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Oops! Deleted the Template

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 10:55:00 +0000

My apologies we deleted the template accidentally this morning - its in need of a revamp however and a big push on the blog/book.

It will be back :)

Andy

109 Razor Wire

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 10:04:00 +0000

No details on location of this one but the image speaks for itself.

Thanks to Jusitndula on flickr for submitting it to our group, he notes that the graffiti/razorwire & marks a Modern/traditional architecture juxtaposition. You can view the full size image via Flickr.

If you would like to be in the book its simple, wherever you are in the world simply take a photograph of anything you think is a bad example of architecture, urban planning, streetscape or anything related to the city.

Once you have your photograph, at as high a resolution as possible, you can simply upload it to our newly created group on Flickr, Worlds Worst Urban Spaces and Place including a description of between 100 and 250 words.

We will then include the text and image in a blog post as well as the book, full credit will of course be included on the blog and on your page/section of the book.

Rozzol Melara,Trieste

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 11:38:00 +0000

Sol has uploaded some great images to our Flickr Group for the World Worst Urban Places and Spaces book. The photographs focus on the Rozzol Melara settlement in Trieste, Italy, taken in 2004 while Sol was researching is final these project entitled '31 Stories'.

In Sol's words:

The complex consists of a squared array. Adjacent blocks are connected by a small bridge. It's all about concrete. By entering the Complex you instantly feel uncomfortable. I have hardly had these in any other building. But this is a piece of real brutalist architecture. Wide and dark corridors where the residents even take their dogs for a walk, lots of echoing sounds, and yes on one of the pictures you can actually see a car driving inside the house, there's a ramp leading to the higher floors. Climbing up complex stairways, the structure really is a maze! A place definitely not to live in and as a place still very fascinating and disturbing.

The images do portray an unnerving place, it almost goes without saying that if the development was in the United Kingdom it would of probably been listed by now.

You can view the rest of Sol's pictures direct via our Flickr group, while your there upload your own images to appear in the forthcoming reader created book on the Worlds Worst Urban Places and Spaces.

Cheltenham Spa

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 11:27:00 +0000

The latest addition to the book comes from Dawid Gorny who has recently moved to Cheltenham Spa.

Wikipedia describes Cheltenham as a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, England, near Gloucester and Cirencester. The town has a population of 110,013 (2001 census) and the people of the town are known as "Cheltonians". The town motto is: Salubritas et Eruditio ("Health and Education").

The town is located on the edge of the Cotswolds and has an image of being respectable and wealthy. Cheltenham has been a health and holiday spa town resort since the discovery of mineral springs there in 1716. The town is famous for its Regency architecture and is said to be "the most complete regency town in England". The small River Chelt flows under and through the town.

Too quote Dawid:

'I took this photo in Cheltenham on a bridge on Tewkesbury Road. Depicting a subway path under this bridge of note is the sign telling you that it is open to public but it isn't and has been closed since I live in Cheltenham. I think it's such a waste of space when it's not open and there is no zebra crossing on the bridge instead so you have to pass all the way to cross a road'

It is these small overlooked parts of our urban environments that add up to create a grim scene. The photograph is well worth viewing at full size via Flickr as you can start to appreciate why Dawid sent it in.

Manchester, United Kingdom

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 12:19:00 +0000

Andreas Baeing has uploaded some stunningly grim images of his local urban environment to our Flick Pool the 'Worlds Worst Urban Places and Spaces' for the forthcoming reader contributed book.

Pictured above right is is an example of extreme CCTVing plus some barb-wiring, located in East Manchester. Andreas notes that living in England means, you are recorded on some CCTV system all the time. Which we have to say is true, the average person in the UK is recorded on CCTV 300 times a day.

Continuing Andreas's tour is, in his own words, a rather strange urban structure... It is the ventilation building for the Wallassey tunnel across the Mersey in North Liverpool. It is horrible and fascinating at the same time, somehow a reminder of early science fiction movies

And our final pick of Andreas's images from the pool is a vacant tower block in East Manchester. One can see that some of the rooms of been burnt out, he assumes by arson attacks.

If you would like to contribute it is easy, simply go out into your local urban environment and photograph anything that you think is an example of poor architecture, urban design or use of space. It could be a photograph of a run down phonebox or a disused building, perhaps a concrete monstrosity from the 1970's or anything that you think fits.

