Urban Oasis with O.O.

      The design of public open spaces contributes a lot towards the urban image of a city. Let me cite a few examples. Amsterdam has its public plazas with statues, seating, canals and tramway lines. Paris has been described in this blog before. Brugge has its unique charms with wide open town squares and horse drawn carriages. And then there is New York. People have described this great city in their own ways. In Kapila Vatsyayan’s words  ” New York is like a sexy, old lady with a cigarette in her mouth “.  To this may I add, who will blow the smoke in your face and not give a damn

      Anyway, I think the essence of New York city can be described in musical terms. Its mostly Beethoven’s fifth with dashes of Fur Elise. Let me explain. With its high density, high-rise buildings, the crowded streets and the mad pace at which one has to navigate one’s way on the side walks, it brings forth the intensity, dynamism and energy of Beethoven’s fifth. But in the midst of this urban image there are oases like Central Park and Columbus Circle.

       Recently (two weeks back) I visited Columbus Circle. It is well designed and has something for every age group. There is open space to feed the birds, seating for senior citizens, fountains to keep the air cool in summer, about 2″ deep water for children to play and not drown, green grass to ward off traffic. To top it all, it had a circle of exotic Ornamental Onion (O.O.) blooms (see above). With greenery, water, blooms it seems like an urban oasis in the midst of traffic on the periphery. It brings forth the tenderness of Fur Elise in the midst of Beethoven’s fifth all around!

Ratna

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