• Why classical is classic

    Architecture that is scaled to and reflects the human body is endlessly fascinating.
    New York City architect Gaither Pratt recently drew and posted the image above left on Pro-Urb, the Internet list for professional urbanists. Others sent historical images on the right. Pratt explains: "On my subway rides around New York City I like to sketch people to pass the time. I’ve noticed...Read more

  • When the highway hit Buffalo

    These photos are taken from the same spot in Buffalo, New York (see highlighted church steeple)—in the early 20th Century and recently. The photo at left captures the city in the early stage of demolishing a beautiful street to make way for a highway. As transportation engineer Ian Lockwood wrote...Read more

  • Most dangerous intersections

    This is a list of the most dangerous intersections in each state. It is also a list of heavily engineered, "big asphalt" intersections in road networks that are built to modern transportation engineering standards. For many of these intersections, Usain Bolt would have no trouble getting across...Read more

  • Garagescape

    The domination of the streetscape by garages is common in drive-only suburbs. There are no "eyes on the street" from inside the houses—so the connection with neighbors is tenuous. What you don't see in this photo—because it is out of the scope of the lens—is the actual street, which is wide and lit...Read more