To take part you can simply upload your photography to our Flickr Pool, Worlds Worst Urban Spaces and Place including a description of between 100 and 250 words. The image and text will then be used in a blog post and included in the forthcoming user created book.

Its as simple as that, see our previous post for full details on the book.

Katowice, Poland

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 11:07:00 +0000

This one made us smile, the majority of the images in the book we are assuming will focus on architecture and the urban scene in general but this image with the human element just sums up that sinking feeling of a terrible town.

Submitted to our Flickr Pool by Craig Nunn, Craig provides a great background to the image:

Whilst working as English teachers in Poland, Tomek and I would often ask our students where the worst place in Poland was. The unanimous answer was Katowice.

We decided to make a journey around Poland by train and made a point of stopping off in Katowice. The weather was suitably ominous, and we were greeted with a crumbling mass of dirty grey concrete. Katowice was truly breathtakingly dull and average, and we spent about ten minutes loitering around the station taking it all in, took this photo as a memento, and left on the next train.

It turns out Katowice was all we hoped it would be, because for the rest of the journey we were in awe of the beauty Poland has to offer elsewhere.

To take part you can simply upload your photography to our Flickr Pool, Worlds Worst Urban Spaces and Place including a description of between 100 and 250 words. The image and text will then be used in a blog post and included in the forthcoming user created book.

Its as simple as that, see our previous post for full details on the book.

Nihonbashi -Tokyo Metropolitan Expressway

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 13:24:00 +0000

The latest submission to the forthcoming book is from Martinpfirrmann via our Flickr Pool.

This is an interesting one, in Martins words - probably one of the worst thing you can do in urban planning is to built a street right next to a river. Even worse is only to built a street on top of a river. Japan however even tops this.

Nihonbashi - meaning "Bridge of Japan" - was first built in the center of Japan in 1603. The area around Nihonbashi was the major business and financial district until the 20th century. The bridge is the origin of measuring distances for all places in Japan.

Since then, it was rebuilt about 20 times; today’s renaissance-style stone bridge was constructed in 1911. Only in 1999, it was designated as a cultural asset.

Though being a significant element in Japanese history, shortly before the Olympics in 1964, the elevated Tokyo Metropolitan Expressway was constructed over the bridge.

Plans to remove the ugly highway are without progress. So tourists will continue to stunningly watch this world-class mis-development in Japanese Planning - a disaster that continues to put a whole nation to shame.

The sad part, this is only the tip of the iceberg, as Japanese Bureaucracy still continues to completly destroy every single historical monument and natural piece of landscape.

If you would like to contribute it is easy, simply go out into your local urban environment and photograph anything that you think is an example of poor architecture, urban design or use of space. It could be a photograph of a run down phonebox or a disused building, perhaps a concrete monstrosity from the 1970's or anything that you think fits.

Once you have your photograph you can simply upload it to our newly created group on Flickr, Worlds Worst Urban Spaces and Place including a description of between 100 and 250 words.

Its as simple as that, see our previous post for full details on the book.

Blackburn, Lancashire

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 09:52:00 +0000

Frannk has uploaded a great image to our Fickr Pool for the reader created Digital Urban Book 'The Worlds Worst Urban Places and Spaces.

In Frannk's words: This image was taken as part of a mass observation project of the town of Blackburn in Lancashire, North West, England. Over the last few years I've started to document the changes taking place in the town under their banner of 'Urban Regeneration' .

Blackburn had at one time come under Lancashire County Council but a few years ago opted out of their control and now looks after it's own finances. The result being, more money for the town and more investment rather than it being spent in 'places like Preston.

By 'opting out', Lancashire County Council no longer sees Blackburn as a Town situated in Lancashire and refuses to acknowledge the town even though Blackburn is bang in the center of Lancashire.... work that one out!!

If you would like to contribute it is easy, simply go out into your local urban environment and photograph anything that you think is an example of poor architecture, urban design or use of space. It could be a photograph of a run down phonebox or a disused building, perhaps a concrete monstrosity from the 1970's or anything that you think fits.

Once you have your photograph you can simply upload it to our newly created group on Flickr, Worlds Worst Urban Spaces and Place including a description of between 100 and 250 words.

