[Lone Ranger]

Frank Lloyd Wright disliked the Cathedral of Learning, calling it "the world's largest keep-off-the-grass sign."

I don't care. In Pittsburgh, it fits. Is there another city so Gothic in this country? I doubt it.

[Evergrey]

Frank Lloyd Wright also claimed Pittsburgh was the only city in America he couldn't "fix". Whatever... I'll take the Cathedral of Learning over Wright's entire portfolio.

[TheGerbil]

Lone Ranger, on Jul 13 2006, 08:34 PM, said:

Frank Lloyd Wright disliked the Cathedral of Learning, calling it "the world's largest keep-off-the-grass sign."

I wonder what he would think to see all of the students lounging, playing and studying on the lawn around that building. It's always busy when the weather is decent.

[Evergrey]

TheGerbil, on Jul 14 2006, 07:44 AM, said:

I wonder what he would think to see all of the students lounging, playing and studying on the lawn around that building. It's always busy when the weather is decent.

Wright was a megalomaniacal modernist who rejected beautiful works of architecture that preceded the modernist movement. The Cathedral of Learning is a national treasure and provides immeasurable tangible and intangible benefits to the university, neighborhood and the city of Pittsburgh. He was strictly a "form follows function" architect... and IMO his works pay no respect to their urban environments.

Here's what he wanted to do with Pittsburgh's Point Park... the Point Park Civic Center:

This post has been edited by Evergrey: 14 July 2006 - 08:16 AM

[Lone Ranger]

Looks Klingon.

[bsamstag]

All those really great pictures (even the ones with snow), and not one streetcar, track or overhead wire anywhere! Pittsburgh was one of the last Great Cities that used Electric Transit. Did all those PCC cars go overseas? Were all those German LRVs put underground (except the ones that run up New Arlington Avenue into Allentown)?

[HawriverNC]

Wonderful pics! I am surprised not to see pictures of the old Pennsylvania & Lake Erie railroad station, currently the home of the Grand Concourse restaurant in Station Square on the South Side.
The eighty foot half barrel stained glass ceiling is a true gem!

The old boarding platform, converted to a dining room, offers a unique view of the Monongahela river and the city.

[TheGerbil]

bsamstag, on Jul 19 2006, 03:28 PM, said:

All those really great pictures (even the ones with snow), and not one streetcar, track or overhead wire anywhere! Pittsburgh was one of the last Great Cities that used Electric Transit. Did all those PCC cars go overseas? Were all those German LRVs put underground (except the ones that run up New Arlington Avenue into Allentown)?

The light rail system runs underground within Downtown, and above ground through the South Side, Allentown, and the South Hills. Once expanded North (which should be started this year) it will run under the Allegheny River and come up above ground on the North Shore.

[iron city]

TheGerbil, on Jul 20 2006, 10:40 AM, said:

The light rail system runs underground within Downtown, and above ground through the South Side, Allentown, and the South Hills. Once expanded North (which should be started this year) it will run under the Allegheny River and come up above ground on the North Shore.

The Port Authority line to the South Hills ends at South Hills Village about 10 - 11 miles from downtown. It is what is left of an interurban line that ran from Pittsburgh to Washington PA until the late 1940s. Not sure where the streetcars all went, last I saw some were still running.

Good to see the snow pictures, with the 95+ wx here it is almost as good as more air conditioning. Reminds one of waiting for the streetcar at the foot of Wood St. on the Mon. River in January. I've been in cold places (Siberia in December) but have never been colder.

Catherdral of Learning is okay as a educational facility in the first 4 floors, the rest are offices and such and by the time you get up to the 25th floor or so there really isn't much room. Architecturally, the Commons Room is as good as any cathedral I have ever seen and if you go up to the 4th floor and ask the right people and look in the right rooms behind some closet type doors you can see the other side of the vaulted ceiling...it is all brick, steel and mortar behind the stone facing. The family connection there is my grandfather who was an electrician and did some of the wiring in the building. It was during the depression and he was happy to have any kind of work he could get.

