Claude Cormier, Canadian landscape architect focused on public spaces and parks ("Claude Cormier, Landscape Architect With a Playful Eye, Dies at 63," New York Times, "“Risk is Where Success Resides”: A Conversation with Claude Cormier," Azure, Claude Cormier obituary, CCxA) died recently.
His ouevre should remind us when we create or rehabilitate public spaces that we have the opportunity to be incredibly creative, to add public art and other elements that make the spaces "serious fun" -- the title of a book, Serious Fun: The Landscapes of Claude Cormier about his firm's projects. I'm definitely adding this book to my list to read.
Cormier's projects aren't average, they have verve. Granted verve and creativity cost more, but it makes me think that I need to be more creative in the projects I propose for parks here in Salt Lake City. Sometimes I do, but not routinely.
Somehow we need to have an element on "verve" as part of parks and public space plans.
I didn't realize he was "responsible" for the street treatment of Ste. Catherine Street in the summer, when the street is closed to traffic.
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Strings of pink plastic balls form a ribbon along a section of Ste-Catherine Street, commonly called the Village, in Montreal, Thursday, June 23, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson.
The firm's website webpages on projects have great images.
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Berczy Park, Toronto
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Place des Arts Fountain, Montreal
It's a seemingly simple act to paint the base of a fountain/water pool a color other than white. But it's deceptively cool.
It's pretty amazing what a decent piece of design can do to cheer up an urban space.
ReplyDeleteas usual off topic:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/06/realestate/zurich-switzerland-renting-homes.html
"In This Country, Most People Rent for Life. Is That Really What They Want?"
Just as comps:
https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/city_price_rankings?itemId=100
Hope you are doing well. I know you mentioned some issues, hopefully you'll find a way to pull through them and get energy back.
Actually in the hospital right now. Had surgery for cancer (prognosis pretty good) but post op heart issues presented and it turns out my "post covid" is heart related. Somewhat disappointing. I figured bike riding for 30 years and knowing nutrition, not drinking much and not taking drugs made me healthy.
ReplyDeleteGood healthcsre systems in Utah. U Utah, not my hospital for this, is ranked 7. That's where Suzanne's parents were/are. Great geriatric program.
ReplyDeleteI hate cancer. I’m assuming surgery ? That is always the best way to remove it.
ReplyDeleteYes I remember you had a family history of heart disease. Have they looked at apoe generic variant. Your “clean” living probably kept you alive.
That seriously sucks.
Colon first, Monday was surgery. Stage 2. Will be monitored but seemingly good prognosis. Hodgkin's lymphoma next. Not sure yet about it, some tests weren't definitive. And then the "de novo systolic heart failure" which I thought was long covid. Just in hospital treatment so far for the heart (I was discharged today) so no time for testing. But I think yeah, genetic. My brother has had issues too.
ReplyDeleteSo yes. Bike for transportation! (Among other things.)
And the other positive news is you have a whole new subject to write about ; the medical health system
ReplyDeleteColon cancer is bad but if they cut it out that’s a very positive step. NHL is very treatable as well but chemo would be. Rough. Target therapies better.
Get some rest but keep observing and writing.
Yep about med care and writing. I did write a Salt Lake one awhile back.
ReplyDeleteAm getting some focus back, but who knows what will happen once I start doing treatment for the NHL. That won't happen til December.
Wrt medical
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/11/10/business/lab-space-vacancy-rates-rising/?s_campaign=breakingnews:newsletter
Will try to read the Switzerland article this weekend.
Thx!!!!!!!
Ok. Just so I understand the way they are thinking that thins is nhl presenting as a colorectal lymphoma ? Realize not the best place to share details
ReplyDeleteSeparate cancers. Normally you wouldn't be happy with two different ones. But maybe two stage 2s instead of one stage 4. The nodes didn't present the way a metastasis would for the colon. The colon was confirmed as stage 2.
ReplyDeleteSo yeah, 3 docs. Colon (she's awesome), lymphoma (info was interderminate so they did a biopsy again when they removed my colon tumor, so no recommendations on what to do have been made yet), and the heart, although they say my issues can mostly be reversed, with 3-4 months of treatment.
The thing is it will require coordination between the lymphoma and heart people.
And it's Hodgkins, not NHL, which has a better prognosis than NHL. I haven't read enough about it but I guess radiation is likely in my future.