Work began on the new bell tower to the side of the facade of the church in the 14th century. Giotto was named overseer of the work. The tower is 84.7 meters tall and approximately 15 meters in breadth. The strong vertical thrust is combined with the principle of sound solidity, making it the finest … Read more
The Medici Chapels contain tombs for members of Florence’s ruling family. One enters through the crypt and then walks up steps to the Chapel of Princes (La Cappella dei Principi). From there it is possible to follow a hall and more steps to the New Sacristy (Sacrestia Nuova) that was entirely designed by Michelangelo. La … Read more
The burial ground lies over the ruins of the old baptistery of the church of Santa Reparata, the church that once stood where the cathedral now stands. Around 1278 tombs that surrounded the cathedral were brought here. Built from 1278-1465, the defining features are the cloistered interior courtyard, some ancient sarcophagi, and the large 14th … Read more
This UNESCO World Heritage site ‘Piazza del Duomo di Pisa’ represent a single design concept of a dialogue between heaven and earth. They also are a style developed in maritime Pisa resulting from the encounter of different people, cultures, and languages. View of the tower from just outside the city wall. There is already a … Read more
The foundation stone for Santa Maria del Fiore was laid in 1296. Work ebbed and flowed. Francesco Talenti took over about 1343 and instituted the basic plan. The nave had a ribbed groin vault resting on the nave arcade, providing an emphasis on width instead of height. By 1436 the nave vaulting was completed and … Read more
View along the Milite Ignoto (the SP35 road) in Busalla, Liguria, Italy. This street view displays traditional Ligurian multi-story vernacular architecture, typical of mid-to-late 19th-century and early 20th-century urban residential developments found in the inland mountain valleys of northern Italy. The structural design highlights specific regional adaptations meant for both high-density living and climate control: … Read more
Nelsonville “Bullseye” sidewalk paver. Produced by the legendary Nelsonville Brick Company in Athens County, Ohio, these highly sought-after collectible bricks were widely distributed throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The block is pressed with intricate concentric circles and parallel traction ridges, then heavily salt-glazed and vitrified to create a durable, glassy, non-porous finish … Read more
As we approached Greensboro for the first time in 2018, public art on this retaining wall indicated that Greensboro embraced creativity and made it part of the community identity. Lebauer Park is a focal point of the community. Linear in orientation, it provides connectivity between the downtown and the children’s museum and library slightly on … Read more
We visited Charlotte to participate in the Livable Communities national conference hosted by AARP. Arriving late in the day on November 11, 2018, we had a chance to see the city proper by night. Then we got out to visit a diner outside of downtown. With the events of the conference we hardly had time … Read more
“Lean Livability: Making Lovable Places for $500 or Less,” 6th Annual AARP Livable Communities National Conference, Charlotte, North Carolina Making big changes does not always require millions of dollars and take years of time. We’ll demonstrate over 50 ways, all under $500, how communities can make themselves more livable and lovable. We’ll explore how at … Read more