For the scavenger hunt activity I chose to do numbers 1, 9, 10, and 11. When researching the Phillip Johnson AT&T Building, I immediately recognized it as the Sony Building in midtown Manhattan. This building is home to the Sony Wonder Technology Lab, a place I have visited dozens of times. Taking the pictures for the assignment was fun as well because I love skyscrapers. They are such a unique feature of big cities and I get lost in time observing the architectural features, height and scope of these buildings.
Gated communities do exist in NYC. In researching this topic, I came across some examples of gated communities in the traditional sense and some with traditional features with an urban backdrop. Gramercy is a neighborhood that was originally designed in the 1870's for the upper classes and rich of New York, an area facing a park for exclusive use of the residents. The area remains that way today. In order to access Gramercy Park, you must be a resident of one of the buildings facing the park and have a key that is provided by a residents group. The exclusivity of the buildings, the parks and the surrounding area help define it as gated. Taino Towers in Harlem and River Park Towers in the Bronx were built to accommodate people with lower to middle incomes in NYC. These communities are a series of tall buildings, surrounded by gates that are manned 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In order to gain admittance you have to live there, or know someone that does. You also have to state where the person lives and in the case of River Park Towers, there are separate designated parking places for residents and non residents. Within the grounds are seating areas, play areas, stores and facilities for the exclusive use of residents and their guests.
For number 11, I chose to photograph two street configurations in Harlem. First the intersection of 110th Street and 5th Avenue, next to Central Park North, and 116th Street that crosses with 7th Avenue and Convent Avenue. In the middle of the street on 5th avenue and 110th Street is a huge circular seating area topped off with a life size statue of a famous musician, standing next to a piano. Going west by car/bus on 11oth Street you have to make a slight right turn, then immediate soft left turn to continue on 110th Street. Fifth Avenue flows south in an even pattern. Traffic heading east on 110th Street must bear left unto 5th Avenue, then turn left at the next available street in order to continue eastward. On the southeast and northeast corners of this intersection are tall residential buildings that also create an awkward traffic flow.
At the second location, it seems alot more complicated. Standing on the corner of 116th Street and Convent Avenue, facing north, you see traffic flowing in many different directions. Seventh Avenue flows north and south on the easternmost side of the street. Convent Avenue flows south on a diagonal, meeting 7th Avenue at 116th Street and continuing south. At the same time, 116th Street flows east and west. That section is a dizzying array of traffic lights, buses, cars, bikes and no accidents!
Gated communities do exist in NYC. In researching this topic, I came across some examples of gated communities in the traditional sense and some with traditional features with an urban backdrop. Gramercy is a neighborhood that was originally designed in the 1870's for the upper classes and rich of New York, an area facing a park for exclusive use of the residents. The area remains that way today. In order to access Gramercy Park, you must be a resident of one of the buildings facing the park and have a key that is provided by a residents group. The exclusivity of the buildings, the parks and the surrounding area help define it as gated. Taino Towers in Harlem and River Park Towers in the Bronx were built to accommodate people with lower to middle incomes in NYC. These communities are a series of tall buildings, surrounded by gates that are manned 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In order to gain admittance you have to live there, or know someone that does. You also have to state where the person lives and in the case of River Park Towers, there are separate designated parking places for residents and non residents. Within the grounds are seating areas, play areas, stores and facilities for the exclusive use of residents and their guests.
For number 11, I chose to photograph two street configurations in Harlem. First the intersection of 110th Street and 5th Avenue, next to Central Park North, and 116th Street that crosses with 7th Avenue and Convent Avenue. In the middle of the street on 5th avenue and 110th Street is a huge circular seating area topped off with a life size statue of a famous musician, standing next to a piano. Going west by car/bus on 11oth Street you have to make a slight right turn, then immediate soft left turn to continue on 110th Street. Fifth Avenue flows south in an even pattern. Traffic heading east on 110th Street must bear left unto 5th Avenue, then turn left at the next available street in order to continue eastward. On the southeast and northeast corners of this intersection are tall residential buildings that also create an awkward traffic flow.
At the second location, it seems alot more complicated. Standing on the corner of 116th Street and Convent Avenue, facing north, you see traffic flowing in many different directions. Seventh Avenue flows north and south on the easternmost side of the street. Convent Avenue flows south on a diagonal, meeting 7th Avenue at 116th Street and continuing south. At the same time, 116th Street flows east and west. That section is a dizzying array of traffic lights, buses, cars, bikes and no accidents!
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