Neal Santos | City Paper
- A few years ago, two Dutch artists, Jeroen Koolhaas and Dre Urhahn (Haas&Hahn), reached an agreement with a notorious Brazilian drug lord to bring some color and hope to a favela in Rio. Impressed, Jane Golden and the Mural Arts Program hired the duo to transform a transitional stretch of Germantown Avenue. Yet it seems that Philadelphia’s sense of democracy (or, more cynically, its monolithic bureaucracy) and its effects of deindustrialization pose myriad of new challenges for Haas&Hahn. City Paper shows how the flat, bright, and rectangular patches along the avenue are turning heads and necessitating a lot of paper work.
- In case anyone was doubting the logic and imperative of adaptive reuse here in Philadelphia, Naked Philly sees the old neighborhood post office of the 1700 block of Christian Street as being a fine example of the rewards to be had in creative reuse.
- Philly History Blog treks through the years of Dilworth Plaza’s few iterations, providing an archival photographic essay that contextualizes what many think it will this time: “modern, chic and supposedly practical in a way that the original construction…was not.”
- The Philly Post’s Gene Marks is in London for the Olympics, and finds himself more than ever convinced that Philly needs its go at the International games, offering up some reasons why they might be a good idea for the hearts and pockets of Philadelphians.
About the author
Stephen Currall recently received his BA in history from Arcadia University. Before beginning doctoral studies, he is pursuing his interest in local history, specifically just how Philadelphians engage their vibrant past. Besides skimming through 18th century letters, Steve is also interested in music and travel.
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