The Dutch generally have a reputation for pragmatic moderation in architecture and planning, so I was taken aback to learn of the new development of Haverleij, which consists of nine separate but related housing developments in the form of self-contained ‘castles’, moats and all, on the outskirts of ’s-Hertogenbosch.

They’re pretty astonishing to look at, from above (photo from the promotional site)

or from ground level (photo by Michiel van Raaij)

The architect, Sjoerd Soeters, has very deliberately sought to create self-contained areas with distinct identities and which leave the surrounding landscape open. Top marks for ambition and execution I suppose, but I can’t help wondering how it’s going to turn out. There’s something a bit J.G. Ballard about these utopian mini-experiments in urban form, architectural petri-dishes scattered around a golf course. What will they be like to live in, and to grow up in? Will each one develop its own insular identity, with the kids sallying forth at regular intervals to do battle in the surrounding greenery? I wouldn’t be surprised if the residents decided there’s such a thing as too much green space. To me most of the ‘castles’ look too small to develop distinct identities and too separate to develop a joint one. But even if they end up windswept and empty they’d still make for some great ruins.

This Time story from 1937 describes a court case concerning the sale of a sort of early forerunner of the Big Issue:

It is a peach and saffron tabloid full of hand-me-down line drawings and photographs of celebrated sundowners, sentimental verse, advertisements of rabbits’ feet and “surprise novelties.” personalities and good advice. Founded last winter as a quarterly, the Hobo News was soon converted to a monthly. It is distributed in Manhattan by its editors, elsewhere by itinerants at 5¢ a copy— 10¢ “if we can get it.” Current edition: 50,000 copies.

Price of subway fares around the world, as calculated by Treehugger:

Maybe Dublin’s going to sneak in from nowhere and steal our crown but we’ve probably got some whopping fare increases lined up just in case.