Guy Pearce, Natalie Imbruglia and Holly Valance.

 

MASTERPIECES
OF 20th CENTURY ARCHITECTURE

Cass Gilbert
Detroit Public Library

Detroit, Michigan, USA, 1921
.

More info available at: The Other Modern, edited by G.Tagliaventi, Dogma Editions
 
EDUCATION
A new Graduate Fellowship Programme for architects & designers
The Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment has established a Graduate Fellowship to meet the need for the next generation of architects and designers who will evolve traditional architecture and urbanism in response to the global climate and urbanisation challenges.
The two-year paid Graduate Fellowship will commence in summer 2008. It ,is designed for recent graduates in architecture, planning, landscape architecture, civil engineering and surveyors who wish to take part in addressing the global need for a more sustainable urbanism. It involve placements at The Foundation and with committed practitioners in the United Kingdom as well as an ongoing programme of master classes.
For more information
 
SUGGESTED ARTICLES & WEBSITES
Want to Cut Crime? It Takes a Neighborhood. (READ)
By Tim Harford, washingtonpost.com

Foreclosures lead to another problem: suburban blight (READ)
Empty homes attract criminals and squatters, but communities are fighting back.
By Chip Jacobs, Special to The Times

Who loves contemporary urban planning? The dream wonder the mayor of Plessis-Robinson (READ)
Cyber ARCHI

A design idea too good to hide (READ)
Vision Group Realty

www.liveinsouthborough.com (LOOK)

APTA Study on Transit and Land Use
(READ)
Posted by Laurence Aurbac (Ped Shed)

No Big Dig copycats (READ)
As other cities consider removing elevated highways, activists cite Boston as a reason not to go underground
By Noah Bierman , Boston.com

Leaving the Dark Ages (READ)
Princeton’s new Whitman College is a triumph and a vindication of traditional building.
By Richard Sammons

America's 50 Greenest Cities (READ)
By Elizabeth Svoboda, with additional reporting by Eric Mika and Saba Berhie
popsci.com

L.A. officials do a 180 in traffic planning (READ)
By Steve Hymon, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

The 2008 Winners of the Charter Awards (READ)
CNU.ORG

Prince and the revolution (READ)
www.propertyweek.com

New condos echo Tudor style (READ)
BY LISA BERNARD-KUHN, The Enquirer

Some Cities Are Spared the Slide in Housing (READ)
By CLIFFORD KRAUSS and RON NIXON
New York Times

Don’t Let the Green Grass Fool You (READ)
By ALEX WILLIAMS
New York Times

The Age of Alternative Energy: Is the Future Renewable? (READ)
SageJournalsOnline

Cyburbia, The Planning Community (LOOK)

Urban Advisors Ltd (LOOK)

The Traditional Buildings Conference and Exhibition (LOOK)

New Urban Guild Manufactured Architecture Program (LOOK)

Prevention Institute (LOOK)

Living Upstairs at Bethesda Row (LOOK)

The Goodspeed Update
Rob Goodspeed’s website about urbanism and Washington, D.C.
Can Wheaton Become the Next Silver Spring? (READ)

TND Neighborhoods by State and Country (LOOK)
The Town Paper

The Original Green
Sustainability That’s More Than Gizmo Green (VISIT)

Village Partners
Developers of Distinctive Places (VISIT)
* * *
ALL THE CONTRIBUTIONS OR COLLABORATIONS ARE WELCOME
mail to avoenewsletter@yahoo.it
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
A Vision of Europe - Via Cesare Battisti, 17 / 40123 Bologna
Ph. +39 051 6569392 Fax +39 051 6568778
avoe@libero.it - civicarch@unife.it
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