Comments on: If Buildings Were Bar Charts http://figuresmag.com/archive/if-buildings-were-bar-charts/ The Social in the Visual Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:39:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Gbanger http://figuresmag.com/archive/if-buildings-were-bar-charts/#comment-2475 Gbanger Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:35:15 +0000 http://figuresmag.com/archive/if-buildings-were-bar-charts/#comment-2475 Interesting and possibly valid though the collapse of the Bond empire in 1991 saw the top three floors of the Bank West tower vacant for a decade, the 50th floor is still currently vacant and no doubt other floors too. There are also issues concerning power and "who can build the tallest building". Interesting and possibly valid though the collapse of the Bond empire in 1991 saw the top three floors of the Bank West tower vacant for a decade, the 50th floor is still currently vacant and no doubt other floors too. There are also issues concerning power and “who can build the tallest building”.

]]> By: Figures » Blog Archive » Info Zombies http://figuresmag.com/archive/if-buildings-were-bar-charts/#comment-1495 Figures » Blog Archive » Info Zombies Fri, 15 May 2009 07:53:11 +0000 http://figuresmag.com/archive/if-buildings-were-bar-charts/#comment-1495 [...] this blog, we’ve discussed the idea of the ‘rhetoric of neutrality’ before. Now it’s time to look at one of things that rhetoric was not really designed for: [...] […] this blog, we’ve discussed the idea of the ‘rhetoric of neutrality’ before. Now it’s time to look at one of things that rhetoric was not really designed for: […]

]]> By: Uriah http://figuresmag.com/archive/if-buildings-were-bar-charts/#comment-636 Uriah Thu, 16 Apr 2009 11:21:39 +0000 http://figuresmag.com/archive/if-buildings-were-bar-charts/#comment-636 I think this would be very useful if it where to be combined with Hans Rosling's visualization tool; gapminder.org You could compare the architecture of the skyline to cultural and historical events, rising and falling and compared to other cities. The strength lies in how much space can be visualized in the abstract bar graph. The Y value cannot be labeled prosperity, economic growth only height (which doesn't have that much value) but does it need to? Through interpretation it can represent many things. This is a keeper. I think this would be very useful if it where to be combined with Hans Rosling’s visualization tool; gapminder.org You could compare the architecture of the skyline to cultural and historical events, rising and falling and compared to other cities. The strength lies in how much space can be visualized in the abstract bar graph. The Y value cannot be labeled prosperity, economic growth only height (which doesn’t have that much value) but does it need to? Through interpretation it can represent many things. This is a keeper.

]]> By: Nicola http://figuresmag.com/archive/if-buildings-were-bar-charts/#comment-631 Nicola Thu, 16 Apr 2009 09:05:42 +0000 http://figuresmag.com/archive/if-buildings-were-bar-charts/#comment-631 What kind of city spaces does economic rationalism create for us to inhabit? Richard Sennett in "The conscience of the eye: The design and social life of cities", says that our contemporary cities, “in the urban realm are bland, neutralising spaces, spaces which remove the threat of social contact: street walls faced in sheets of plate glass, highways that cut off poor neighbourhoods from the rest of the city, dormitory housing developments”? Following on from Sennett, there does not seem to be much hope for the contemporary city as providing a context for communicative action, a context for dialogue. Considering the increasing surveillance of the public space and the private space, this impacts upon how we use the city and arguably discourages social interaction (therefore spending more time online or watching television). How then can we construct community and discourse around our public spaces to enhance community dialogue? What kind of city spaces does economic rationalism create for us to inhabit?

Richard Sennett in “The conscience of the eye: The design and social life of cities”, says that our contemporary cities, “in the urban realm are bland, neutralising spaces, spaces which remove the threat of social contact: street walls faced in sheets of plate glass, highways that cut off poor neighbourhoods from the rest of the city, dormitory housing developments”? Following on from Sennett, there does not seem to be much hope for the contemporary city as providing a context for communicative action, a context for dialogue.

Considering the increasing surveillance of the public space and the private space, this impacts upon how we use the city and arguably discourages social interaction (therefore spending more time online or watching television). How then can we construct community and discourse around our public spaces to enhance community dialogue?

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