Thursday, August 23, 2012

Oh Fogust


I love the fog. Really I do. Except when it feels interminable and omnipotent. Swaddled in cottony cool grey it seems unbelievable there there is another green and sunny world a short drive away. From black and white world to color, and back again.  This time of year it is good to work on both sides of the bridge, if only to keep the vitamin D up. Bay Area microclimates continue to amaze me, in spite of spending most of my life here. Bill Martin, the Channel 2 Weather guy, says the marine layer is 2000 ft. thick and I believe him. Brrrr.

Bill Martin Meteorologist

I suppose it could be worse. I could just drive or bus or bike a few miles and be in the uplifting summer sunshine. Here's a photo from a friend who's been trying to get out of Antarctica for almost a week. That's some macroclimate for you.


David Rothstein


Tuesday, August 14, 2012

The Power of Plants

At the risk of restating the obvious, today I am marveling, again, at the power of plants to enhance our lives, heal us, feed us, and improve our feeling of safety. Not to mention enable us to breathe.

Christian Science Monitor
Plants can transform neighborhoods, and increase your property value. We speak of "leafy neighborhoods", usually meaning more peaceful, and often upscale parts of town. Some even say plants will even help defend against zombies, so thank a plant today!

Comfortable Low Energy ARchitecture



Wednesday, August 8, 2012

"Placemaking"

Since this is a blog about place, and I've been blathering about New Urbanism, seems time to give a nod to the wonderful "Placemaking" that's been transforming communities so effectively. Project For Public Spaces  has a great summary of what the term has come to mean, as well as resources  to "create and sustain public spaces that build stronger communities."

PPS

Wiki also has a good definition, as well as a list of Placemaking architects. The best Placemaking is grassroots in nature, and good architecture and landscape architecture can play a huge roll in effectiveness. "Creative placemaking animates public and private spaces, rejuvenates structures and streetscapes, improves local business viability and public safety, and brings diverse people together to celebrate, inspire, and be inspired."  Thankfully revived in the 1960's, Placemaking used to be the natural process of community development, much as "artisanal" and "locavore" are new words to describe ancient ways. Reviving a communities connection to the specifics of  place brings happiness and prosperity back. Location, location, location!

PPS

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Walk Appeal

This terrific blog post from Better Cities and Towns, illustrates so well the truth that distance is less important than high levels of "walk appeal", such as we have in so many San Francisco and Marin neighborhoods. Streetsblog also addresses this. We know this intuitively, and walk appeal is fueling higher real estate values in walkable neighborhoods. People who live in places they are drawn to walk are generally healthier.  If you are new to San Francisco, or even if you're not, check out City Guides, they do free and awesome walking tours.

CityGuides
We will walk for miles if the experience is interesting, dynamic, and human scaled.  Also, we will walk for miles on lovely trails, which SF and Marin have in abundance. OK, time to get away from the computer and go for a walk!

Tom Killion