Author Archives: Moniruz Zaman

About Moniruz Zaman

traveler, designer, sinner.

Blog #6 – Zaman

Leave a reply

Moniruz Zaman

Prof: Zagaroli

 

As Lankevich describes the history and the bad reputation that New York had, many readers may feel that New York isn’t really a good place. This actually can be said about all places throughout the modern world. New York had more than 8 million people by the year of 2000 and this was the most the state ever had, with more than 40 percent of its people being foreign born. But many see this city to be in crisis and turmoil. Although we have a disaster going on with our schools and everyday challenges with the transit system, New York City is still one of the most profound cities in the world. It has more than 40 percent of all skyscrapers in the world, the financial and corporate district is still well off, and its people will tell you that they cannot live anywhere else in the world.

blog #5 – Zaman

Leave a reply

Moniruz Zaman

Prof: Zagaroli

During the late 1900’s, Koch was able to see a lot of issues that were faced by New York City’s officials and the communities in general. It was actually interesting that he was able to keep his position for a third term with 78 percent of votes after two terms that did not go all that well. After Donald Manes was found wounded in 1986 in a car, investigation eventually recealed that there was a vast ocean of bribery and influence that was called by Lankevich, a “municipal marketplace”. Many municipals were caught in these types of illegal acts and they all had some sort of close ties with Koch, which gave Koch something to concern about. But as time went on, Koch gave an apology on behalf of the municipals, which were his friends and he was forced to explain why the people he personally selected were in jail, after he boasted about having a perfect two term run without any scandals.

When crack cocaine became popular in the New York City streets, the effects of it were seen right away. Many city streets became a place of crime and this caused much fear to the people. People of every skin color began leaving the crime filled areas and poverty was now above 25 percent. Even the subject of AIDS began a big problem. What was once a minor issue emerged into a full blown plague. Koch eventually tried to take care of such things through creating budgets for it. For example, the “best budget”, was a $22.7 billion presentation to address such issues. Lankavich basically informed readers about New York’s hardships to introduce its firmness to excel as a city.

Midtown Trip Questions

Leave a reply

Moniruz Zaman

Prof: Zagaroli

Midtown Manhattan Trip Questions

1) What was the benefit of creating a public plaza in the set back of the Seagram’s building which was designed by Mies Van der Rohe?

–          By erecting the Seagram’s building set back from its property line, an opportunity to create a public plaza was made. By making a public plaza, more natural light can penetrate the floor and people can be exposed to this natural light. The plaza then becomes a public space in which anyone can enjoy their time in. Mies also designed two water flowing sections on the plaza and this was a very good design move because the flowing water reduces the noise of cars in the space. In my opinion, Mies was very much thinking about the future when he designed the public plaza because many people may argue that in another few years, there really would not be any more cars in the streets. In that case, all the streets would then become some sort of public space and Mies probably had this idea in mind.

 

2) The New York Public Library next to Bryant Park has a public space in the entrance, what is a positive impact of this space other than offering people another place to occupy?

–          Libraries are a place for books along with knowledge, and these two entities have always been considered something sacred. There have been situations in past history in many societies where certain people were not allowed to be around books and sacred people. But the New York Public Library is a building that did not want to repel anyone and it does not want to belittle anyone. Therefore, by putting a public space by the library, there is a notion of welcoming all people in its premise.

 

3) There are many buildings in midtown Manhattan that many people may feel is not attractive. What should happen to these types of buildings with this idea in mind?

–          First of all we must understand that every building is beautiful according to its style of architecture. If we are living in the period of one type of architectural style, it does not mean that every other style is not of beauty. Also, we must understand that many buildings, no matter how amazing it may be today, can verily be ugly in the future. So, does this mean that we tear down all buildings that seem unattractive? No, rather, we need to preserve some buildings to have value for the new ones that are being established. A nice building needs to be among a lesser attractive building to be of beauty.

Trinity Church Blog Post _ Moniruz.Zaman_3522

Leave a reply

Moniruz  Zaman

Professor Zagaroli

Arch 3522

 

Trinity Church is one of the oldest and most mesmerizing churches in the United States. It is located at 79 Broadway in lower Manhattan. The original Trinity Church finished construction in 1698 and this first church was destroyed in 1776 by a massive fire. The church was built anew in 1790, but like its predecessor, it did not stay in perfect erection for a long time. Heavy snows from the harsh winters of 1800’s weakened the church’s structure and for the third time, it was redesigned and completed in 1846.

