When my favorite architecture critic, Ian Nairn, drove around America in the 50s, his favorite towns were in Pennsylvania, particularly Pittsburgh, whose post-industrial transformation he would have been proud of.
On our Labor Day excursion to Philadelphia, we explored some towns on the way – particularly Bethlehem, the Moravian town with the legendary steelworks.
Bethlehem, has what suburban America, for the most part, does not – a sense of place. It is a town, once rich, once poor, which is a perfect model for viable, sustainable towns of the future.
The most stunning thing about Bethlehem is the rusted steel cathedral of the disused blast furnaces that dominate the skyline.
Given that Bethlehem, is famous for its Christmas lights, it is surprising that the blast furnaces do not form part of the decoration.
When I worked for set designers Fisher Park, there was a project in the office, to illuminate the steelworks in Duisberg (link below) – a baroque, funfair like celebration of light that would be perfect for Bethlehem.