Digital City Briefs - Paris

What Makes Paris Look like Paris?

2012-08-08T20:25:00.002-04:00

In order to develop a computer model that looked and felt like Paris, the art directors for "Ratatouille" had to spend a week running around Paris taking photos. But, is there a better way to capture the essence of a city?

Researchers from Carnegie Mellon and INRIA/Ecole Normale Supérieure think so. They have created a data-mining software that automatically detects and processes unique architectural and urban features from Google Street View images.

“Researchers will present their findings Aug. 9 at SIGGRAPH 2012, the International Conference on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques, at the Los Angeles Convention Center.”

Afin d'élaborer un modèle informatique qui a examiné et ressenti comme Paris, les directeurs artistiques de « Ratatouille » devaient passer une semaine autour de Paris prendre des photos. Mais, y a-t-il une meilleure façon de capturer l'essence d'une ville ? Des chercheurs de l'INRIA/Ecole Normale Supérieure et de Carnegie Mellon pensent de même. Ils ont créé un logiciel d'exploration de données qui automatiquement détecte et traite des caractéristiques architecturales et urbaines, des images de Google Street View. « Chercheurs présenteront leurs conclusions du 9 août au SIGGRAPH 2012, l'International Conference on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques, au Convention Center de Los Angeles. »

Reference: Spice, Byron, What Makes Paris Look Like Paris? CMU Software Uncovers Stylistic Core, CMU.edu, August 7, 2012

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Virtual Tourism – Paris

Former Mine Field in Lens as a Cultural Destination

Urban Life in a 130 Square-Foot Apartment

Moscow’s Traffic Congestion

Virtual Tourism - Paris

2012-07-17T21:12:00.002-04:00

Digital assisted tourism refers to the use of apps for mobile devices such as iPhone and iPod to enhance the travel experience. Such apps can provide personal guidance on issues of interest, and fill in the missing information about a place’s history and legends.

Virtual tourism goes one step further. It recreates the experience of travelling in a digital form. It can also recreate historical settings which no longer exist.

“Virtual tours can be especially useful for universities and in the real-estate industry, looking to attract prospective students and tenants/buyers, respectively, eliminating for the consumer the cost of travel to numerous individual locations.”

Tourisme assistée numérique fait référence à l'utilisation des applications pour les appareils mobiles comme les iPhone et iPod pour améliorer l'expérience de voyage. Ces apps peuvent fournir des conseils personnels sur les questions d'intérêt et remplissez les informations manquantes sur d'un lieu histoire et de légendes. Tourisme virtuel va plus loin. Il recrée l'expérience de voyage sous une forme numérique. Il peut aussi recréer des contextes historiques qui n'existent plus. « Visites virtuelles peuvent être particulièrement utiles pour les universités et dans l'industrie de l'immobilier, qui cherchent à attirer les étudiants et les locataires et les acheteurs, respectivement, éliminer, pour le consommateur, le coût du voyage de nombreux emplacements individuels. »

Reference: Three-dimensional virtual tourism, Wikipedia

Other Recent Posts:

Former Mine Field in Lens as a Cultural Destination

Urban Life in a 130 Square-Foot Apartment

Moscow’s Traffic Congestion
A Right to Pee - Mumbai

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A Former Mine Field in Lens as a Cultural Destination

2012-07-03T08:20:00.001-04:00

A 300,000 square-foot museum is under construction on a 153 acre site, which was a former mine field. The design consists of five one story high pavilions which will dissolve into the landscape. The new Louvre is expected to be a cultural destination and play a critical role in the renaissance of Lens.

“One of the museum’s objectives will be teaching the public how to look at art. Works will be presented in an educational context, which will draw heavily on the latest information and communication technologies.”

Une ancienne Mine Field à Lens comme un culturel Destination A 300 000 pieds carrés Musée est en cours de construction sur un site de 153 acres, qui était une ancienne mine de champ. La conception se compose de cinq pavillons haut une histoire qui seront dissoudra dans le paysage. Le nouveau Louvre devrait être une nouvelle destination culturelle et jouent un rôle essentiel dans la renaissance de la lentille. « L'un des objectifs du Musée vont enseigner au public Comment regarder art. Œuvres seront présentées dans un contexte éducatif, qui s'appuiera largement sur les informations les plus récentes et les technologies de la communication. »

Reference: Louvre Lens by SANAA, January 8, 2010

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Urban Life in a 130 Square-Foot Apartment

Moscow’s Traffic Congestion
A Right to Pee - Mumbai
A Vision for Inclusive Cities - New Delhi

Urban Life in a 130 Square-Foot Apartment

2012-07-03T08:12:00.002-04:00

"Europeans have long known how to make their tiny spaces feel triumphant. But this apartment in the Montparnasse neighborhood of Paris is an above-and-beyond exemplar of hyper-efficient, micro-urban living.”

