archBOSTON ARCHIVE

[ablarc]

.


A CLASSIC LITTLE CITY



From the dictionary:

clas?sic (klas?ik)adj. [Fr. classique, from L. classicus of the highest class of Roman citizens, of the first rank, hence superior, from classis, a class.] 1:of the highest class or rank. 2: of recognized value; serving as a standard or model of excellence. 3: in fashion year after year; of enduring interest, quality or style. 4: characterized by simple lines. 5: balanced, formal, objective, austere, regular. 6: traditional, historically memorable; noted because of special associations. 7: characteristic of the ancient Greeks and Romans or their culture. 8: authentic, authoritative, typical. 9: in accordance with established principles of excellence in the arts and sciences.


Background buildings, not drab.


By definition background buildings should not be out-standing.
But if they all stand out the same way?


?then none of them stands out?


?except maybe the drab one!


Financial District.


Downtown.


Times Square.


At one point in the past, some flake painted his house a garish color.


Pretty soon everyone was doing it.


Maybe they got the idea from the sky?s reflection in the brackish water.
Or maybe they wanted the houses to match their boats.


Daily, out in the lagoon, the men catch frutti di mare --strange and wonderful shrimp, mollusks and tiny fish. Restaurants here and in Venice buy them fresh.


Wives stay home and make tablecloths to sell tourists from their front doors. Zoning?.


Here the street holds no fears. Front doors are often open; colorful striped curtains keep out flies and maintain privacy, while little gates keep pets and kids indoors.


Back yards are homey.


A classic town: of the highest class or rank; of recognized value; serving as a standard or model of excellence; in fashion year after year; of enduring interest, quality or style; characterized by simple lines; balanced, formal, objective, austere, regular; traditional, historically memorable; noted because of special associations; characteristic of the ancient Greeks and Romans or their culture; authentic, authoritative, typical; in accordance with established principles of excellence in the arts and sciences.


Classic town, classic lifestyle.


The tourists can?t believe it.

If this place were in the U.S. it would be populated by millionaires. In increasing segments of the world, nearly all the pretty places are now ghettoes for the rich. Some plutocrats own pieds-a-terre in half a dozen nice places; of these some are likely to have quite recently sheltered the working class.

Burano still does.
























Photos by Claudio Pallard and Ross Warner.

Big brother city:

[Bowwest]

I just looked up airfare to Burano.

[briv]

Astounding what a simple coat of paint can do. What a beautiful little city.

Thanks for sharing this Ablarc.

[dudeursistershot]

There's shadows everywhere. Where's the open space? It won't be a good city until you get more open space and less shadows


(Nice job, ablarc, I've never seen a city like that before)

[patrick0000]

now THAT is a nice looking city! everything looks so lively and it looks like "community" would take a front seat there.