Friday, May 11, 2007

Rooftops and backyards

In the suburb of Darlinghurst, just below St Vincent's hospital, the rooftops and backyards of old terrace houses. The neat renovations show how expensive this quiet suburb located just steps away from the city has become. None of the messy scruffy backyards you could see in less fortunate areas. See here what a similar suburb looked like in 1938 (document from the State Library of NSW)

Dans le quartier de Darlinghurst, juste en-dessous de l'hôpital Saint Vincent, les toits et arrière-cours d'une série de petites maisons en terrasse début XIXe. Ce quartier paisible mais situé à deux pas du centre ville est devenu cher et recherché, comme le montrent ces façades impeccablement rénovées. Rien à voir avec les arrière-cours crasseuses et encombrées que l'on peut voir dans des quartiers moins huppés. Pour un peu d'Histoire, voir ici la photo d'un quartier similaire en 1938 (document Bibliothèque de l'Etat du NSW)

20 comments:

Z said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
hpy said...

Cela me semble être un endroit calme, et certainement apprécié dans une grande ville.

Z said...

Urm, I deleted my previous post b/c I had clicked on the other Sydney link and was too trigger happy. I'm so embarrassed! *all red faced*

It was a good idea to put the link to the archived photo. What caught my eye there was the laundry hanging out to dry. One can't disagree that that was more environment-friendly.

Jilly said...

Love roofscapes. This photo is just charming. When I lived in Oz I loved the Paddington houses with the beautiful grillwork balconies - bet they cost a fortune now! Come to think of it, they probably did then.

Lovely photo and so interesting to look at how this area was before on the link you provided.

Peter said...

A similar example here in Paris is that all the old workshops are now transformed into luxury "lofts". You can discuss about the social aspect of this - but at least the buildings remain. The atmosphere is still nice, but of course not the same.

Olivier said...

j'aime bien voir les differences avec les vieilles photos, bonne idee. et oui des qu'un quartier est renove, le prix du m2 monte monte monte (on trouve cela ds toute les villes, A NYC un ami m'a fait voir un quartier de Brooklyn, qui du jour au lendemain (grosso modo) est redevenu à la mode et le prix des maisons multiplies par mille, il faisait meme la tete, car il avait eut une possibilite, mais le quartier craignait trop)....
c'est amusant, ce type de maison, cela fait plustot maison d'une petite ville..je te souhaite un bon weekend

Anonymous said...

bien trop propre pour moi tout ça. J'aime la vie et ses productions quelles qu'elles soient

Irina said...

Looks a bit crowded but nice. I like watching roofs and chimneys.

Cergie said...

C'est une très belle photo.
Je n'aurais pas imaginé qu'il y ait d'aussi jolis volumes de toits à échelle humaine alors que tu nous montres si souvent de si grands immeubles.
C'est ce qui est à rechercher : la traque des à prioris
On pense que c'est tout ci, et c'est ci et ça et cela et ceci aussi...

Anonymous said...

The old picture view is how it was when I was growing up and then that was the way it was, and nobody complained because there wasn't any better. I like the new too because of filtered air and air conditioning. Things like that and digital cameras make my life livable.

I don't even have to eat grease sandwiches anymore. The recipe is on my blog.

Anonymous said...

What a change in 70 years ! But I'm not fond of all those grey rooftops. I prefer the colors of our red tiles and bricks...

Shammickite said...

Lovely roofscape. And you have such interesting pics on your blog... I have just been trolling back in time.

Anonymous said...

I had to come back to say thanks for visiting and for your interesting comments about the sailing trip.

I remember how lonely the sea is when you are a speck out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. I also remember the flying fish and the leaping porpoises (spelling?) and things like the Albatross way out there on the ocean riding the waves. You'd think they would never venture out that far.

I went to Iwo Jima once in 1956 and saw that place. Been to Midway Island and Wake Island and to the Hawaiian Islands. I was somewhat fascinated by the Gooney Birds on the Wake and Midway. All Army tours.

Dina said...

Hi, yes my friend Laetitia saw the boat of Sarko before she even new whom it belonged too and was on the local papers!! I guess blogging is really great!!

Cheltenhamdailyphoto said...

Rooftops provide such interesting landscape shots! Like the pastel shades here too.

Nathalie, i know you won't mind me asking you to pop over to Cheltenham as i've posted a pic of missing UK girl Madeleine in the hope that the more people see her face, the more chance of her being spotted in the world. Thanks!

inspired said...

make a great pastel picture this one would..

Squirrel said...

very nice!

poody said...

such tiny back yards!

Pod said...

you do get around don't you! i will get around to emailing over the weekend......
;0o

Maxime said...

Cela me fait penser à des constructions en Lego (TM). Il a du en falloir une grande boite !