What was once a master bed room in a larger apartment has become a split level studio unit. The new space was designed very intelligently and is adaptable for various uses. The split level floor plan eliminates a need for a partition between kitchen/bath and living/sleeping areas. It also provides much needed storage space for a bed on wheels, which can be moved halfway to create an illusion of a couch.

La vie urbaine dans un 130 pieds carrés appartement « les européens savent depuis longtemps comment faire triompher leurs espaces minuscules. Mais cet appartement dans le quartier de Montparnasse de Paris est un modèle au-dessus et au-delà de la vie hyper efficace, micro-urbaine ». Ce qui était autrefois une chambre de maître lit dans un appartement plus grand est devenu une unité de niveau studio fendu. Le nouvel espace a été conçu de façon très intelligente et est adaptable à divers usages. Le plan de scission niveau élimine la nécessité d'une cloison entre la cuisine et salle de bains et les zones de vie et dormir. Il prévoit également d'espace de stockage nécessaire pour un lit sur roues, qui peut être déplacé à mi-chemin pour créer l'illusion d'un divan.

Reference and photo credit: Walker, Alissa, Living Large in a 130-Square-Foot Apartment, Wired.com, May 22, 2012

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Tradition and Modernity Merge at the Russian Orthodox Center

2012-06-07T20:27:00.002-04:00

This is a competition winning project, which is located adjacent to the Eiffel Tower. It consists of a large public garden surrounded by a glass wall of multimedia screens. A glass canopy covers the garden and connects the cultural center with the church. This canopy is a unifying element, "..which descends from the domes of the church, covers the garden, and bends around the reconstructed corner building." The center is designed to create a positive image for the Russian Orthodoxy.

"The creation of a Russian Orthodox cultural centre in Europe will help strengthen international relations and is of enormous importance from the point of view of education and culture. By making this cultural centre a combination of tradition and modernity it will be possible to attract visitors from all generations, including young people."

Il s'agit d'un projet gagnant du concours, qui est situé à côté de la tour Eiffel. Il se compose d'un grand jardin public entouré d'un mur de verre des écrans multimédias. Une verrière couvre le jardin et relie le Centre culturel avec l'église. Cette voûte est un élément fédérateur, « [...]qui descend les dômes de l'église, couvre le jardin et plis autour du bâtiment reconstruit coin. » Le Centre est conçu pour créer une image positive de l'orthodoxie russe. « La création d'un centre culturel orthodoxe russe en Europe contribuera à renforcer les relations internationales et est d'une importance considérable du point de vue de l'éducation et la culture. En faisant cela culturel centre une combinaison de la tradition et la modernité, il sera possible d'attirer des visiteurs de toutes les générations, y compris les jeunes. »

Reference: Cultural and Spiritual Russian Orthodox Center in Paris by Arch Group and Sade Sarl, dezeen.com, March 22, 2011

Public Arts Festival

Boston Modernism

Post Tsunami Architecture

The First Elevated Park in the World

2012-05-24T20:13:00.001-04:00

Although the High Line in New York City has been glorified as a trend setter, it was not the first elevated railroad park in the world. That credit goes to la Promenade Plantée in Paris. La Promenade Plantée was built on a former Vincennes railway line that connected a distance of 2.9 miles between Place de la Bastille and Verneuil-l'Étang. It was abandoned in 1969. The railway line was renovated in the eighties and many buildings along the railway line were either renovated or reconstructed.

La première Elevated Park dans le monde bien que la High Line à New York City a été glorifié comme un trend setter, il n'était pas le premier parc du chemin de fer surélevée dans le monde. Ce crédit va à la Promenade Plantée à Paris. La Promenade Plantée a été construite sur un ancien chemin de fer de Vincennes qui reliée à une distance de 2,9 milles entre la Place de la Bastille et de Verneuil-l'Étang. Elle fut abandonnée en 1969. La ligne de chemin de fer a été rénovée dans les années 80 et de nombreux bâtiments le long de la ligne de chemin de fer ont été rénovés ou reconstruits. Voici une brève vidéo sur « Une promenade sur la promenade plantée »

Here is a brief video on "Une promenade sur la promenade plantée"

