JOURNAL #1
Impressions of New York
New York City is one of the most popular cities in the United States. It is a privilege to live so close to such a wonderful and historical place. There are so many different things to do and see in the city that many people, even myself, are unaware of. From the various times I have been in the city, I have been able to experience a copious amounts of activities and places that the city has to offer. I have been to some restaurants, Broadway plays, Times Square, and a little bit of shopping, and that's it. That is a shame for someone who lives just a short train-ride away! From when I have been to the city, I have not been able to appreciate everything it has to offer. Taking this class will provide me with this opportunity.
A feeling I have felt when being in the city has been anxiety, especially when I am walking the streets and everyone around me is in a constant rush. Hearing the taxis beeping, the cars zooming by, bring a feel of tension, which is something I do not like. I also find the places around the city to be very dirty. Walking on the streets, there are constantly garbage and nothing ever seems to be as clean as you wish it was. It is also heart-wrenching to walk the city streets and see the astronomical amounts of homeless people covering the streets. To see there are that many people without shelter and food is saddening. As you keep walking, you receive the smell of pollution and waste which fills the air and never seems to reside. These types of things are things which you think would make me want to never return to the city, but think again.
On the other side of it, these things that can be seen and taken so negatively, are also used a positive for me personally. I was very fortunate to grow up in such a well-rounded and great community. Exploring places and cultures outside of the small, Long Island town I have been in all of my life, help provides a sense of difference and understanding for me. Being that "New York City is a very desirable place to live and work" (ENY, p. 24). The city is a place where people’s dreams are made, where you can shop until you drop, or eat the best pizza in the world. You are able to walk around as see people of every culture and ethnicity. It is such a special place to visit. Seeing these types of things make me even more excited for this course.
A feeling I have felt when being in the city has been anxiety, especially when I am walking the streets and everyone around me is in a constant rush. Hearing the taxis beeping, the cars zooming by, bring a feel of tension, which is something I do not like. I also find the places around the city to be very dirty. Walking on the streets, there are constantly garbage and nothing ever seems to be as clean as you wish it was. It is also heart-wrenching to walk the city streets and see the astronomical amounts of homeless people covering the streets. To see there are that many people without shelter and food is saddening. As you keep walking, you receive the smell of pollution and waste which fills the air and never seems to reside. These types of things are things which you think would make me want to never return to the city, but think again.
On the other side of it, these things that can be seen and taken so negatively, are also used a positive for me personally. I was very fortunate to grow up in such a well-rounded and great community. Exploring places and cultures outside of the small, Long Island town I have been in all of my life, help provides a sense of difference and understanding for me. Being that "New York City is a very desirable place to live and work" (ENY, p. 24). The city is a place where people’s dreams are made, where you can shop until you drop, or eat the best pizza in the world. You are able to walk around as see people of every culture and ethnicity. It is such a special place to visit. Seeing these types of things make me even more excited for this course.
Queens
On our first day in the city, I arrived in Penn Station anxiously awaiting to see what the day would bring. I’ve been in Penn Station hundreds of time but never at this late morning hour. The train was packed and there were more people than I’ve seen before, rushing around with suitcases and briefcases. I never realized that Pennsylvania station “serves over 600,000 passengers every day. It is the busiest rain station in the United States” (ENY, p. 29). I never knew or realized how busy of a train station Penn Station really was!
We continued out of Penn Station onto the streets of New York. As we walked along I had no idea where our first destination would be. It took us a ways to get there but I looked up and saw this beautiful building that I know I have definitely seen in movies and TV shows before, but this time, it was right in front of my very eyes! As I began to snap a picture, I read the top of the building, “Grand Central Terminal.” I have never been here before and I was anxious to know what piece of history was connected to this stunning piece of architecture. “Unlike the utilitarian, neutered Penn Station with its bland subterranean “architecture,” Grand Central is a train station in the European tradition, with imposing architecture and a welcoming ambiance” (ENY, p. 48). When we walked inside the terminal, the first thing that caught my eye was the marks on the ceiling. We were then informed that it was astrological signs that made up its entirety but they were considered to be backwards. This was because God was able to look down on it.
