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Urban Design Observations, Los Angeles Edition
By Rain Noe - Apr 11
In L.A.'s tony neighborhood of Marina Del Ray, here's something you'd never see in New York:
Enter a caption (optional)Yes, they're free.
There are three cardboard tubes inside (the side ones are empty). I also found it hilarious that they have instructions for how to use these printed on the bottom of the box face. In fact I'd say everything printed beneath the dispensing hole is a mini design fail, as the text is unnecessary and is obscured by the bags protruding from the holes.
Enter a caption (optional)This circular bench seems simple but is attractive, and a fine example of what you can do with a tapering jig for a table saw. I can see the builder in my head making a cut, flipping the piece around its long axis and making the second cut with the jig.
Enter a caption (optional)
Enter a caption (optional)Also, while the bench does not look new, the wood doesn't look like shit like most wooden outdoor stuff does in New York. Los Angeles' better weather makes wood a much better materials choice for outdoor furniture.
Enter a caption (optional)
Enter a caption (optional)Finally, this utility box.
Enter a caption (optional)Unadorned, these things typically look like shit, and I'm impressed that the neighborhood beautification committee, or whatever they have out here, took the time to wrap it in this graphic. It looks a damn sight better than the sheet metal would.
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Rain Noe
Rain Noe is a writer and industrial designer based in New York City.
6 Comments
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you have a good eye, these are interesting observations, thanks for documenting them.
a typical tapered jig would not actually work the way you described it, if you flip the wood , now you have the freshly cut surface against the jig, the piece would be a assymetrycal trapeze...
also, the wood is not your typical cheap wood, it is either ipe or teak. these weather beautifully, especially in a warmer climate (like you noted), but they are many times more expensive than typical big box wood and much harder to work with.
on s different note: what do you think would happen if they would not print out the instructions on the doggy poo bags? are these pictograms too complicated for the public? is there a wrong way to use them?
I'm sure that these stations in NYC would have different text: "clean up after your dog: IT'S THE LAW! fines up to $1000 for 1st time offenders. for more information dial 311". and a graffiti after that.
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Cleveland's University Circle did something similar with its utility boxes. Student's from the Cleveland Institute of Art decorated them with old timey illustrations (google the ArtBox project for more info) https://www.flickr.com/photos/cleinstituteart/sets/72157636117445553/
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Joshua Callaghan is the artist who did the photos on utility boxes. http://www.joshuacallaghan.com/Playa-Vista-Phase-II
Did you also see the low water fountains for dogs?Also, the area shown is Playa Vista.Also, nice to meet you Rain!!Report as spam -
All of the utility boxes are hand painted murals where I used to live in Long Beach, which is a little South West of LA. You can just google "long beach painted utility box".
They're pretty cool, and either really well maintained or left alone because I rarely saw any tagging on them.!Report as spam -
At first I thought the utility box was clad in a mirrored surface and was reflecting the surroundings. I think that might have been a bit better as it could function as a makeshift teeth-check after a meal. Houston did a similar thing but with a more handmade aesthetic:
http://www.houstontx.gov/culturalaffairs/tsccartprogram.htmlAnd for a different reason, probably; to deter the spread of crap graffiti.!Report as spam -
We have dog poo bags dispensers in Brooklyn. I've seen them along Eastern Parkway, as well as in front of my sister's old building in Kensington. Can't say I've seen them in Manhattan, there's not a lot of space for _anything_ new on those sidewalks, but now that I work in a pet store part time, I see the world a little differently, and notice pet-related objects in the wild more regularly.
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Continued Reading
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By Rain Noe - Mar 27
Urban Design Observations, San Francisco Edition: Street Furniture
The hills in this godforsaken city are insane. I'm used to walking long distances in Manhattan, but the constant up-and-down in Bernal Heights is nutty. I saw this one-person bench outside of a residence. It appears to be DIY rather than city-sanctioned. I tried to shoot the photo to give
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By Rain Noe - Mar 26
Urban Design Observations, San Francisco Edition: Looking Down
I stayed in the Bernal Heights area and didn't have much time to explore, but observed what I could. I was surprised to see that the municipal government goes to the added expense of having the street names etched into the sidewalk at the intersections. I don't keep my
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By Rain Noe - Mar 23
Urban Design Observations, San Francisco Edition: Meter Windows
Once a month the Con Edison man comes to my building, buzzes every apartment, and enters each in turn to read the gas meters. It's a pain in the neck because I have to leash my intruder-unfriendly dogs and hold them at bay while he enters. In the San Francisco
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By Rain Noe - Mar 22
Urban Design Observations, San Francisco Edition: Bizarre Public Trash Can
One of you west coasters needs to explain how this thing works
I'm from New York, so everything in San Francisco looks bizarre to me: The hills, the architecture, the parking meters, the street furniture. A good case in point is this public trash can, spotted on Cortland Street in the Bernal Heights area:
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