Baxt UK

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Rio!





Even though you won't understand a word, the images speak for themselves. I used to work in this very street for 3 years, and now my sister is working there, at Globosat, a big television company.

Monday, April 09, 2007

Ikea and other businesses in the age of mechanical reproduction*

I have just read an article about the new Ikea homes. My first reaction was: I want one of these! (clean, with big windows and cheap, what else could I ask for?)

Then I came accross this paragraph:
"Such research-led design tends to generate mixed feelings. It may offer domestic solutions, but also suggests a depressingly mechanistic view of humanity, hinting at a monotonous one-size-fits-all suburban future. At what point does responding to society's needs become a form of social engineering?"
Apart from the obvious irony of knowing that many people think that all streets in London look the same, with identical blocks of converted houses, I couldn't help thinking about the strong lobby in favour of the "independent shops" in my neighbourhood.

This old article from BBC describes how local shops are being replaced by Tescos, Boots an others. I once read that "when you buy meat from the local butcher, this money will be reinvested in the community, whereas when you buy meat at Tesco, this money goes away". No doubt, a reasoned and touching thought.

But unfortunately some people don't have money or free time to do that. Tesco is cheaper, it has all the meat, vegetables, magazines and whatever else I need in the same place, is opened 7 days a week and apart from Sundays, from 7am to 11pm. It has no charm at all, but since I pay a fortune to live in this city, I definitely can't afford the charm, like the £45 "on sale" lampshades one block away from home or the great looking madeleines from the shop next corner.


People like me just need Ikea, H&M, Tesco and all the non-glamour kind of business. But of course, if some of these independent shops convince my landlord to reduce the rent to half the price I pay today, I will gladly stuff myself with fantastic-looking homemade muffins and quiches and will surely buy some antiques from Kensington Church Street charming shops. More specifically, these great plates I love:



Disclamer: I hate to complain about London, so if any one of my three readers is offended by my opinions, I'm sorry in advance. After all it was my decision to live in this country - nobody invited or insisted that I left Rio to come here. That's why I feel bad complaining but I think am just being realistic and, well, I am a grumpy person, you know that...

*The work of art in the age of the mechanical reproduction, Walter Benjamin