Our next two destinations were the Chrysler building, which was right next door to the Grand Central Terminal and the G.E. building. I found the Chrysler building to be so interesting because of its make-up. “The most impressive feature of the building is undoubtedly its crown, composed of seven radiating terraced arches clad in stainless steel in a sunburst pattern” (ENY, p. 51). As Mike and Don explained, the Chrysler building is also famous for its art deco architectural style, just like the G.E. building. Both buildings have eclectic styles with traditional styles combined. They both have their similarities in style.
As the day progressed, we were approaching our time to travel over to Roosevelt Island. I had no idea what to expect. I did not expect to be taking a tram ride over the East River, and alongside the Queens Borough Bridge! I have never been on any sort of tram before but it was an awesome experience being able to see so much from a different perspective. I have never been to Roosevelt Island before today. It was so interesting to see how much history is on this island! It was very interesting learning about why the island was isolated and getting to see the remains of the Small Pox hospital which once treated so many patients. When we walked further towards the end of the island, we had an incredible view of the entire city. It was so awesome to see the skyline from a different place.
After lunch, we made our way into Astoria and visited the Museum of the Moving Image. This was my favorite part of the day. The whole idea of the museum was “the Behind the Screen focus on the technical aspects of movie and television production” (ENY, p. 147). All of the various hands-on activities, and models of popular movie characters were awesome. I enjoyed being able to see different aspects of media that I never knew about or have seen before. We were able to make our own short video that we made into a flip book!
To end our day, we traveled into Long Island City. Even though we could not enter the MoMA PS1, the concept of the art gallery was extraordinary. I loved walking through the halls and seeing how they transformed an old school into an art gallery. “What makes the museum so unique—besides the often wild and occasionally controversial contemporary exhibits which it hosts—is that this museum still has the look and feel of a 19th century school building with former classrooms turned into exhibition space” (ENY, p. 148). After we exited the museum, we made our way over to Gantry Plaza State Park. “This park is truly one of New York’s under-appreciated wonders” (ENY, p. 150). The views of the city you were able to receive from this park were like nothing I have ever seen before. It was amazing. We also were able to see the famous Pepsi Cola Sign upfront, as well as 19th century railroad gantries.
This first day to Queens was something I will never forget. I was able to see and experience so many amazing things that I never would have ever seen or done. I really enjoyed everything and cannot wait to explore more of New York City!
We continued out of Penn Station onto the streets of New York. As we walked along I had no idea where our first destination would be. It took us a ways to get there but I looked up and saw this beautiful building that I know I have definitely seen in movies and TV shows before, but this time, it was right in front of my very eyes! As I began to snap a picture, I read the top of the building, “Grand Central Terminal.” I have never been here before and I was anxious to know what piece of history was connected to this stunning piece of architecture. “Unlike the utilitarian, neutered Penn Station with its bland subterranean “architecture,” Grand Central is a train station in the European tradition, with imposing architecture and a welcoming ambiance” (ENY, p. 48). When we walked inside the terminal, the first thing that caught my eye was the marks on the ceiling. We were then informed that it was astrological signs that made up its entirety but they were considered to be backwards. This was because God was able to look down on it.
Our next two destinations were the Chrysler building, which was right next door to the Grand Central Terminal and the G.E. building. I found the Chrysler building to be so interesting because of its make-up. “The most impressive feature of the building is undoubtedly its crown, composed of seven radiating terraced arches clad in stainless steel in a sunburst pattern” (ENY, p. 51). As Mike and Don explained, the Chrysler building is also famous for its art deco architectural style, just like the G.E. building. Both buildings have eclectic styles with traditional styles combined. They both have their similarities in style.
As the day progressed, we were approaching our time to travel over to Roosevelt Island. I had no idea what to expect. I did not expect to be taking a tram ride over the East River, and alongside the Queens Borough Bridge! I have never been on any sort of tram before but it was an awesome experience being able to see so much from a different perspective. I have never been to Roosevelt Island before today. It was so interesting to see how much history is on this island! It was very interesting learning about why the island was isolated and getting to see the remains of the Small Pox hospital which once treated so many patients. When we walked further towards the end of the island, we had an incredible view of the entire city. It was so awesome to see the skyline from a different place.
After lunch, we made our way into Astoria and visited the Museum of the Moving Image. This was my favorite part of the day. The whole idea of the museum was “the Behind the Screen focus on the technical aspects of movie and television production” (ENY, p. 147). All of the various hands-on activities, and models of popular movie characters were awesome. I enjoyed being able to see different aspects of media that I never knew about or have seen before. We were able to make our own short video that we made into a flip book!