 

The architect in charge of its design was Richard Upjohn and he designed the Church in a Neo-Gothic style with sandstone and stained-glass windows. His design was disapproved by some people who felt that it was too flashy and a low rise church would have been perfect and simple. When the Church was built, the highest point in New York City was the church’s 281 foot spire and cross.

The entrance of the church is well recognized due to its heavy bronze front doors, which is an example of an elaborate Gothic design due to the religious and ceremonial figures that can be seen on it. Trinity Church also provides thousands of people with a quiet place for meditation and worship during their busy lives. When our class visited the church, I personally saw a few people with suits and construction clothing just sitting on the benches with their eyes closed. The overall verticality of the church also provides a very extreme sense of aesthetics in relation to a religious epiphany.

“Negative Correlation”: Erie Canal, Immigration, Tenements_Blog #2

Leave a reply

Moniruz Zaman

Arch 3522

As New York City was becoming a center piece for the world during the 1800’s, there were many innovations and changes that caused positive and negative effects within the city itself. When the Erie Canal was built, major advancements in trading and business took place. Exporting and importing of goods became much easier and more efficient. Transportation was also positively affected through the newly built canal. The building of the canal created more jobs for people, which caused more immigrants to arrive to New York City. As population of immigrants increased in New York City, there were things taking place that would bring much sorrow to many people. During the 19th century, more than 35 million people migrated from Europe to the US and many of them stayed in New York City. This was the greatest transfer of population in history. The high density of the immigrant population made a lot of jobs scarce. Immigrants and natives of New York City began competing for the same jobs. Immigrants were hated by many people for this reason and eventually a class system in New York City formed. High volume of the continuation of immigrants called out for a need, which was housing. Tenements were then introduced to accommodate large amounts of people in compact apartment. Tenement buildings were usually 4-5 stories high and the allies were dark and dirty. Each floor had about 3 apartments and each apartment had 3 rooms. Two of those rooms served as bedrooms for 15-20 people and the other served as a kitchen, dining room, and living room all in one. Water for cleaning things and bathing were taken from the street pump to the apartments.

Living conditions in the tenements were very harsh and many people died because of the diseases and bacteria that would spread among the poor immigrants.  Yellow fever came into the city 5 times between 1795 and 1822 and these types of epidemics were mainly affecting the places where the Irish lived. Immigrants were more likely to die from diseases and infections because the officials of the city did not really bother with it. Many patients of hospitals were immigrants and in one hospital, more than 83% of all the patients were immigrants. During the year of 1857, more than 65% of deaths were of children, immigrant children. This was the real slum life, which was barely a lengthy life. There were many difficulties at that time for immigrants and they could not properly take it to the officials for many reasons. One main reason was their lack of speaking proper English.

“You are not You, You are a New Yorker”

Leave a reply

My new York.

Moniruz Zaman

Arch 3522

New York City, for me, is a place where everyone is responsible for everything. Ranging from social issues, to even how the city looks is an automatic and subconscious concern for everyone living here. Any issue that rises at any time, you can find thousands of other people standing up for the same cause. There was a time where issues such as recycling, sustainability, homosexuality, etc. were not spoken about, but when a few people stood up for it, thousands joined the movement. Everyone in New York City is somehow interconnected and somehow has an impact on each other. Nobody is alone here. My idea of an interconnected New York City did not exist a few years ago, during high school, when I thought that New York City was just a place for opportunities for everyone. I figured that everyone should just stay within their own circle of friends and just get whatever they wanted to do over with. Have a few friends, get a degree, get a job, have a small family, and that is all a person needs to do in new York city. But in reality, everyone is responsible for each other. If one person robs, steals, murders, does a good deed, recycles, protests for good, vote for mayors, it affects every other New Yorker. If one person does not raise a child properly, then he is, statistically, assisting his child in becoming a criminal, which in fact affects everyone on the city. It was actually when my mind matured and went through epiphanies of sorts, when I began looking at everything throughout my day in a totally different perspective. When an elderly person comes into the train and I am sitting down, if I do not give up my seat, I am unintentionally representing every other young adult to be a greedy and ignorant. In New York City, nothing is about an individual anymore; everyone becomes part of a general group. So the next time you do something, remember that you are not representing yourself, but also New York City, your orientation, your ethnicity, your age group, and everything else in between.