Local News
1. Sunday Chronicle article on the new federal tower on 7th & Mission. I have whinged about it before, but I'll reiterate my main gripes - whatever it's value as a 'green' or 'sustainable' building, and whatever good it does for its tenants, and whatever economic development it'll pump into the neighbourhood, it nevertheless:
Does not converse with nearby architecture (one can still build something entirely new, and retain conversational elements with the community it is built in - consider the Canadian Embassy in Washington, DC);
Is not at a human scale - there's a good way and a bad way to build up, and I'm not particularly keen how San Francisco is going about it, ruining what remains one of the few human-scale cities in the US. I am particularly put off by the view-ruining towers that are filled with suburban corporates who escape at night, leaving an urban wasteland. This is not a pattern I want to see emulated or advanced without heavy community-oriented compromise in my fair city. Embarcadero Center should be a warning to everyone;
Greedily grabs lines of sight (and San Francisco is all about the views) - made worse by its aberrant design;
Is an altogether ugly colour - on most days, when it's sunny, it is a dark obelisk thrusting up from the ground, sucking in all colour, demanding attention for itself. I will rate it 'acceptable' on colour when it is foggy, then it looks like some bizarre stealth oil rig on a fog-laden sea.
2. Went to Cafe Du Nord last night for some great Brazilian music. Boca Do Rio opened up, and Forro in the Dark were the main act. Boca were great, of course, and even sprinkled in some new music. Forro were simply awesome! They defied description or classification. They generally were a bit country, with deep electric bass, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, tenor flute solos (kindda jazzy), loud drums (stick and hand), and miscellaneous percussion like goat bells. It was light on melodies, so generated a kind of primitive, garage/barnyard sound, definitely fun to dance to. :-)
Does not converse with nearby architecture (one can still build something entirely new, and retain conversational elements with the community it is built in - consider the Canadian Embassy in Washington, DC);
Is not at a human scale - there's a good way and a bad way to build up, and I'm not particularly keen how San Francisco is going about it, ruining what remains one of the few human-scale cities in the US. I am particularly put off by the view-ruining towers that are filled with suburban corporates who escape at night, leaving an urban wasteland. This is not a pattern I want to see emulated or advanced without heavy community-oriented compromise in my fair city. Embarcadero Center should be a warning to everyone;
Greedily grabs lines of sight (and San Francisco is all about the views) - made worse by its aberrant design;
Is an altogether ugly colour - on most days, when it's sunny, it is a dark obelisk thrusting up from the ground, sucking in all colour, demanding attention for itself. I will rate it 'acceptable' on colour when it is foggy, then it looks like some bizarre stealth oil rig on a fog-laden sea.
2. Went to Cafe Du Nord last night for some great Brazilian music. Boca Do Rio opened up, and Forro in the Dark were the main act. Boca were great, of course, and even sprinkled in some new music. Forro were simply awesome! They defied description or classification. They generally were a bit country, with deep electric bass, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, tenor flute solos (kindda jazzy), loud drums (stick and hand), and miscellaneous percussion like goat bells. It was light on melodies, so generated a kind of primitive, garage/barnyard sound, definitely fun to dance to. :-)