[Evergrey]

HawriverNC, on Jul 20 2006, 06:04 AM, said:

Wonderful pics! I am surprised not to see pictures of the old Pennsylvania & Lake Erie railroad station, currently the home of the Grand Concourse restaurant in Station Square on the South Side.
The eighty foot half barrel stained glass ceiling is a true gem!

The old boarding platform, converted to a dining room, offers a unique view of the Monongahela river and the city.

Here you go.

[Evergrey]

iron city, on Jul 21 2006, 07:28 AM, said:

The Port Authority line to the South Hills ends at South Hills Village about 10 - 11 miles from downtown.

The 42S terminates at South Hills Village via the Beechview Line, but the 47L travels all the way to Library via the Overbrook Line. The cars ride along private right-aways except in the neighborhood of Beechview, where they run along Broadway. The downtown portion of the system is subway, and construction will begin soon on twin-tunnels beneath the Allegheny River connecting to the North Shore across from downtown.

The 52 Allentown is the last "streetcar" line (featuring overhead wires, the last PPC cars were retired in 1999) in Pittsburgh. It forms an arc from South Hills Junction to Downtown via the neighborhood of Allentown, traveling along Warrington and Arlington and bypassing tunnels (unlike the other lines).

These pictures are of the 52 Allentown line and come from http://world.nycsubway.org

A modern light rail car in Allentown.


Overhead wires



This map of Pittsburgh's light rail system is from http://urbanrail.net

This post has been edited by Evergrey: 21 July 2006 - 05:50 PM

[booburg]

iron city, on Jul 21 2006, 09:28 AM, said:

The Port Authority line to the South Hills ends at South Hills Village about 10 - 11 miles from downtown. It is what is left of an interurban line that ran from Pittsburgh to Washington PA until the late 1940s. Not sure where the streetcars all went, last I saw some were still running.

Good to see the snow pictures, with the 95+ wx here it is almost as good as more air conditioning. Reminds one of waiting for the streetcar at the foot of Wood St. on the Mon. River in January. I've been in cold places (Siberia in December) but have never been colder.

Catherdral of Learning is okay as a educational facility in the first 4 floors, the rest are offices and such and by the time you get up to the 25th floor or so there really isn't much room. Architecturally, the Commons Room is as good as any cathedral I have ever seen and if you go up to the 4th floor and ask the right people and look in the right rooms behind some closet type doors you can see the other side of the vaulted ceiling...it is all brick, steel and mortar behind the stone facing. The family connection there is my grandfather who was an electrician and did some of the wiring in the building. It was during the depression and he was happy to have any kind of work he could get.

[booburg]

Thanks for the streetcar pics! One of my fondest memories was riding with my father in his truck from our home in Robinson Twp. to Beechview just so I could take the streetcar into the City. It was also very special time spent together.

[drocpsu]

I love Pittsburgh and try to get back there as much as I can. Heck, seeing the pictures in this thread made me want to move there!

Anyway, are those last 4 pictures from southside? I was back in Pittsburgh this past weekend for the first time in a while, and was amazed to see the amount of new development/changes that have taken place there and on the north shore.

[Evergrey]

drocpsu, on Jul 25 2006, 01:44 PM, said:

I love Pittsburgh and try to get back there as much as I can. Heck, seeing the pictures in this thread made me want to move there!

Anyway, are those last 4 pictures from southside? I was back in Pittsburgh this past weekend for the first time in a while, and was amazed to see the amount of new development/changes that have taken place there and on the north shore.

The last 8 pictures are from the South Side, the last 4 being of the South Side Works, a new mixed-use development on a former steel mill site... at the eastern terminus of the Carson St. business district. It currently has an interesting mix of "unique to the area" retail like REI and Z Gallerie, local retailers like Rynn's Luggage, local and chain dining (Hot Metal Grille, McCormick & Schmicks), coffeeshops, bookstore, movie theatre, residential units, office space, "park" area featuring live music performances. It is still undergoing development. National youth clothing retailer American Eagle is locating its headquarters there. There are plans for residential loft towers, hotel and a riverside Hofbrauhaus. I really like the development as it designed in an urban fashion and the architecture is fresh yet sensitive to the existing environment.

http://www.southsideworks.com/

[Evergrey]

I was going to do a new Pittsburgh photo thread a few days ago ... but then this old thread was resurrected... so I'll just post some 2006 PGH photos in here.

skyline on a hazy day from Herron Hill... the highest point in this hilly city


Hill District


The Hill District is a struggling neighborhood east of downtown... but it's making efforts to come back... it does offer some interesting views


The vibrant Strip District from the Hill District. Home to food markets, art galleries, nightclubs. The large industrial building is the Armstrong Cork Factory, which is undergoing conversion to 295 residential units.


