Project 1.001- Catagorize. Illustrate

Upon visiting the Marigny i found that the thing that interested me the most was the vibrant colors of the neighborhoods houses and the unique architecture that is represented in this old area of New Orleans. These colors reflect the history of the people who have resided in the neighborhood through the years. The diverse heritages of the people of the Marigny make this area unique, interesting and alive with tradition

My phenomena will be the unique colors of this area that is reflected in the architecture and homes of the Marigny. I will be focusing on the unique architecture and how it relates to the history of the place. The pictures will provide a taste of the Marigny on both the macro and micro scales as well as show some of the culture that is reflected in the art of the area.

(pictures to come later).

On The Images of the City by Kevin Lynch

In The Images of the City Lynch focuses mostly on the image formed by a city to an individual or large group of individuals who have a connection to the city, but only briefly touches on the images of a city from an outside observer. (The outside observer meaning one who has no physical or emotional connection to the city.) The outside observer is the largest group that forms a certain image of a city. I have realized during reading Lynch’s article that far too often the outside observer forms an image of the city based on its major problems or disasters. Leaving the outside observer with often not so favorable preconceived image of the city that stems from top media stories. For Example:

New York – 9/11

Chicago – Fire

Los Angeles – Smog

New Orleans – Katrina

Detroit – The failing american auto industry

Miami – drug traffic

As landscape architects we must see past these preconceived notions of a place and forget all outside world views in order to place ourselves in a city. To see the city in the eyes of the people who live there and experience them and the city anew. Only then can the landscape architect truly design something for the people who inhabit the area.

Project 1.001 – Observe . Illustrate

The Faubourg Marigny is an oddly shaped neighborhood that follows the banks of the Mississippi River adjacent to, and down the river from the heavily tourist traffic French Quarter area. It is an area that has a rich creole heritage and colorful creole houses. The Marigny is a hip neighborhood that resembles the French Quarter, before the large amount of tourist traffic that transformed the area. The Center of the Marigny is Washington Square which is the main gathering area for the abundant nightlife and daytime activities of its inhabitants. Frenchman street boasts the majority of activities for local residents and holds a rich music scene. The original high area of New Orleans, historically this area held most of the more prominent figures of 19th century New Orleans.

For our first project we are to observe, record, and represent the Marigny to others in the way we experience it on a first hand basis. The phenomena that i will be observing and later portraying to others in the Marigny will be one of the following:

The unusual color combinations of the households of the Faubourg Marigny area

The cultural phenomena that have seemed to keep this area less touristy than that of the French Quarter

The certain things that draw the people who reside in the Marigny to the neighborhood, and what the neighborhood means to its residents.