Reference: Promenade plantée, Wikipedia

Atlantic Yards: Barclays Center Arena

Re-Imagining Future of Cities

Sao Paulo’s Minhocão: A Public Space on an Elevated Highway

The Exhibition Pavilion by Zaha Hadid

2012-05-19T13:41:00.004-04:00

The Exhibition Pavilion by Zaha Hadid:

Music Cloud, New Philharmonic Hall, Paris - Parc de la Villette

Tokyo: Harajuku

Galleria Lia Rumma

Re-Imagining Future of Cities

2012-05-14T20:10:00.000-04:00

“For the first time in our history, we are a world of cities -- and this is just the beginning. By 2050, the global urban population will reach 7 billion people, double the number living in cities today.”

New Cities Summit is underway at Place de la Defense in Paris. The presenters include global thought leaders and decision makers. The summit is entitled “Thinking Ahead, Building Together”. The discussions would focus on the scale and pace of urbanization as well as challenges and opportunities to create sustainable, vibrant, innovative and equitable communities. The particular focus will be on rapidly urbanizing regions of the world.

Réinvention de l'avenir des villes : sommet des villes nouvelles est en cours à la Place de la défense à Paris. Les présentateurs sont décideurs et leaders d'opinion mondiaux. Le sommet est intitulé « Thinking Ahead, bâtir ensemble ». Le débat porterait sur l'ampleur et le rythme de l'urbanisation ainsi que les défis et les possibilités de créer des communautés durables, dynamiques, innovateurs et équitables. L'accent particulier sera mis sur les régions du monde qui s'urbanisent rapidement.

Reference: New Cities Summit, Paris 2012, New Cities Foundation.

Atlantic Yards: Barclays Center Arena

The First Elevated Park in the World

Sao Paulo’s Minhocão: A Public Space on an Elevated Highway

Music Cloud, New Philharmonic Hall, Paris - Parc de la Villette

2012-05-12T13:05:00.001-04:00

Music Cloud, New Philharmonic Hall, Paris - Parc de la Villette by

Coop Himmelblau

The Exhibition Pavilion by Zaha Hadid

Tokyo: Harajuku

Galleria Lia Rumma

Tour of Paris

2012-05-01T20:23:00.000-04:00

Here is a brief video on Paris:

A Walk Through Sydney

Tour of Sydney

Tour of Tel Aviv

Urban Development Taxonomy

2012-04-30T08:36:00.001-04:00

How does a city develop into a global destination? Is a city more than a collection of great buildings? Is a city more than a collection of great people? What makes a city great? What are the forces that drive urban development?

There are many sites that provide tourism related information about cities. While we want to understand what makes a city great, we are also interested in the messy gray area, where decisions are made about the future of a city. What drives such decision-making? Is that purely a speculative gamble or are there hidden forces at work? What roles do design professionals play in such decision-making? What role does leadership play? Where does such leadership come from? What role does local government play?

We will focus on four broad categories of urban interventions:

Tourism development:

Urban interventions intended to spur or support tourism.

Hotels, convention centers, museums, art galleries, public arts festivals, fashion shows, business shows, public expositions, public events. Ecotourism, sustainable tourism, heritage tourism, leisure, recreation, urban tourism, parks, sports stadiums, arenas, public plazas,

Smart infrastructure:

Urban interventions intended to spur or support smart urbanization technologies.

Smart grid, smart design, smart transit, smart buildings, renewable energy, sustainable architecture, green building, smart architecture, smart meters, smart traffic signaling, mass transit, smart city, smart infrastructure, augmented reality, urban data networks, collaborative networks, digital city.

Economic development:

Urban interventions intended to spur or support economic development.

Business incubators, start-ups, universities, research centers, innovation labs, demonstration projects, affordable housing, transit hubs, rezoning, urban renewal, environmental remediation, brown fields, urban design, new construction, renovation, mass transit systems, manufacturing, warehousing, freight delivery, transportation, logistics, urban upgrading, finance, law, regulations, institutions, leadership.

Branding and global identity:

Urban interventions intended to create a unique brand.

Global influence, city image, uniqueness, branding, identity, signature buildings, global events, public expositions, leadership, historic preservation, tourist attractions, urban design, celebrations.

Miscellaneous Key words:

General information, summary, statistics, comparative study, geography, emergency preparedness, disaster mitigation, low income housing, urbanization, slum upgrading, geography, climate, culture, people, demographics, history.

Photo Credit: Armin Hornung. This is a file from the Wikimedia Commons under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.