See the Beatniks...

"See the Beatniks (An Ode to Non-Conformity)" written by Burt Siegel:

See, the beatniks in the Village
See, the beatniks on Macdougal Street,
See the beatniks in the Village,
And they all look just the same.

There's a tall one and a short one,
And a white one and a Negro one.
And they all go to the Village and they all look just the same.

And the boys all wear dungarees, and the girls all wear sandals,
And they're all non-conformists,
And they all dress just the same.

And they go to the university,
And they major in philosophy,
And they're all deep thinkers,
And they all think the same.

And they all read their Satre,
And they all read their Kierkegaard,
And they all talk about it,
But they all sound the same.

And they all like folk music
And they dig Woody Gutherie,
And just like Bob Dylan, 
They all sound the same.

Little Boxes: A Modern Look at "Ticky-Tack"

 As soon as I read the assignment and saw "Little Boxes" I knew that I had to do a modern look. The show "Weeds" used this song as their theme for the first season- Weeds Opening Theme . When I first heard it I just found it to be a cute analysis of suburbanite life but now I see it differently. The little boxes are more than houses, they are a lifestyle.

 As the song states; 

"Little boxes on the hillside,

Little boxes made of ticky tacky,

Little boxes on the hillside,

Little boxes all the same.

There's a green one and a pink one 

And a blue one and a yellow one,

And they're all made out of ticky tacky

And they all look just the same."

As we can see the song looks at the houses all looking the same even with different colored paint. I believe the same is true of the residents of these houses. The song goes on to say the people all went to college and got jobs, then returned to their own "boxes" in the suburbs. The "box" can be the person himself as well. No matter what the person looks like or does he continues to follow social stigma and act the same. Whether it is drinking his martini dry or playing golf. As the show presents all the houses in the development are all the same and so are the people, so it would seem. All the women dress the same for exercising and the most important element to the males is the golf course built in the center of the development. 

Hayden believed that the suburbs offered a threefold approach to drawing people in. The home, nature, and community aspects of the area. I believe that these are very true when looking at the "sitcom suburbs" of the '50's but today the suburbanites are not looking for only the same three things. Yes, they still want the home and yard and the sense of belonging to the community. However, now people in the suburbs want a sense of belonging to lifestyle. The "country club" life if you will. The privileged life that many want to live.  The residents of the new suburb developments are still the cookie cutters that Reynolds sang about.

Black Rock Houses

There are over 90 pre-1850 standing houses that still exist in Black Rock. 

  

This home is built in the Federal style of Medina sandstone. The builder used large blocks of stone to build the entire house indicative of wealth. The windows look to be replaced but you can still see the symmetry that exists The low pitched roof and smooth facade also indicate the federal style.

 This home on Amherst Street is built/renovated in a mix of Federal and Greek Revival style. It is a basic rectangular frame structure with a low-pitched gable roof - end toward street. There is also a cornice over the front door with sidelights. The large windows with double-hung sashes have six panes per sash and separated by thin wooden supports, iconic of the federal style.

This homes exterior is a variation of many styles but stripped down the Foursquare elements come to life. It is evident that this building is laid out in a four room per floor fashion, it is very square and boxy. These homes were most commonly built in frame, but they are also found in stone or brick.or concrete block, or wood siding. All of these can be seen on this home.






From walking through this neighborhood I have realized the historical value of many of these homes. The entire area consists of pre-1900's as stated before. Many of the homes have been "modernized" but still remember their roots. Some homes have a mix of styles which makes them even more interesting. It becomes much clearer now where the wealth in this area tended to settle and what styles they chose. The homes along Amherst Street have a distinct Federal style to them with variations but home around them are much simpler and smaller. I get the sense that many of these homes were working class people but that the wealthy business men of the day were mixed in too. 

Crime and Scandal in Buffalo

The expectations for this tour may have influenced my opinion but this tour came up short of the others I have attended. It was billed as a chance to learn why Buffalo was a center of prohibition evasion but this was not mentioned for more than 5 minutes. I still found the tour to be interesting when we got to the site of the former Ku Klux Klan headquarters. This building was home to the organization until the residents of the city fought to run them out of town. The story that guides told was very entertaining and insightful. The tour started to become more of an architectural tour than a crime and scandal tour. We learned about the Guaranty building because at the time of building Sullivan was moonlighting from is job with Frank Lloyd Wright. I was amazed to learn of a triple hanging at the site of the McKinley monument in front of the City Hall. I think the cold weather and constant political insights from the guides may have drawn some life out of the tour but I will say it was still very educational.

