THE BEST OF AMERICAN CITIES AND PARIS

 

 

THE BEST OF AMERICAN CITIES AND PARIS Revealed: Latest designs for new $4 billion 'Grand Central Station' in San Francisco that will contain a 5.4-acre rooftop park, amphitheater and shopping outlets. Celebrated architect Cesar Pelli, known for designing some of the world's tallest buildings, has unveiled his latest designs for the 1.5-million-square-foot Transbay Transit Center in San Francisco, California. New photo and video renderings show the massive shimmering structure with a 5.4-acre rooftop park, shopping outlets and multiple cyclist and pedestrian passageways lined with greenery. The developers have compared the $4.2 billion project to Grand Central Station in New York City and Victoria Station in London. 'Connected': The renderings from architecture firm Pelli Clarke Pelli shows the shimmering transit center filled with busy commuters. State of the art: The glass transit hub will also contain a 5.4-acre rooftop park, shopping outlets and several passageways lined with rich greenery 'West Coast Grand Central': The developers have compared the $4.2 billion project to Grand Central Station in New York City and Victoria Station in London. Their transit hub will have a few extra amenities, including the rooftop park designed by Berkeley-based PWP Landscape Architecture, which will be lined with playgrounds and cafes as well as an amphitheater. The above-ground park will be built around three large skylights, which will descend several floors to bring natural light to the underground level of the hub, where BART trains will begin making stops in 2017. The completed hub will replace the current Transbay Terminal at First and Mission streets in San Francisco with a transit center connecting eight Bay Area counties and other parts of California through 11 transit systems, including AC Transit, BART and three city blocks of bus depots. The transit hub will also house a 1,000-foot office tower, which will become the city’s tallest building when construction is completed in 2017. Lots of green: The above-ground park will be lined with playgrounds and cafes as well as an amphitheater. Intricate transit network: The completed hub will connect eight Bay Area counties and other parts of California through 11 transit systems. The transit hub will also house a 1,000-foot office tower, which will become the city’s tallest building when construction is completed in 2017. Construction on the Transbay project began in August 2010. Since then assessments for risk and vulnerability using federal guidelines have created a few setbacks for the developers, Transbay Joint Powers Authority, and Pelli’s architecture firm, Pelli Clarke Pelli, according to the San Francisco Examiner. A late 2011 assessment found that any glass used on the outside of the structure would have to be significantly strengthened to meet the guidelines, which include blast safety in explosions. Instead of the glass, authority officials have asked the project’s board of directors to approve studying the use of a perforated metal material. If approved, it could end up saving about $17.5 million on materials and the awning’s construction. The design for the new center ‘drips with sex appeal, featuring gorgeous architecture with sinuous curves, enriched paving, lush landscaping, and seductive water displays,’ urban designer and writer Darrin Nordahl wrote when an early set of renderings were shown last year.   This area of the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco has been built up in a Holland theme, beginning with the windmill and the large patches of beautiful tulips.     Golden Gate Park, San Francisco     Ample light: The structure will be designed to cast natural sunlight on the underground transit network

