What a little gem. Fun, and funny, yes, but also a charming and inventive tribute to Italian architecture. It's a shame developers haven't used this intelligently. A relatively low rise (3-4 stories) screen around it of sympathetic buildings, perhaps in a simple rendered more prosaic Italian style (e.g. as in Rome's Trastevere), housing cafes, restaurants and shops, with apartments above, could cement this as a place worth visiting and living in. You wouldn't even have to use that much of the car park. If you like humour in architecture, especially witty but elegant use of classical style and motifs, often in conjunction with more vernacular styles, I recommend Edwin Lutyens. Yours is a really interesting channel, Michael. Thanks for this video.
It is astonishing that a parking lot exists cheek by jowl to the piazza. How can the real estate industry of New Orleans and other movers and shakers of the city be so remiss in capitalizing on such a unique amenity!?! Having never walked the site myself, but being a student of urban placemaking, Jane Jacobs and William Whyte, I offer up the tried and true temporary fix: food trucks, with solely electrical-powered generators.
The interesting comment you made after the Sopranos pause, made me think of Soane’s approach towards classical ruins, and also Speer’s concept of buildings that would be ruined gracefully. If only I had more time, or talent, I could have writen an entire piece about it. 😊
I'm not a big fan of Post-Modern Architecture in general but in the right setting it can be whimsical and aesthetically additive in a positive way. I say this having lived in Las Vegas for 4 years and having been to and / or through the French Quarter in New Orleans several times but not since 2007. I do not recall being familiar with the Piazza D'Italia previously, but I am familiar with the Italian history and cultural aspects of the city and ate at a couple of Italian Restaurants on my visits to and through the city. New Orleans and the French Quarter in particular is a fun and beautiful place and worthwhile visiting but I cannot imagine Post-Modernist Architecture will ever be truly embraced by the citizens there, much less the tourists who go there for the Cajun and Creole Influences and are seeking the Spanish-American Colonial and French and Italian influenced Architecture.
The reason Arch. Codex has a growing following is only due to the outstanding creator and host. At any rate, if Piazza Navona could serve as a parking lot during the 50s and 60s, Piazza d’Italia (or is it Pizza d’Italia?) could be very proud of its adjacent parking square - You’re in good company! One small correction - despite your Italian background, I can hear you make a small error in your pronunciation of the square’s name. It is not “piazza deltalia”, but rather, the I is a capital I, not a lowercase L. Meaning, the name is “piazza ditalia”; “the square of Italy”.
What a little gem. Fun, and funny, yes, but also a charming and inventive tribute to Italian architecture. It's a shame developers haven't used this intelligently. A relatively low rise (3-4 stories) screen around it of sympathetic buildings, perhaps in a simple rendered more prosaic Italian style (e.g. as in Rome's Trastevere), housing cafes, restaurants and shops, with apartments above, could cement this as a place worth visiting and living in. You wouldn't even have to use that much of the car park. If you like humour in architecture, especially witty but elegant use of classical style and motifs, often in conjunction with more vernacular styles, I recommend Edwin Lutyens. Yours is a really interesting channel, Michael. Thanks for this video.
Thanks for your comment and thanks for watching, and thanks for the recommendations.
It is astonishing that a parking lot exists cheek by jowl to the piazza. How can the real estate industry of New Orleans and other movers and shakers of the city be so remiss in capitalizing on such a unique amenity!?! Having never walked the site myself, but being a student of urban placemaking, Jane Jacobs and William Whyte, I offer up the tried and true temporary fix: food trucks, with solely electrical-powered generators.
But the adjacent space is begging for bistro tables and Cinzano Umbrellas.
The food trucks, based on their carbon footprint, are required to bring tables, chairs and Cinzano Umbrellas.@@architecturecodex9818
The interesting comment you made after the Sopranos pause, made me think of Soane’s approach towards classical ruins, and also Speer’s concept of buildings that would be ruined gracefully. If only I had more time, or talent, I could have writen an entire piece about it. 😊
Do so!
@@architecturecodex9818 Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what it God's - smart and witty architectural analysis belongs to Molinelli. :-)
@@liori3770 you are too kind
I'm not a big fan of Post-Modern Architecture in general but in the right setting it can be whimsical and aesthetically additive in a positive way. I say this having lived in Las Vegas for 4 years and having been to and / or through the French Quarter in New Orleans several times but not since 2007. I do not recall being familiar with the Piazza D'Italia previously, but I am familiar with the Italian history and cultural aspects of the city and ate at a couple of Italian Restaurants on my visits to and through the city. New Orleans and the French Quarter in particular is a fun and beautiful place and worthwhile visiting but I cannot imagine Post-Modernist Architecture will ever be truly embraced by the citizens there, much less the tourists who go there for the Cajun and Creole Influences and are seeking the Spanish-American Colonial and French and Italian influenced Architecture.
Consider it a piece of a theme restaurant, and you might see how it could fit in. Thanks for watching and commenting.
The reason Arch. Codex has a growing following is only due to the outstanding creator and host. At any rate, if Piazza Navona could serve as a parking lot during the 50s and 60s, Piazza d’Italia (or is it Pizza d’Italia?) could be very proud of its adjacent parking square - You’re in good company!
One small correction - despite your Italian background, I can hear you make a small error in your pronunciation of the square’s name. It is not “piazza deltalia”, but rather, the I is a capital I, not a lowercase L. Meaning, the name is “piazza ditalia”; “the square of Italy”.
Haha... good point!
I added a small correction, my dear distant friend. :-)