Views of downtown from a dead end Hill District street


Hill District homes


a successful new housing development in the Lower Hill District... the soon-to-be-replaced Civic Arena... and downtown


on the grounds of Duquesne University (student pop. 10k) near downtown. Duquesne is ranked as a Top-10 Catholic university... and is renowned for its pharmacy program... it also has the safest college campus in America.. it's currently undergoing a massive expansion programme


Polish Hill has loads of character


You can see Troy Hill in the distance


narrow streets and dense housing


walking along a riverfront trail along the South Side of the Monongahela River... Duquesne University is situated on the bluff


10th St. Bridge


Liberty Bridge


Smithfield Bridge


a barge passes the historic Mon Wharf and a crane building an 18-story condo tower


Station Square... Pittsburgh's top tourist trap... next to Wesco headquarters and the Monongahela Incline in the distance


A pleasure cruise... note the slender early skyscrapers in the background


The Panhandle Bridge carries LRT


skyline on a hazy day from Mt. Washington... Duquesne Incline in foreground


Mt. Washington housing


a scenic stroll


from Grandview Park


the Allegheny River side of downtown... building front and center is a recently completed apartment tower

[Evergrey]

enjoying a beautiful city


Pittsburgh's a great place to kayak


tiny waterfalls



now for some (slightly crappy) nighttime photos of the South Side's E. Carson St.... a 20-block historic business district that is absolutely booming... it is home to many bars, nightclubs, restaurants, shops, galleries and other interesting businesses... it was hard to set up my tripod to take these pics due to the huge amount of pedestrian traffic on the street... so sorry about the blurriness!

This is part of the South Side Works... which I mentioned in an earlier post... former steel mill... now an awesome mixed-use development


a beautiful historic facade


people jam the sidewalks




it's a booming area... but remains authentic and unpretentious




many Pittsburgh churches have found new life


it's not just a nightlife destination... it's a real fully-functional neighborhood




a great chocolate and milk shake place


Pittsburgh's Point State Park at the confluence of the rivers... with the Ft. Pitt Museum, Ft. Pitt Bridge and Mt. Washington houses


Point Park is a great place for families






Duquesne Incline


Downtown's Liberty Ave. is lined with historic structures




Mellon looms above a posh downtown hotel

[Evergrey]

The Granite Building, at right, is undergoing residential conversion


a downtown cemetary


some beautiful early skyscrapers... the grey building is undergoing residential conversion


skyline from Troy Hill... the red industrial building at left is the former Heinz ketchup factory... now residential


looking down the Allegheny from the 40th St. Bridge


Welcome to Roboburgh


Lawrenceville is Pittsburgh's densest neighborhood... home of Stephen Foster (great American songwriter of "Oh Susanna" fame)... it has recently become a hot neighborhood featuring a vibrant business district


houses in Fineview


Deutschtown is a very old North Side neighborhood that is experiencing a modest rebirth






E. Ohio St. is the North Side's largest business district






Allegheny General Hospital looms overhead


skyline from Fineview

[BHCav]

Evergrey, on Jul 14 2006, 10:06 AM, said:

Wright was a megalomaniacal modernist who rejected beautiful works of architecture that preceded the modernist movement. The Cathedral of Learning is a national treasure and provides immeasurable tangible and intangible benefits to the university, neighborhood and the city of Pittsburgh. He was strictly a "form follows function" architect... and IMO his works pay no respect to their urban environments.

Here's what he wanted to do with Pittsburgh's Point Park... the Point Park Civic Center:

I know hindsight is 20/20 and whatnot, but that pic is hella-horrendous.

[doloresdew]

help help help
I am not able to get all the pictures. They come up with a red x and IPB Image.
thanks for your help,
dolores