On my way home from the city centre on Midsummer Eve, I snapped this photo of an old lady with a walker, moving very slowly into a part of town that is going through a major transformation compared to what it used to be. When I moved to this town to live in the mid 1980s, this was a rather deserted area of old industrial buildings. Now only a couple of those still preserved, while others are being replaced by one 'skyscraper' after the other of new apartment blocks.
I know nothing about the old woman; but watching her, I could not help thinking that if she has perhaps lived all her life in this town, it must all seem even more strange to her. Even to me (not yet in need of a walker, but recently 'old age' pensioner), the world seems to be spinning ever faster these days, while I keep slowing down...
A couple of weeks ago I took some more photos of what is going on:
(this photo from back in April, hence no leaves on the tree)
I know the population is growing and that we need housing, but I have to say that this "densification" with more and more tower blocks close to the city centre does not appeal to me... In the flats at the top, or facing the river, I suppose some lucky people are or will be enjoying great views. But with so many tall buildings so close to one another now, a lot of other people must just be staring straight at their neighbours in the next building...
I live in a flat myself, but on the 2nd floor of a 3-storey building, and with quite wide green lawns between the buildings. It's not a high status area (built in the 1940s and the flats rather small) but I keep praying/wishing they'll continue to keep it like this - with low buildings and spacious green areas in between.
Here I should have some photos to insert for comparison, but although I must have taken plenty over the years, they prove difficult to find in my archives... Oh, found a couple of old ones at last that should prove the point: Distance between the buildings, and a larger park/playground area in the middle of the estate. And plenty of trees and flowers.
Linking to Weekend Street
Well, the town will lose quite a bit of it's charm and quaintness, plus no more small town feel. I totally agree with you on your thoughts about this! I cannot figure out this last photo. Is it asculpture with gigantic blooms and leaves?
ReplyDeleteNo, it's a close-up focusing on blooms on a crab apple tree in spring. Blurry playground in the background.
Deletethere is not stopping the building, we are so over populated they have to stack everyone up and the more tall buildings and concrete the worse our climate gets. USA has enough emissions now to ruin the climate by itself. every house here has 3, 5 and 7 cars parked at it. no way to stack them up here, but they are stashing them in rooms, on flat ones. the world is spinning faster and faster and change is too
ReplyDeleteSandra, yes obviously overpopulation and how we handle both that and the climate issues is a global problem. I'm just wondering every time I pass this particular part of town now, what they were really thinking. It's not just the height of the tower blocks but it all looks higgedly piggedly to me with the buildings too close to one another. Just as one thinks that surely now they must be done with this street they seem to be able to squeeze yet another building in where there seemed to be no space left...
DeleteLike your city, my city is has high-density housing in the central business district
ReplyDeletebecause we do not have much land available. But we have bylaws about what must be done. A green healthy environment helps people enjoy life. No building may extend all the way to the boundary. There must be a certain amount of garden, even for office blocks. Safe off-street parking must be provided. And so forth. I live in a flat on level 22 and I see ships on the harbour. I am close to everything I need. This lifestyle is suitable for adults and very young children, but not older children or teenagers. Quiet and busy. Young and old near each other.
Louise, I know we have such bylaws here too, I'm just not all that familiar with the details. What I do know is that there are also some good plans for creating a connected park area all along the river through the city - 5 km long in all. Parts of it already exist, but those will be connected with new parts. It's a long-term project though and I still wish they'd leave a little bit more space between apartment buildings as well :)
DeleteToo many people on the planet, I guess we can all agree on that. And where to put them? The only way is up. Way too much land is already built up, and would be even more so if each of the flats of those highrise buildings were a house on its own.
ReplyDeleteYour neighbourhood looks like it has enough open space between the buildings to make for a reasonably good microclimate. It definitely looks very nice and green in those pictures! Love the blossoms on the twig.
Meike, I can't argue with that - we do need apartment buildings. I'm just not a fan of too many very tall buildings close together, creating that "cramped" feeling... We can't all have a sea or countryside view, but I do think it does everyone good to be able to see at least a "glimpse" of sky and greenery through their windows...
DeleteThe most apt statement in that post to my mind was the statement that the world seems to be speeding up whilst we slow down with age. I'm not a fan of high rise building although I appreciate that it is necessary.
ReplyDeleteWell, it seems I'm not alone in feeling that way then, Graham! ;)
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