To end our day, we traveled into Long Island City. Even though we could not enter the MoMA PS1, the concept of the art gallery was extraordinary. I loved walking through the halls and seeing how they transformed an old school into an art gallery. “What makes the museum so unique—besides the often wild and occasionally controversial contemporary exhibits which it hosts—is that this museum still has the look and feel of a 19th century school building with former classrooms turned into exhibition space” (ENY, p. 148). After we exited the museum, we made our way over to Gantry Plaza State Park. “This park is truly one of New York’s under-appreciated wonders” (ENY, p. 150). The views of the city you were able to receive from this park were like nothing I have ever seen before. It was amazing. We also were able to see the famous Pepsi Cola Sign upfront, as well as 19th century railroad gantries.
This first day to Queens was something I will never forget. I was able to see and experience so many amazing things that I never would have ever seen or done. I really enjoyed everything and cannot wait to explore more of New York City!
Brooklyn
Our first stop today was Coney Island. I never knew that Coney Island was actually an island at one point. As soon as we walked out of the subway, the first thing we saw was the original Nathan's. My grandparents have told me so much about it and how they used to get hotdogs for five cents, it was awesome to finally get to see it in person. Looking around, there were small candy shops, ice cream parlors, pizza places, and of course, the amusement park. I then recalled that the famous Cyclone was here and I could not wait to ride it! The first thing we did when Mike told us we had an hour to ourselves was went straight over to the Cyclone. “The Cyclone is 85 feet tall and has been thrilling adventure seekers since 1927” (ENY, p. 117). Not going to lie, I was a bit nervous going on because it is so old and made out of wood. I felt like it was going to break! When the ride started, it was really cool because if you looked on either side, you were able to get a beautiful view of Coney Island. The ride was SO much fun! I wanted to ride it again!
After we got off the ride, we walked over to Grimaldi's to taste one of the best slices of pizza in New York. “Grimaldi’s Pizzeria is part of a famous chain that make some of the best thin crust pizza in New York” (ENY, p.132). The pizza restaurant was so authentic that they only sold the pizza by the pie. The pizza was delicious! It was very different from what I have had from around here. I was looking forward to going to Totonno's but it was closed! After we finished our lunch we made our way over to Nathan's to check out the inside. I wish I had room to get a hotdog so I can say I ate at the original Nathan's. By this time, we were heading back on the subway to travel into downtown Brooklyn.
Our first stop in Brooklyn was the transit museum. We first received an awesome tour from Mike and learned how they first created the subway system in New York. When we were able to walk around by ourselves, we are able to see the interactive displays they had which explained the power sources used by the train and subway system and different mechanical features that the trains had. “The highlight of the museum is the collection of antique subway cars that you can explore and which give a wonderful illustration of how New York subway cars have evolved over time” (ENY, p. 125). When I walked downstairs, I could not believe my eyes. They had an entire line of trains, on both sides, which were various models of the trains and how they transformed. We took the time walking in and out of the trains and seeing the numerous differences in each model. It was so cool to see the ads up on the top from so long ago. Out of all the trains we saw, my favorite was the Brooklyn Union Elevated Car which dates back to 1907. The Brooklyn Union cars are the oldest passenger vehicles in the New York Transit Museum’s collection. I loved the wooden-brown look of the outside of the car, and when I went inside, the seats and spaciousness really caught my liking. We also got to see the other types of mass transit that are used throughout the city like model busses as well. Overall, I thought this museum was an awesome experience. I learned so much that I never thought I would ever know about the mass transit.
We then strolled the streets of Brooklyn Heights. The houses all around were gorgeous. They weren't the typical type of houses I am used to seeing on Long Island. They were much closer together with really no yard or any grass on their property at all. Most of the houses were made of brick and seemed very similar to an apartment. They looked like something you would see in a movie. That would make sense because Mike told us that most of these houses are worth 7 million dollars! That is insane to me! Especially because there is no yard at all and the houses are so close next to each other. The one positive thing about the area was that it seemed like such a quiet community. Everything around seemed so calm which made it so enjoyable to walk around this community.
