Pedestrian Again.....Residents' Victory

Apropo round shape (my previous post 'Rotunda'), and women (the Woman's Day celebrated on the 8th of March last week) :

The round Dizengoff square in the heart of Tel-Aviv, originally named Zina square (Zina, the name of the mayor's wife) in honor and praise of all the women of the city - is currently in the news -  and that made me re-read my post "Fire and Water" from February 4, 2011 regarding the above square.

The big News is that the square (unveiled in 1938) is going to return to street level ( in 1978 it was elevated above street level, to allow flow of car traffic at the lower level;  this layout was very unpopular with the residents of the city who expressed their opinion on the topic,  in the 2011 survey initiated by the Municipality).  After the planned restoration, the place will belong only to pedestrians and their activities. 

Dizengoff is the name of the first mayor of Tel Aviv, the name of the most iconic street in this city , the name of the square  (the meeting point of this street with six  lateral streets), and the name of what is known as Dizengoff Center which includes a mall and an oudoor vintage market.

The square is round, and so is the main attraction in the middle of it - the fountain named by its famous designer Agam - 'fire and water'. The regular visitors  of  the square are: kids (playing and feeding the pigeons), bicycle riders, dog owners walking their dogs, seniors resting on benches, joggers, and many others.

she looks good and so does the dog

Dad is watching boy feeding the pigeons

having a chat while sitting on blue (ugly) benches

mobility

ROTUNDA

A new residential building has been erected at the junction of a main road with a side road. It's a circular building, and although not completely finished, it attracts the attention of passers- by like magnet, due to  its quite attractive exterior. 

Location - not ideal, because of the intensive traffic on the two adjacent roads. However, it's centrally positioned and the neighborhood is considered a good one.  A two minutes drive gets you to a railway station and a mall on one side, and to a Tel-Aviv metropolitan area cemetery {Kiryat Shaul} on the other side. (Strange coincidence - the only other residential circular building I can remember seeing, is also placed near a cemetery (in Ghivataim city, Nahalat Yitzhak neighborhood - but it's a much lower building).

the junction

Architects claim that  a round building has  advantages over a standard rectangular one : it is seismically more resistant, it is structurally more efficient (no dead corners), it is also energy efficient in that it withstands better storms, heat, cold; hence lower utility bills. Even the construction and maintenance costs are said to be lower.

So why is this type of building  scarce , at least in my neck of the woods? How come the Rotunda (round) architecture is not more prevailing in this part of the world?

Perhaps it has to do with some interior issues: they say standard furniture doesn't go too well with curved walls, there's need for custom made furniture; straight walls are better for hanging on pictures, etc.. In addition, for some reason, it's hard to get a planning permit, and bureaucracy, as one knows, kills projects.

Personally, I would love to live in a circular house. I would feel proud to dwell in such a sort of unique structure. 

COOL VS. CRUEL ?

front cover

I have a small prayer book with prayers for every occasion and purpose. It has a fine genuine brown leather cover, which makes it very pleasant for me to keep it in my hands.

back cover

Leather is made from animal skin , and I'm not too happy with this fact (no, I'm not vegan/ vegetarian/ or from the animal protection organization;  just a human being who has compassion for animals). Even the argument that leather is only the by - product of the meat industry, and that skin is not wasted after the meat removal process, but recycled - doesn't make me feel better.

That said, leather is both luxurious and practical. In my opinion, nothing makes a person look more well- dressed and elegant  than a leather jacket or coat. Just look around, at people wearing a leather outfit, and you'll see my point.

High - quality leather accessories such as handbags and shoes, give the right finishing  touch to any outfit.
As for leather furniture,  it's beautiful and durable. Leather sofas and armchairs add style  and class to a  room.

Humans have been using leather in clothing for centuries and I suppose they'll continue to do so, more or less.

Cool vs. Cruel is a fashion competition encouraging design students to find alternatives to clothing material of animal origin (leather and especially fur). It's possible, it's being done, and yet, so far, nothing can really compete in quality, elegance, coolness with the original stuff. Let's face it, leather has a unique texture and a great feel about it.