The Drama that is London

    Condominiums by Richard Rogers / Hoptons Gardens (Southbank, London)

Cities everywhere are having an identity crisis. As new economies and populations emerge, some cities struggle with how to control the growth and retain what they think made them special in the first place. Austin has lately been torn between the sleepy town it once was and the cutting edge, creative city. This is manifested in the unofficial SXSW mantra, "Welcome to Austin! Please don't move here." 

I just returned from London, a more established evolving city, where I could not help, but appreciate some little things that help make up London's "identity." Some are cliche, while other were surprising to me. I believe the observance other cities is critical to understanding our own cultures. So here's what I learned about the drama that is London:

• physical characteristics: formal rigidity next to "messy" urban growth, prevalence of landmarks/easy way-finding, blocks are tight, but irregular, Foster + Partners building on every corner, strong emphasis on world-class parks (Hyde Park, Regent's Park, Kew Gardens) supported by numerous pocket parks and squares within the urban fabric, dark stones, deep greens, bright reds pop against the grey, public transit is highly emphasized, muddy banks on tidal Thames River, dismal grey weather is unfortunately accurate
• cultural attitude: many Londoners do not own an umbrella, general affection for old buildings and urban forms yet most are eager for the next greatest development, sometimes I walked around for hours and heard every accent except British (abundance of immigrant populations as well as tourists), strongly established market culture (from farmer's markets to crafts, antiques, and flower markets), prevalence of "high" culture (theatre, museums, literature)

London has a strange choreography... the grey drizzle keeps the city at a constant hum, but it by no means stops it! Sunny days or snow days punctuation marks to London life. Tourists shuffle up and down the Thames venturing into the streets only to be startled by the double-decker bus coming at them from the right. The Tube stations require no thought to navigate: just follow the stream of people lined by walls of tv, film, and musical advertisements. Beware of the mass migration of men in suits to and from the central city during the work week. The public actually has a general interest and respect for architecture. In fact, the proceeds from the national lottery go towards the the construction of public architectural works. As new developments pop up, the contrast of new and old creates a looseness and vibrancy that is distinctly London.