Its as simple as that, see our previous post for full details on the book.

Exhibition Road Pedestrian Subway, London

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 09:58:00 +0000

Frankie Roberto has become the first contributor to the forthcoming book Worlds Worst Urban Places and Spaces authored completely by readers of the blog.

In Frankies' words the image captures the pedestrian subway that runs under Exhibition Road from South Kensington tube station to the three major museums of the area. In school holidays it echoes with the sound of excitable children, at other times it's just a souless, never ending tunnel of despair with little daylight, and no connection with the outside environment. Worse, the subway is prone to leaking when it rains, sometimes to the extent that the subway has to be closed, ironically at the time when it's most useful.

If you would like to contribute it is easy, simply go out into your local urban environment and photograph anything that you think is an example of poor architecture, urban design or use of space. It could be a photograph of a run down phonebox or a disused building, perhaps a concrete monstrosity from the 1970's or anything that you think fits.

Once you have your photograph you can simply upload it to our newly created group on Flickr, Worlds Worst Urban Spaces and Place including a description of between 100 and 250 words.

Its as simple as that.

About - Contribute to the Book

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 13:47:00 +0000

We are looking for authors to contribute to a new book on the Worlds Worst Urban Places and Spaces. The book embraces the concept of Web 2.0 by being based around Flickr and self publishing, in essence it is a nod to the changing world of publishing, you the readers and the ability to print on demand.

Whats it About?

The book is aimed to be a tour around the worlds worst examples of architecture, urban design and urban space as photographed by the readers of this blog. Using photographs and short pieces of text uploaded via Flickr we are proposing 100 + pages with a foreword by ourselves at Digital Urban.

How Can i Take Part?

Simply go out into your local urban environment and photograph anything that you think is an example of poor architecture, urban design or use of space. It could be a photograph of a run down phonebox or a disused building, perhaps a concrete monstrosity from the 1970's or anything that you think fits.

Once you have your photograph you can simply upload it to our newly created group on Flickr, Worlds Worst Urban Spaces and Place including a description of between 100 and 250 words. Its as simple as that.

Can i Vew Progress?

We have created a new blog page 'Worlds Worst Urban Places and Spaces' where each new submission will be posted, we will put in some light editing before posting so don't worry about your writing skills per se. This will also allow you to see what text will be included in the book.

When will the Book be Published?

The book will be published when we have enough content so that is down to you, it could be out next week, next month or in the next year. The beauty about Web 2.0 and self publishing is that we can send it to print as soon as the content is there and update it on a regular basis.

How Much Will it Cost?

For a book of 100 pages we are looking at approximately $25 although final details are subject to change, we will probably be using Blurb as our publisher due to their reputation for high quality colour reproduction.

Will you make a Profit From the Book?

The book will be sold at cost and is a collective community effort in the spirit of web 2.0 and the blog in general, as such it will be non-profit.

So welcome to the start of a book completely based on the readers of this blog, we hope it takes off and a book is out of the door in the next few months, a collective book where you are the author.

See the Worlds Worst Urban Spaces and Places blog page for the latest posts (note this will take shape over the coming weeks as content is sent in via Flickr)

Welcome to the Worlds Worst Urbans Places and Spaces

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 13:27:00 +0000

Welcome to the Worlds Worst Urban Places and Spaces - a sister site to digitial urban.blogspot.com this site is dedicated to exploring the worst examples of urban planning and architecture in the world.

As such its content is down to you and it is easy to submit via our own Flikr Group. Simply add your photograph along with a short description between 100 and 250 words to the Worlds Worst Urban Spaces and Places Flickr Group.

As a kick off the prize of first post in Worst Urban Place and Space goes to the Millennium Dome in London. Designed by Richard Rogers the Dome has come in for a considerable amount of criticism. It should however be noted that it has contributed to the regeneration of the local area - but considering it cost 50 Million (UK) to build that should go without saying.

The dome was sold to US Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) and reopened in July 2007 as the O2, an entertainment complex including a 22,000 seat concert and sports venue, cinema, music club and exhibition spaces.

The fact that London won the Olympic bid for 2012 has given the Dome a new lease of life but the fact remains it stands out on the London landscape as an embarrassing example of both architecture and urban planning.