Former HQ of KKK

Gold Medal Grain Elevators

I just have to say that everyone who enjoys Cheerios must attend this tour sometime. The smell of roasted oats fills the air down on the inner harbor. This has been my favorite tour so far. The history of the Erie canal downtown and its impact on shaping society is mind blowing when you realize how big the impact was. If the Erie Canal does not come to Buffalo, the people and culture do not come either. It is sad to see how the canal was abandoned and filled in but the current efforts to renovate and excavate are wonderful. The rest of the tour focused on the impact of grain movement in shaping this area. Two separate  canals were dug just to accommodate more barges transporting grain. The grain elevators lining these canals are a testament  to man's innovation. When the work load placed upon Irish backs became to much a burden and too costly man turned to technology. The grain elevators were designed as means of storing grain for loading and unloading of barges. The elevators in Buffalo were the skyscrapers of their time and people flocked from all over the world to see them. Tragically, the combination of grain dust and coal fired burners led to many fires that destroyed the towers.

General Mills is one of the few large factories still operating in Buffalo. There plant sits right on the island created by the two canals. This was a prime location for unloading of grain ships. Today they only receive ships a couple times a year. The most tragic part of the tour came when we talked about the Great Northern Elevator which is a truly unique piece of architecture that is going to shambles.

Sightseeing European Style

The differences between the tours that Americans take to Europe and those that Europeans take here are noticeable when examined. I noticed this a couple years ago while visiting Italy. My tour lasted 14 days and covered the entire country. A couple days in Venice, Florance, Rome, Sorrento, among other small towns. When an american tours they focus on ancient cities and areas of high cultural importance such as museums and archeological sites. European cities offer the distinct historical feel that American tourists long for. Italy attracts tourists looking to see architecture, art, and culinary examples. While I was travelling I had the chance to experience all these things. I visited the Coliseum

saw the statue of David and the Sistine Chapel 

The big difference between sightseeing tours in Europe and those offered by European travel agencies to the United States is that Europeans want to see primarily one city and all it has to offer. In addition to the single city approach to sightseeing is the addition of small local attractions that society offers. This is evident in one tour I found for Boston. The tour lasts 8 days and includes day trips to Salem and two days to visit Maine. I realize that this is a stretch from my overall opinion but it shows that Europeans want to see major attractions as well as simple small novelties.   Some other tours are surprisingly lengthy in my opinion, some are 21 days and include visits to many major cities but only for a couple days. In this regard they become similar to how Americans choose to go sightseeing. I feel that Europeans see the US as a great open landscape with metropolitan clusters. They see the US as having unspoiled landscapes and beautiful natural wonders. I can see where these notions develop from but don't feel that they are completely accurate. I ultimately get the impression that they come here to get away from over developed old cities and to visit more modern cities and see the sight that they hear about here. This is in a way the same as American tourist, we go to see sights that guide books point out or have heard about since we were young. This is why many tour companies offer nearly identical tours.

http://www.tourvacationstogo.com/usa_tours.cfm?npid=21933&nhr=1

Black Rock

'



This tour was one of my favorites, the community history as well as the rich historical impact on the state. I loved looking at he classic housing styles of the neighborhood. Most of the homes in the neighborhood have been covered by siding but some still shows there federalist style. The Black Rock area was at one point larger than Buffalo and only was eclipsed by the opening of the Erie Canal. When planning for the canal was taking place there was a competition between Buffalo and Black Rock to be the terminus of the canal. Black Rock actually blew up the large "black rock" jetty that gave the city its name. Buffalo was awarded the honor due to the large existing port structure. I also found it interesting that Black Rock built their own canal that ran parallel to the Erie Canal. 

My favorite building on the tour was an old Water Works building that housed a Masonic Temple, the neat part was that the back wall of the temple opened out over the canals. The local business men could meet in the temple and check on business on the canal. I was unaware of the battles that took place in Black Rock during the War of 1812 and also Fenian's Raid.  

Religious Center

Urban Panoramas of Florance, Italy and Chicago, IL

Panorama of Florance Italy

The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore

The metropolitan area of Florance has over 1.5 million people residing within it. The city has deep roots in the Renaissance era and with that said much of the architecture is evident of this. The city developed in a concentric zone model originating in a large open market near the great cathedral seen to the right side of photo and below.  The city expands outward towards the river and creatively built bridges that housed shops as well as homes. The number of shops shows evidence that the city developed as a result of trade and commerce.This example of a European metropolis shows what I believe to be the key features that characterize these cities. It developed in rings, religion is at the center of development throughout history, uses natural features to create city limits.