As we kept walking, I looked up in front of me and saw these stunning bridges. The first one I saw was the Brooklyn Bridge, and behind it stood the Manhattan Bridge. Before we walked across the Brooklyn bridge, we made our way to Dumbo (down under the Manhattan bridge overpass). "This section of Brooklyn Bridge Park in Dumbo is particularly attractive, because it affords fabulous views of Manhattan across the river" (ENY, p. 129). Also at this spot, there was Jane's Carousel which was gorgeous. I definitely was not expecting to see a carousel surrounded by glass in the middle of a park, right next to the water! What really struck my eye at Dumbo was the remains from the civil war buildings. "The first, directly opposite the carousel, is an old tobacco inspection warehouse from the mid-19th century. Just to the left of that are the remains of the Empire Stores, which is actually seven civil war era warehouses linked by a solid brick façade” (ENY, p. 130). It was so intriguing to see a historical building still standing in such a great place.
Our final journey was across the Brooklyn Bridge. I can’t believe the bridge is the oldest suspension building in the United States! A lot of people just walked across quickly and went home. I chose to walk the 1.1 miles slowly and really capture and take in all the beauty around me. The views around me were astonishing. You were able to see Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. On the other side, you could see the Manhattan Bridge and the Williamsburg Bridge. The best part of the bridge was looking ahead and capturing the full-view of the Freedom Tower. This was so special to me because I was able to really take in the view of where the Twin Towers stood. It was absolutely beautiful. There were a copious amount of people enjoying the true beauties and uses of the bridge. I couldn't believe the amount of people running, walking, and riding their bikes!
So far, this was my favorite day! I loved everything we did!
After we got off the ride, we walked over to Grimaldi's to taste one of the best slices of pizza in New York. “Grimaldi’s Pizzeria is part of a famous chain that make some of the best thin crust pizza in New York” (ENY, p.132). The pizza restaurant was so authentic that they only sold the pizza by the pie. The pizza was delicious! It was very different from what I have had from around here. I was looking forward to going to Totonno's but it was closed! After we finished our lunch we made our way over to Nathan's to check out the inside. I wish I had room to get a hotdog so I can say I ate at the original Nathan's. By this time, we were heading back on the subway to travel into downtown Brooklyn.
Our first stop in Brooklyn was the transit museum. We first received an awesome tour from Mike and learned how they first created the subway system in New York. When we were able to walk around by ourselves, we are able to see the interactive displays they had which explained the power sources used by the train and subway system and different mechanical features that the trains had. “The highlight of the museum is the collection of antique subway cars that you can explore and which give a wonderful illustration of how New York subway cars have evolved over time” (ENY, p. 125). When I walked downstairs, I could not believe my eyes. They had an entire line of trains, on both sides, which were various models of the trains and how they transformed. We took the time walking in and out of the trains and seeing the numerous differences in each model. It was so cool to see the ads up on the top from so long ago. Out of all the trains we saw, my favorite was the Brooklyn Union Elevated Car which dates back to 1907. The Brooklyn Union cars are the oldest passenger vehicles in the New York Transit Museum’s collection. I loved the wooden-brown look of the outside of the car, and when I went inside, the seats and spaciousness really caught my liking. We also got to see the other types of mass transit that are used throughout the city like model busses as well. Overall, I thought this museum was an awesome experience. I learned so much that I never thought I would ever know about the mass transit.
We then strolled the streets of Brooklyn Heights. The houses all around were gorgeous. They weren't the typical type of houses I am used to seeing on Long Island. They were much closer together with really no yard or any grass on their property at all. Most of the houses were made of brick and seemed very similar to an apartment. They looked like something you would see in a movie. That would make sense because Mike told us that most of these houses are worth 7 million dollars! That is insane to me! Especially because there is no yard at all and the houses are so close next to each other. The one positive thing about the area was that it seemed like such a quiet community. Everything around seemed so calm which made it so enjoyable to walk around this community.
As we kept walking, I looked up in front of me and saw these stunning bridges. The first one I saw was the Brooklyn Bridge, and behind it stood the Manhattan Bridge. Before we walked across the Brooklyn bridge, we made our way to Dumbo (down under the Manhattan bridge overpass). "This section of Brooklyn Bridge Park in Dumbo is particularly attractive, because it affords fabulous views of Manhattan across the river" (ENY, p. 129). Also at this spot, there was Jane's Carousel which was gorgeous. I definitely was not expecting to see a carousel surrounded by glass in the middle of a park, right next to the water! What really struck my eye at Dumbo was the remains from the civil war buildings. "The first, directly opposite the carousel, is an old tobacco inspection warehouse from the mid-19th century. Just to the left of that are the remains of the Empire Stores, which is actually seven civil war era warehouses linked by a solid brick façade” (ENY, p. 130). It was so intriguing to see a historical building still standing in such a great place.
