I can’t speak to the current state of affairs here in Barcelona, but from purely an aesthetic perspective, it’s hard not to admire the civic bravery of the place. Maybe bravery is too big a word. Let’s call it chutzpah.
It’s as if they allowed their collective imagination to run wild. You want to do what? With those curlicues and the bendy spires? Sure. Why not? Go nuts.
I’m talking Antoni Gaudí of course. An early starchitect practitioner. His creations don’t so much dot the cityscape as they dominate it. La Pedrera apartments. La Sagrada Familia church. Parc Guell.
But these weren’t simply one-offs. Gaudi was part of — albeit a very large part of — the Modernista movement of the late-19th and early-20th centuries. An artistic expression of Catalan nationalism that endeavoured to distinguish the region and the people from the geographic and political borders that bound it.
What’s remarkable to me is that not only was it allowed to happen on such a scale but it was allowed to happen at all. I just cannot fathom such acceptance of so radical a transformation at an official level. Good god, we can’t even get on the same page to build much needed transit. Never mind unleashing a Gaudí to run amok throughout the city.
It’s not about the individual buildings. We have those. It’s more to do with the bigger idea of defining the place where you live. Beyond just how it looks, but how it works.
It’s interesting to be in a place like Barcelona as the casino debate in Toronto winds up in an outright rejection of the idea. A casino was never about anything less mundane than money. In terms of actual city building, it was a dud, a non-starter. Nothing more than a dedication to individual interest and entertainment. A terrible, terrible way to forge any sense of community or civic-mindedness.
The trick will be to put something in its place that does that. To use the reprieve from the onslaught of special interests as an opportunity to create something really special. We need to go a little Gaudí, not so much in actual design but in an adventuresomeness of spirit.
— gaudily submitted by Cityslikr
Interesting that Bailao was among the 20 FOR a Woodbine extension with Colle, Crawford, Crisanti, Di Giorgio, Doucette, Rob & Doug Ford, Grimes, Holyday, Kelly, Lee, Lindsay Luby, Mammoliti, Milczyn, Nunziata, Palacio, Pasternak, Robinson and of course Stintz.
Mostly west of Yonge coucillors & a couple from Scarborough.
This Ford ally came forward because some cop tipped off SAL and was driving under the influence of wine…
http://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2013/05/23/paul_ainslie_roadside_check_leads_to_3day_licence_suspension_for_city_councillor.html
Bailao was entertained by the pro-casion lobbyists and there’s a good few others on that list that probably fell for their charms too.
Of course Stintz. She’s been a big fan of the lobbying community for years –
http://spacing.ca/toronto/2009/11/26/karen-stintz-billboards-and-how-to-get-around-the-lobbyist-registry/
Which of them voted against a casino in downtown?
Is Ainslie a Ford ally? Is he not the one who snitched on Ford after the Fort York event?
I think Mammo is of Mediterranean descent. He was one of the 4 FOR a downtown casino with Crisanti, Ford & Kelly.
He recently had surgery on his mind and was apparently raising money because he had legal fees because he like Ford were caught over their campaign spending limit…
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2013/05/23/toronto-city-hall-giorgio-mammoliti-fundraiser.html
I see – 16 of those who voted to increase the opportunities for gambling in one of the suburbs didn’t want to do the same in downtown. What is it with that attitude?
I don’t see what the Mediterranean has to do with anything. Are you trying to make a comment based on race, or ethnicity?
BTW, what kind of person operates surgery on the mind? Is that like brain-washing?
I wonder what Doug thinks about people buying something from this drug dealer?
Please note it is 6 pages in the article
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/globe-investigation-the-ford-familys-history-with-drug-dealing/article12153014/
I bet Sonny has never used illegal drugs, and I bet at least 4 or 5 councillors have consumed marijuana in the past year. There’s probably at least 2000 to 3000 City staff who have done the same.
Who cares? I doubt if many in the downtown community care. The percentage of users down there is a lot higher. I don’t imagine we’re going to hear too much on that subject from the Ford-haters.
This selective use of morality is notable.
I have never used crack so there can’t be a video. Is what I say…
With 33 hours to go Gawker is at $177,135 to reach the final goal to buy the video so the World Wide Web will post…
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/rob-ford-crackstarter
OK we surpassed the $200,000 with time to spare…Heard rumours about Ford’s press people resigning?!