Most photographers would be happy to capture a beautiful sunset or sunrise. But for one artist, that wasn't enough - so he decided to show the world's most iconic cityscapes by day and night - in just one picture. The mesmerizing images show the beautiful transition from day to night in some of the world's most iconic cities from the Shanghai skyline to New York's Central Park. Time Square in New York is given a fresh new look in just one picture. The mesmerising image show the beautiful transition from day to night New York Library is one of the 15 images that show how the city's character changes over time Manhattan is seen at dusk from its southernmost tip Splashing around: A pool in Central Park proves that New Yorkers may all be ants from above, but they're ants that can swim Urban jungle: A tree-topped building in Manhattan's Upper East Side looks down on even more trees in Central Park Cooling off: Lucky summer revelers swim atop a highrise in Manhattan's Kips Bay neighborhood The new towers: One World Trade Center (center left) is topped by cranes set off by a Lower Manhattan sunset Bustling hub: The piers along Manhattan's west side at dusk with One World Trade Center in the distance at far right The Staten Island Ferry dutifully chugs along carrying commuters in waters below Manhattan Standing tall: The curving lines of the art deco Chrysler building are a welcome change from rectangular boxes of most newer Manhattan construction Urban reprieve: Stretching all along the middle of otherwise hectic Manhattan are the serene wilds of Central Park Stunning: One World Trade Center catches the last hints of sunset on an evening in Lower Manhattan Picnic time: Park goers lay out in the Chelsea sun on the west side of Manhattan Hints of purples and reds offset the incandescent yellows as the lights of New York City switch on for the night Towering: The iconic Empire State Building greets a new day Anything but square: Times Square makes for an even brighter oasis of light in the city that never sleeps Defiant: As the night darkens, the lights of the city skyline become ever brighter Midnight sun: In Midtown Manhattan, the vibrant, neon stretches of Times Square light up the night Light bulb built on light bulbs: The GE building's famous sign Birds-eye-view: Hawke's name is apt. His photos could pass for the view of a bird swooping through Manhattan's most famous buildings   Gramercy Park in New York was snapped by photographer Stephen Wilkes who spends up to 15 hours to create just one composite image Santa Monica Pier in California has two very difference sides as this images shows - from the bright sandy beach with blue waves hitting the shore in the day to a bustling, illuminated pier at night. The unusual images were taken by photographer Stephen Wilkes who spent up to 15 hours and shot up to 1500 photos to create just one composite image. The collection entitled Day to Night features 15 images including works from Times Square, The Western Wall and The Capitol. To create the images, Stephen, 55, from Connecticut, U.S.A., shoots across the entire landscape from sunrise to sunset. He then returns to his studio to blend around 50 of the best photographs to create one seamless image. Each piece takes around one month to edit. A day in the life of Capitol Hill, Washington DC: Although the crowds remain the same, the photographer captured the beauty of the changing light The Western Wall is one of Jerusalem's most iconic images - and now this composition shows just how important it is to the city The High Line in New York is one of the city's most photographed spots and this image shows its look changes during the course of just one day The Flat Iron building in New York looks like it's dividing two different cities in this composition. Stephen said he first came up with the idea of shooting multiple images across a landscape when taking the cast picture for Baz Lurman's blockbuster Romeo and Juliet for Life Magazine, in 1996. But it wasn't until he was asked to shoot the High Line for New York Magazine that Stephen used this technique to show the passing of time. Stephen said while he is fascinated by architecture, people and the cities of the world, what he really loves to shoot is history. And he has even shot Day and Night images of President Obama's inauguration speech as well as New Year's Eve in Times Square. There are currently 15 images in the collection but he is currently working on images from Chicago, and hope to add works from London and Paris in the near future. Stephen wants to add as many images as possible to his collection. No matter what time of the day it is, New York is always heaving with people and always alight with adverts Central park in New York shows how the beautiful and busy park can turn spookily quiet in the evening. Mr Wilkes frst came up with the idea of shooting multiple images across a landscape when taking the cast picture for Baz Lurman's blockbuster Romeo and Juliet Park Avenue in New York looks like the scene of a blockbuster as the dark sky looms over the avenue that sees taxis race up and down the road A wintry Central Park looks crisp and bright - until the sun sets and a dark grey shadow is cast over the sprawling public space Washington Square Park is caught between the day and the night as part of Mr Wilkes unique way of capturing scenes. Last Sunday, France celebrated Bastille Day, commemorating the start of the French Revolution in 1789 -- the end of monarchy and the beginning of modern France. Reuters photographers Charles Platiau and Gonzalo Fuentes took to the skies above Paris for the occasion, capturing images of the capital city, its unique blend of historic and modern architecture, and some of its residents and visitors enjoying the sunny day. The Eiffel Tower, illuminated during the traditional Bastille Day fireworks display in Paris, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Gonzalo Fuentes) 2 The Sacre Coeur Basilica and rooftops of residential buildings on Montmartre in Paris, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) # 3 The Arc de Triomphe at the center of the Place Charles de Gaulle, also known as the "Place de l'Etoile", on July 14, 2013.(Reuters/Charles Platiau) # 4 The Place des Vosges in the Marais district of Paris, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) # 5 Graves at the Montparnasse Cemetery, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) # 6 People relax in chairs around a fountain as they take in the sun in the Palais Royal Garden in central Paris, on July 14, 2013.(Reuters/Charles Platiau) # 7 The Center Pompidou, also known as Beaubourg, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) # 8 A closer view of the Center Pompidou, which houses the National Museum of Modern Art, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) # 9 Renovations including a new greenhouse (left) at the zoo in the Parc de Vincennes in the east of Paris, on July 14, 2013. The 131 million euro project will transform the zoo in several ways, creating new habitats and modernizing interactions with the animals.(Reuters/Charles Platiau) # 10 The Gare de l'Est railway train station, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) # 11 The Eiffel Tower, the Seine River and the Paris skyline, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) # 12 The National French Radio building (Maison de la Radio) which stands next to the Seine River, on July 14, 2013.(Reuters/Charles Platiau) # 13 The Arche de la Defense building (center) in the financial and business district, near Paris, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) # 14 People wait outside the Pyramid of the Louvre Museum in central Paris, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) # 15 The Sacre Coeur Basilica on Montmartre, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) # 16 Contruction of the Canopy, as part of the renovation of Les Halles district in Paris, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) # 17 The construction site of the Louis Vuitton Foundation for Creation art museum designed by architect Frank Gehry in the Bois de Boulogne, western Paris, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) # 18 Rooftops of residential buildings in Paris, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) # 19 A military Airborne Warning and Control Systems aircraft, followed by Rafale and Mirage fighter jets flies past the Eiffel tower as part of the traditional Bastille Day parade, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) # 20 The Ile Saint-Louis, in the Seine River in central Paris, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) # 21 The Parc des Princes stadium (left) and the newly renovated stadium Jean Bouin by architect Rudy Ricciotti, on July 14, 2013. The Parc des Princes hosts soccer matches of French Ligue 1 team Paris St Germain. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) # 22 The Hotel des Invalides, with royal courtyard, the Church of Saint Louis and the Dome, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) # 23 Troops march down the Champs Elysees during the traditional Bastille Day parade, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) # 24 The French aerial display team Patrouille de France (French Aerobatic Patrol) flies in front of the Eiffel tower as part of the traditional Bastille day military parade, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) # 25 The aerial subway and the city rooftops in Paris, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Gonzalo Fuentes) # The Invalides and the Arc de Triomphe, during the evening of Bastille Day, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Gonzalo Fuentes) # The Eiffel Tower is illuminated during the Bastille Day fireworks display, on July 14, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau)