Chicago

Panorama of Chicago

The city of Chicago developed for the same reason as Florance, trade and commerce, but in a very different fashion. Chicago grew rapidly both outward and upward. The city follows "Chicago" school of development and in sector model. The city centers on a central business district with residences and commercial buildings being separated. The CBD is recognizable by the large cluster of skyscrapers. The panorama of Chicago shows its spread across the landscape.

While both metropolises grew from small trade centers into booming centers of commerce in their pasts, Chicago is much more actively growing today.  The city of Florence already boomed and now flourishes not as a center of trade but by displaying the arts to the world. Both cities grew within or around natural boundaries. The largest difference that I see is that while Florance is developed there are no building taller than the Church while in Chicago there are multiple tall buildings. Also, there are not noticeable housing areas in the Chicago illustration but Florance is mostly residential with shops below.

Ethnic landscape of Olean and my travels

The City of Olean offers examples of mixtures of ethnic landscapes. There are ethnic neighborhoods that exist but with out a strong first generation influence of shaping the community. There are remnants of a "little italy" on the north side of town. Every summer the residents of this neighborhood hold the Italian Festival consisting of "authentic" food, dance, art, and of course bocce. The southern areas of the city were settled by the Irish and Germans. There is a cemetery that is heavily influenced by German heritage. I feel the Irish settled here as a result of the railroad expanding through this area. The railroad played a large role in shaping much of the city landscape in my opinion. In the small time frame that is my life the city of Olean has lost much of ethnic landscape as a result neglect to preserve history and the decline of a working population to support the local economy. Talking to my grandparents about the different neighborhoods I found  out that there were many different ethnic restaurants in each neighborhood. The surrounding area has many ethnic influences also. The Cuba, NY area has a large Amish population with farm houses and beautiful barns. There are also a couple German stone homes influenced by the building techniques of  the homelands.

Germanic Stone influences of County Building

In my travels I have had the privilege of visiting many different cultural landscapes here in the United States as well as abroad. The Black Rock district of Buffalo offers some excellent examples of German and Polish architecture. I found it intriguing that on almost every corner there was a bar, a church and a general store or  business. Jamestown,NY has a wonderful Swedish bakery and neighborhood. This bakery is one of only a few in WNY. Moving westward there are the the Mormon settlements of the Salt Lake City area. The mormon  influence is interesting on multiple levels. The Church dictates daily activity and social interaction but the religion and customs influence the settlements of the area. An unknown, at least to a casual observer, is the use of a star on buildings belonging to Later Day Saints and the surreal number of churches that seem to pop up all over the landscape. Also, there is a little bronze plaque that marks the ally that once housed the Chinatown that used to flourish in the city.  I am looking forward to exploring the city of Salt Lake better very soon. I want to apply what i have learned in this class and a better understanding of the urban landscape to explore the built environment. 

Mormon Temple

Coal Chutes...A forgotten part of the urban landscape

My research for the project focused on the modern aspects of coal chutes. This was only possible by first understanding the roots in the past of the chute. While Ted focused on the past history more in depth, I too also looked to learn from the past. The origins of these openings and devices of necessity are blurry but it is clear that where there was coal there were coal chutes. We found great examples of coal chutes in the fabric of Buffalo as a result of asking questions and possibly by luck. We had the privilege of meeting Mike, an engineer at the Electric Building, who showed us the basement  and coal delivery points in the building.

My research was based on modern use of the coal chutes. I found that a vast majority are covered up or removed in many cases. Since most chutes were built into sidewalks or streets it is understandable how they could be covered by new paving if they were no longer used. I also found that in other places along Pearl St. in downtown Buffalo, that the coal bins and their covers still exist and are easily opened. These examples contain all sorts of debris and were sealed off in the basement by new walls. It was very interesting to be able to see these original openings and the spaces below them. I was very surprised that so many chutes still existed walking along the street.

Richardson-Olmsted Complex

Sunday morning I toured the grounds of the Richardson-Olmsted Complex.

I walked the storied perimeter of the former Buffalo State Asylum and the surrounding Olmsted landscaping. This is the largest and greatest of H. H. Richardson’s creations influenced the much emulated Richardsonian Romanesque style. The grounds as a whole are beautiful but some buildings are crumbling to the ground.

