Art in Oneself!

This blog is dedicated you!!!! The people and their own way of expressing themselves. I will link my blog to Christopher Mohip’s blog on 'Culture and Urban Nightlife" along with Nirvana Hanooman’s blog “The Modern City….A Mosaic….” and Tabeeta Dwarika's blog "Pity George Doesn't Have a Tree to Swing From (Concrete Jungle)". 

The photograph above was taken at a popular nightclub known as “NUVOSERA”. This area is called Arapita Avenue, one of the most popular ‘liming’ spots in Trinidad. This is related to Urban Geography as there are many attractions in the city not only in the daytime business hours but also the night. 

With reference to Christopher’s blog, the nightlife can be a form of art as well as it is related to the citizens themselves in their own personal way of choosing to express themselves. They all go out to the avenue to party, drink and lime with their friends. 

Nirvana’s blog greatly adds to my post, as the Avenue at night is really amazing. It’s as if there is a non-stop hype in the city with all the music and lights together with the uplifting atmosphere. Instead of the hustle and bustle of the city and stressed out workers, the atmosphere is more relaxed and populated by a middle age group who love to party and just throw away all that stress. 

Tabeeta's blog suggests that urban life takes away the green spaces from area but here on the avenue there are parks and areas that can be defined as green spaces. This allows for the interaction with the urban structure and nature itself. Here on the avenue it seems as though everything and everyone has a place.

Urban geography is related to this as it encompasses the business places located within a defined area along the road. If a road transect were to be done, it can be seen to have a lot of bars, clubs and food places and even some green spaces (in the form of parks) where people of almost all ages can interact with one another. Each area in the city can therefore be seen to have sectors. For example, the waterfront area has more hotels and offices located in that vicinity while the inner part of the city on the avenue has a more nightclub oriented buildings. 

Below is a video to show the nightlife at the club NUVOSERA!

Christopher Mohip's Blog Link: http://socialnightlifetnt.blogspot.com/2013/02/culture-and-urban-nightlife_13.html

Nirvana Hanooman's Blog Link: http://citydwellingstt.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-modern-citya-mosaic.html

Tabeeta Dwarika's Blog Link: http://urbangeographer8.blogspot.com/2013/02/pity-george-doent-have-tree-to-swing.html

Reference: "THEORIES OF URBAN STRUCTURE." HRSBSTAFF Home Page. http://hrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca/mcfadden/GGS12/Urbanization%20Unit/theories_urban_structure.htm (accessed April 14, 2013).

Art in Architecture

This blog is based on the art of architecture. As seen in the photo taken in Port of Spain, there are two types of buildings. One was constructed much more recently than the other. It can be seen that as time passes and technology increases that the buildings constructed change from time to time. Urban geography deals with the formation of cities. These cities must have buildings of all different types and uses. According to Barret and Hall, in the medieval times buildings were formed using certain architectural techniques in constructing buildings such as cathedrals. It can be seen as time passes the way in which buildings are shaped and the form in which they are made reflect on the type of company or business it is related to. For example, the twin towers in Port of Spain were built for mainly offices hence the more business like structure when compared to the Hyatt Hotel for example which was built for more a luxurious and welcoming atmosphere. All these buildings constructed are related to urban geography as it encompasses the types of structures found within the urban center. 

Also it can be seen that different cities have different types of architecture which may be due to their historical background. Below is a video to show cities in Manhattan, New York, an area based mainly on businesses. 

                                  

                                        

Below is another video to show the different types of architecture found in another place such as Paris.

                                       

Reference : Hall and Barret. Urban Geography. London and New York, Routledge Publishing. 2012 (page 34).

Gentrification!!!!!!

Gentrification is the process where urban planners may move into an area to make it more aesthetically pleasing and help in its regeneration bringing it more up to standard. They assist in its growth and help improve the services within the area. This can be seen to be the case in the area of St.James. This blog will be related to my blog on gated communities as urban planners come into the city and aid in it’s regeneration with respect to the standards of living in the area as well as it’s aesthetics. This picture was taken near Long Circular Mall. The area is still under construction but can be seen as a shift in the type of housing in the area. Instead of a more individual household, the planners put together an area with several apartment sized housing and greatly improve the aesthetics within the area via various techniques such as landscaping. The area as a result greatly increases in its standards of living and value. An added benefit is that the price of land around this community greatly increases.

Below is a video to show gentrification, the positive and negative effects. Although it may raise the land value and make the area more aesthetically pleasant, it causes fragmentation and can lead to great inequity to neighbouring areas.

Reference : Hall and Barret. Urban Geography. London and New York, Routledge Publishing. 2012 (page 22).