These spectacular images of the San Francisco skyline were taken by a fearless photographer - who dangled his camera and even himself out of a helicopter to capture the perfect shots. Michael Shainblum, 23, took to the aircraft in a bid to photograph a series of unique views of the Californian city - from the Golden Gate Bridge to towering, brightly-lit skyscrapers. He dangled his legs and arms out of the helicopter at dizzying heights - before snapping the sights below with a camera attached to a tripod. Mr Shainblum, who flew with two friends, said he had spent years practicing the daring photography technique, which has recently become popular with urban explorers. 'The reason I went up was to capture unique images of San Francisco from a perspective most people don't get to see,' he said. 'I wanted the pictures to make people feel like they are in there with me. I have had people tell me that some of the shots looking down have made them feel sick.' He added that despite suffering from a 'slight fear of heights', once he was in the helicopter he was 'too excited to be scared'. +13 Breathtaking: This image of San Francisco was taken by a fearless photographer - who dangled his camera and even himself out of a helicopter to capture the ideal shot +13 Beautiful: Michael Shainblum, 23, took to the aircraft in a bid to photograph a series of unique views of the Californian city, including this shot of San Francisco at night +13 Famous landmark: He dangled his legs and arms out of the helicopter at dizzying heights - before snapping the sights below with a camera. Above, Golden Gate Bridge +13 +13 Different perspectives: The Golden Gate Bridge, a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate strait, is pictured, left and right, above a sea of green-and-blue water +13 Bright lights of the city: Mr Shainblum said he had spent years practicing the daring photography technique, which has recently become popular with urban explorers Stomach-churning: The photographer, who flew with two friends, dangles his legs out of the helicopter while capturing this incredible photo of San Francisco at night +13 +13 Flying high: 'Including my feet in the shots was my idea as I like having a human element in the shots,' he said. Left, Golden Gate Bridge and, right, San Francisco at night +13 View from above: Mr Shainblum said that despite suffering from a 'slight fear of heights', once he was in the helicopter he became 'too excited to be scared' +13 +13 Busy city: 'I have had people tell me that some of the shots looking down have made them feel sick,' he added. Left, brightly-lit skyscrapers and, right, a major bypass +13 Captivating: Mr Shainblum said he had taken precautions during the photography session - but added: 'I did take risks also'. Above, the bright lights of San Francisco

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