Kew Gardens

Cheesy_Member: 24th Jan 2006 - 11:31 GMT

That Building with the laundrette would look nicer if it wasnt for those silly fire escapes all over the front. Dont get them often in the UK and if you do they are to the back of the buildings.

jack: 24th Jan 2006 - 14:26 GMT

the thinking there of course is that the fire trucks come out on the streets and it is easier to get people out of a burning building thru the front fire escapes than it is in the rear yard. very nice photos, it really is'nt the grimier parts of the city. kew gardens was the beautiful part of queens, still is in many ways. the people are workers and families which kinda saves an area. i used to take the train there. the 'f' train.

jeeff: 24th Jan 2006 - 15:59 GMT

i like fire escapes. they're one of my favourite fixtures of nyc architecture and i really miss them on more modern buildings. they're like the building's exoskeleton.

Cheesy_Member: 24th Jan 2006 - 16:07 GMT

Not my liking, they hide the real architecture of the buiding with these big hunks of metal, Here is a picture of the Lloyd Building in London, This is a building with a real exoskeleton :)

jeeff: 24th Jan 2006 - 16:47 GMT

well, to each his own. i like good modern architecture too, but i don't see how you can argue that a fire escape is somehow less a part of the building than window ledges for example. both are "real" architectural elements.

Cheesy_Member: 24th Jan 2006 - 17:11 GMT

True, i feel they look more of an afterthought than something that was part of the original design as a window ledge would be. Also they do provide great access/exit points for Theifs.

adam: 24th Jan 2006 - 20:09 GMT

i dont think firetrucks were quite the same when most of these buildings were built..

kew gardens is actually kind of beautiful. my view of it is just skewed because it seems like grandparent land hah.. but really the architecture and community value is pretty impressive

jack: 24th Jan 2006 - 22:17 GMT

the beauty of a fire escape is its assesibility to the outside world without leaving your apartment.

indykid: 26th Jan 2006 - 13:54 GMT

Interesting...I thought that this would be a thread about Kew Gardens in London at when I clicked it! Wonder where the name kew comes from?

adam: 26th Jan 2006 - 18:23 GMT

it was settled by the english.. interesting history here:
www.oldkewgardens.com/ss-beginning-0020.html

Jonathan_NYC: 7th Jul 2006 - 07:17 GMT

go down that road, on the right is a CVS, i work there!

anon (usnyc1nsc1.globalmediaxchange.com): 26th Jun 2007 - 12:10 GMT

Hi, What street is the 80-40 apartment house on?
Thank you!