Our final journey was across the Brooklyn Bridge. I can’t believe the bridge is the oldest suspension building in the United States! A lot of people just walked across quickly and went home. I chose to walk the 1.1 miles slowly and really capture and take in all the beauty around me. The views around me were astonishing. You were able to see Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. On the other side, you could see the Manhattan Bridge and the Williamsburg Bridge. The best part of the bridge was looking ahead and capturing the full-view of the Freedom Tower. This was so special to me because I was able to really take in the view of where the Twin Towers stood. It was absolutely beautiful. There were a copious amount of people enjoying the true beauties and uses of the bridge. I couldn't believe the amount of people running, walking, and riding their bikes!
So far, this was my favorite day! I loved everything we did!
Chelsea & Greenwich Village
As we began our day, we started walking the streets of Chelsea. Every street we walked down, there was some sort of construction taking place. This was due to the gentrification that is taking over all of Chelsea. This was due to the massive amounts of art galleries opening, hotels being built, and the rich moving in. I don't think there was one block we walked down where there wasn't any construction taking place. The first thing we did was walk on the High Line. As we were walking up the random stairs in the middle of the city streets, I had no idea where Mike and Don were taking us. When we reached the top, it was amazing. We were on the High Line, overlooking all of a Chelsea. The first thing I noticed were train tracks under my feet, and off to the side of the cemented pathway. This is because "in the 1930s the New York central Railroad had a train-line elevated 30 feet above the street, but it fell out of use in the 1980s" (ENY, p. 94). It is amazing how they preserved something that at the time was so important to a community and transformed the use of it into something people come to visit all over the world. All along the path, there are man-made plants that were originally growing there that volunteers tend to and preserve to keep their natural beauty.
When we walked down from the High Line, we made our way over to a bunch of different art galleries. "What Chelsea is primarily known for today is its numerous art galleries, showcasing some of the world’s most prominent contemporary art” (ENY, p. 96). Mike considered what we were doing as “gallery hopping.” Many of the galleries we entered I found to be interesting, stuff I never have seen before. Some of the art was just writing on a canvas, or splattered paint. These pieces of art got for hundreds of thousands of millions of dollars! The one art gallery I really enjoyed going into was the Jonathan Levine Gallery where the Juxtapoz Art and Culture Magazine pieces were displayed. This art was more modernized and featured spray paint art in it as well. I really enjoyed these pieces because the vibrant colors and perfection of each image they were trying to capture was extraordinary. I loved the drawing of the transformed Abraham Lincoln. It was awesome! Some people were questioning their meaning of what art is, I think this gallery is a prime example.
After eating a delicious lunch at a restaurant called 1849, we made our way over to the Merchant’s House Museum. “The house was built by Joseph Brewster in 1832 and sold to Seabury Tredwell, a wealthy merchant, in 1835 for $18,000. Tredwell and his descendants occupied the house until 1933” (ENY, p. 110). We received a personal tour throughout every room in the entire house. Our tour guide was awesome. We learned various things about the Tredwell family and how they lived on a daily basis. My favorite part of the house was the outside garden. It looked like a mini courtyard where you can sit and relax with a beautiful view of all the pretty flowers and plants surrounding the yard. It provided such an astonishing atmosphere. When we went upstairs to where the daughter’s room was, our tour guide told us numerous ghost stories that the staff and guests have encountered. I was really hoping that I would be able to see a ghost while I was there! Our tour guide also addressed one of the situations the people of the Merchant’s House Museum are currently having. There is a hotel going up next door to the museum and the staff of the museum are worried about the damage the construction will do to a building of this age. They are also concerned with them trying to take over the museum and knocking it down. This is a perfect example of gentrification. Wealthy people coming in and trying to take over a community and its assets. Overall, it was very interesting to see the way a family lived so long ago, and where exactly that did it.
