Recent Posts
- From Frilly to Futuristic
- Summer Palace
- The Modernism Show: A Postscript
- A V.I.P. Weekend
- The Design Legacy of Jean O'Brien
- Voos
- Doshi Levien
- John Wayne in the House
- Up and Coming Ninth Avenue
- A New Eero: The Saarinen Show Opens in New York
Recent Comments
- atwater on The Modernism Show: A Postscript
- Janie on A V.I.P. Weekend
- Benjie on Cora Ginsburg and her Scrapbooks
- Benjie on The Design Legacy of Jean O'Brien
- Benjie on American Painting at The Met
Most Commented On
- A Reflection on Verre Églomisé (27)
- Decision Day (23)
- Therme Vals (20)
- Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France: Le Corbusier's Peaceful Resting Place (17)
- In the Waiting Line (14)
Design Blog Links
- + Mood
- 2modern
- Apartment Therapy
- Arch Daily
- Architonic
- Contemporist
- The Cool Hunter
- designboom
- Design Hole
- Design Intelligence
- Design Milk
- Design Public
- Design Shell
- Design*Sponge
- Design Spotter
- Designer Pages
- Desire to Inspire
- Dezeen
- Dezignare
- DeZona
- LiveModern
- MoCo Loco
- Remodelista
- World Architecture News
- Yanko Design
Archives
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- January 2008
Blog
The Perfect Trocadero
October 23, 2009

“I like nonsense; it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living; it's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, and that enables you to laugh at life's realities.” -Dr. Seuss
Warm and lazy perfect summer days are gone now, leaving us with uneasy brisk rains and falling leaves. I step away for a moment to romanticize of an early September day strolling around one of the prettiest neighborhoods in posh Paris, near Trocadero. You’re probably guessing my path right: I started from the top of the hill to look down at the Eiffel Tower with the embracing water garden and beautifully aligned fountains, then met the base of the tower, and proceeded through the gardens.

History and its designs can be self studied, but one has to be reminded that this area has been around since the 1878 World’s Fair. When did we stop cherishing contemporary World’s Fairs? Can anyone tell me any recent significant World’s Fairs that modeled brilliant design movements?
Exactly, I can hardly hear any great examples.

We appreciate the Palais du Trocadero, the garden, the fountains, and the Eiffel Tower for their endurance and beautiful framework—the framework we all love for snapshots. One can hardly have bad shots here at the Trocadero. Just watch “Funny Face,” you’d know what I mean by good snapshots from watching Audrey Hepburn jumping. A good framework takes a vision, more than a simple styling. It takes a World’s Fair; it takes multiple great architects and designers to be innovative. What a grand effort!

Today I remember this pleasant stroll through the grand architecture on that sunny September day in Paris. It is a hard thing to beat, especially on a chilly, gloomy day in New York.
Of course, I enjoyed my stroll as a tourist and giggled delightfully. At times we forget to be silly. It’s an emotional state that can help us through the darkest of times, and lengthen the good ones.


Posted by D.B. Kim on October 23, 2009 | Comments (2)
Reader Comments
at 10/23/2009 4:42:43 PM, jayne commented:
such a delightful post! funny face is one of my favorite movies. I watch it again and again just to see audrey hepburn jumping in trocadero!
at 10/27/2009 2:01:21 PM, coco commented:
How beautiful it sounds! That was perpect escape on this rainy fall afternoon. Also enjoyed a shot of yourself.



