 It was interesting to see this building from the front of the Administration building as a large dark presence but when viewed from the back it is very inviting to all. The backside appears to have outstretched arms welcoming the patients and guests. I really liked the plantation style building structure of the complex. It was incense a self sustainable city in itself. They had to produce their own food, electric, and clothing. There was a  large farm  that the patients were able to work and harvest food from. I also liked the way the windows were angled to follow staircases. The building also contains a huge number of windows to allow for as much natural light as possible. This complex is far more vast than I could possibly comprehend I believe. It is easy to grasp the general lay of the land but I would love to have seen this complex in its glory and witness the fully functioning compound that it was.

Downtown Buffalo

Last Friday Ted and I went on a tour of downtown Buffalo. It was amazing to see the history and architecture of the city. We toured many of the oldest building in the city. Buildings that included: The Guaranty Building, St. Paul’s, The Gold Dome, and Ellicott Square. The Terra cota tiles that cover the entire exterior of the Guaranty are beautiful and exquisite. It was sad to hear about the destruction of some of the original tiles as a result of careless restoration. The stained glass windows in St. Paul's were beautiful! The stained glass window done by Tiffany were so crisp and colorful. I also was fascinated by the German style of painting the glass after it was in place. The best part of the tour came when we visited the Electric Building and I had the privilege of meeting the head engineer of the building. He gave us a detailed review of the building and a behind the scenes tour of the basement. He allowed us to see the remnants of the coal chutes and coal rooms. It was amazing to see the real, tangible evidence of the coal system I am researching. Also, we walked around looking for more historic, old coal doors and anything else we found fascinating. We met the owner/curator of the Maritime Historical Society; he took us on a tour of his building and all its wonders. The building has 18 inch thick solid floorboards and hundreds of artifacts raised from the depths of lake Erie.  Seeing the dark underbelly of the this historic building has awesome. I truly enjoyed this tour and memorable experiences i had.

Downtown of Olean,NY

      Downtown of my hometown is a historic place yet it is highly disregarded by many as just simply rundown. If you take time to look at the buildings that line the main street you can begin to understand what made Olean a unique place to live. There are many old buildings, 1880's, still standing and being used today. Two that I personally love are the banks that stand on the main corners of town. One is still the main bank in town while the other is sits empty waiting for a new owner. There is amazing architecture to be seen while looking down the main street; columns on the bank, facades of the cobbler and printing shop.
The greatest sights of the street are truly the parts that are unseen! The apartments that sit overlooking the street and the great rooms that sit in hiding stories above the traffic below. When you look closely at each building that comprises the couple of blocks of the downtown you realize the amount of unknown space that has existed above you your whole life.

      About 12 years ago the city bulldozed what was arguably the greatest piece of architecture that ever stood in Olean...the Palace Theater. It was a brick masterpiece that stretched half a block with a full stage that hosted Vaudeville performances as well as a screen for showing photo reels (as they called them). There is one forgotten feature of this building and part that always grabbed my attention as a child walking by was a section of the upper floor with no windows and only an entrance shared with a neighboring business. I only recently found the answer to this puzzling "room" by asking my grandfather another question. This windowless room was actually a bowling ally built on what he recalled as the fourth floor above the theater and its balcony.
      Sadly, downtown Olean met its decline in a similar fashion as that of Buffalo. Great minds thought it beneficial to the economy to close the main street in efforts to expand to more lanes and modernize but it only yielded boarded up windows and empty shops. Buffalo never flourished after the main street transition to a pedestrian area either.

       I wish I could have experienced this downtown in its glory! The neon lights shining or the shop windows giving passersby glimpses of the latest fashions in clothing or interior decorating. What was it like to walk down this busy street in the 50's and 60's? Someday i would love to know.

City Hall

Went on a tour of City Hall in downtown Buffalo today and learned a great deal. City Hall is full of amazing architecture and art. There are many different inspirations to be found while looking around but the most prominent has to the Native American themes....from corn in borders of murals to the elaborate decoration of all the ceilings. The city hall holds a ton of history within its walls. The Art Deco design is so facinating to look and try to understand all the meaning. The timeless reliefs of laborers and other workers from Buffalo's history was really interesting to me especially.

My path to understanding...

I want to learn (better understand) what factors shaped our built environment. Who were these people that shaped our lives today with decisions decades ago? What were they expecting their environment to look like? Why did they settle and build where they did? Were they forced or was it just a unconscious decision? I am going to attempt to examine these questions and better understand the environment in which I live.