Streetscapes with interesting urban design (using Streetview) (suburban, market, architect)

[orzo]

I thought it might be cool to use google streetview to share images of areas in cities across the World with interesting or unique urban design.

Here's one from Osaka: https://maps.google.com/maps?q=resta...250.9,,0,12.24

[orzo]

One more from Osaka: https://maps.google.com/maps?q=resta....3,,0,4.2&z=13

[JR_C]

Here is a random intersection in the gridded section of Barcelona, Spain: https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Barce...00.43,,0,-4.37

I think the original idea was to have a plaza "built in" to every intersection. But, as you can see, they have been taken over by the automobile. Also, speaking from personal experience, if you want to walk a long distance in a straight line, these intersections start to get annoying.

[JR_C]

Here is a much nicer street in Barcelona that more people are probably familiar with, La Rambla: https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Barce...132.05,,0,4.37

[JR_C]

Here are some from Florence:

This is the Straw Market, an awfully nice structure just for an open air market:
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Barce...132.05,,0,4.37

Here is the Ponte Vecchio. If it weren't for the open spot in the middle, you wouldn't know you were on a bridge.
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Flore...74.75,,0,-4.59

Here is a view from the Uffizi Gallery.
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Flore...,21.72,,0,2.01
This used to be a government building. The arcades were built to accommodate long lines of people, to keep them out of the rain.

[animatedmartian]

There's a lot of greenspace in Brasilia. I can't tell if this is space for future development, but it's very odd to see so much space within a city.

http://goo.gl/maps/b057e

http://goo.gl/maps/gZjAE

I also like Madrid's outer-city designs. Still a lot of open space, but a lot more density than Brasilia.

http://goo.gl/maps/waBTL

http://goo.gl/maps/jbcYx

[cisco kid]

Originally Posted by JR_C

Here is a random intersection in the gridded section of Barcelona, Spain: https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Barce...00.43,,0,-4.37

I think the original idea was to have a plaza "built in" to every intersection. But, as you can see, they have been taken over by the automobile. Also, speaking from personal experience, if you want to walk a long distance in a straight line, these intersections start to get annoying.

Barcelona is one of the more auto-oriented cities of Europe, and one of the few there that are (mostly) on a grid. I'd say there's probably a correlation (ie: grids promote very high car use). Not one of my favorite cities to visit. Traffic congestion and noise is overwhelming.

[JR_C]

Originally Posted by cisco kid

Barcelona is one of the more auto-oriented cities of Europe, and one of the few there that are (mostly) on a grid. I'd say there's probably a correlation (ie: grids promote very high car use). Not one of my favorite cities to visit. Traffic congestion and noise is overwhelming.

I rather liked Barcelona. My friends and I didn't spend a lot of time in the gridded part of the city. We spent most of our few days wandering up and down La Rambla, wandering through the gothic quarter, walking along the beach, and making pilgrimages to architectural sites. (i.e. Barcelona Pavilion, Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, misc. other Gaudi buildings, etc.)

[memph]

double post, can delete delete this

[memph]

Originally Posted by cisco kid

Barcelona is one of the more auto-oriented cities of Europe, and one of the few there that are (mostly) on a grid. I'd say there's probably a correlation (ie: grids promote very high car use). Not one of my favorite cities to visit. Traffic congestion and noise is overwhelming.

I wouldn't say that the Eixample and Sant Marti is most of the city, maybe 1/4, and only about 1/10 if you include the suburbs - which are still mostly urban. And Barcelona still has among the lowest car commute mode shares in Europe.

Old Core: http://goo.gl/maps/IbYz0
http://goo.gl/maps/vD2Cl

Outer City: http://goo.gl/maps/RwRF0
Inner Suburb: http://goo.gl/maps/hXXVr
Not all of Sant Marti is like the Eixample: http://goo.gl/maps/gjVhO
Outer Suburb: http://goo.gl/maps/Uyl03
One of the few "suburban suburbs": http://goo.gl/maps/Ye4se