On our journeys back towards the subway and the train, there were a couple of really interesting things we came across. One being Washington Square Park. NYU is surrounding the park where they have taken over many of the homes and buildings around there. The most amazing thing in the park was Washington Arch. “The arch was designed my Stanford White and completed in 1891, the 70 foot high triumphal arch was modelled after the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and dedicated to the centennial of George Washington’s inauguration” (ENY, p. 108). Mike and Don showed us how on either side, they portray different sides of George Washington, one being fame and valor, and the other justice and wisdom. I have seen this arch in many movies and television shows, but it was definitely really amazing to see this in person.
One of the last things we got to see was the Cooper Union buildings. Across the street from one another, there is the old building and then the new one. They are both science centers used for higher learning. The original Cooper Union building is a historical cite because this is where Abraham Lincoln made his Cooper Union Speech, which led to his presidency. We were fortunate enough to be able to go inside the brand new Cooper Union building. The architecture was exquisite and looked like something you would see in the future! We learned that the building was designed with such angles and was built by high-end professional builders and architects. This is because they were on these angles so they could utilize as much possible day-light and save electricity. It is great that they are trying to do.
When we walked down from the High Line, we made our way over to a bunch of different art galleries. "What Chelsea is primarily known for today is its numerous art galleries, showcasing some of the world’s most prominent contemporary art” (ENY, p. 96). Mike considered what we were doing as “gallery hopping.” Many of the galleries we entered I found to be interesting, stuff I never have seen before. Some of the art was just writing on a canvas, or splattered paint. These pieces of art got for hundreds of thousands of millions of dollars! The one art gallery I really enjoyed going into was the Jonathan Levine Gallery where the Juxtapoz Art and Culture Magazine pieces were displayed. This art was more modernized and featured spray paint art in it as well. I really enjoyed these pieces because the vibrant colors and perfection of each image they were trying to capture was extraordinary. I loved the drawing of the transformed Abraham Lincoln. It was awesome! Some people were questioning their meaning of what art is, I think this gallery is a prime example.
After eating a delicious lunch at a restaurant called 1849, we made our way over to the Merchant’s House Museum. “The house was built by Joseph Brewster in 1832 and sold to Seabury Tredwell, a wealthy merchant, in 1835 for $18,000. Tredwell and his descendants occupied the house until 1933” (ENY, p. 110). We received a personal tour throughout every room in the entire house. Our tour guide was awesome. We learned various things about the Tredwell family and how they lived on a daily basis. My favorite part of the house was the outside garden. It looked like a mini courtyard where you can sit and relax with a beautiful view of all the pretty flowers and plants surrounding the yard. It provided such an astonishing atmosphere. When we went upstairs to where the daughter’s room was, our tour guide told us numerous ghost stories that the staff and guests have encountered. I was really hoping that I would be able to see a ghost while I was there! Our tour guide also addressed one of the situations the people of the Merchant’s House Museum are currently having. There is a hotel going up next door to the museum and the staff of the museum are worried about the damage the construction will do to a building of this age. They are also concerned with them trying to take over the museum and knocking it down. This is a perfect example of gentrification. Wealthy people coming in and trying to take over a community and its assets. Overall, it was very interesting to see the way a family lived so long ago, and where exactly that did it.
On our journeys back towards the subway and the train, there were a couple of really interesting things we came across. One being Washington Square Park. NYU is surrounding the park where they have taken over many of the homes and buildings around there. The most amazing thing in the park was Washington Arch. “The arch was designed my Stanford White and completed in 1891, the 70 foot high triumphal arch was modelled after the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and dedicated to the centennial of George Washington’s inauguration” (ENY, p. 108). Mike and Don showed us how on either side, they portray different sides of George Washington, one being fame and valor, and the other justice and wisdom. I have seen this arch in many movies and television shows, but it was definitely really amazing to see this in person.
One of the last things we got to see was the Cooper Union buildings. Across the street from one another, there is the old building and then the new one. They are both science centers used for higher learning. The original Cooper Union building is a historical cite because this is where Abraham Lincoln made his Cooper Union Speech, which led to his presidency. We were fortunate enough to be able to go inside the brand new Cooper Union building. The architecture was exquisite and looked like something you would see in the future! We learned that the building was designed with such angles and was built by high-end professional builders and architects. This is because they were on these angles so they could utilize as much possible day-light and save electricity. It is great that they are trying to do.