Younghee Jung » trash bin

geneva – a pragmatic city with european warmth

Younghee Jung — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 17:36:19 +0000

I had a chance to visit Geneva, Switzerland for a few days to attend LIFT08 conference. I only had a few hours of sightseeing, but it came across to me as very pragmatic in a way that people have optimized the design of the city for living over time. Here are a few things I noticed from its public space. I didn’t have the luxury of the local’s commentary on my observation, so I would welcome any other thoughts.

The trash collection bin was all metallic and left in the middle of the road, which I found unusual. Cornavin is the area where the central train station is, so this may be an exception.

The newspaper dispenser accompanied by a recycling bin.

An oversized road sign for the school area. This supports our experience in crossing streets. It seemed that pedestrians had the right of way wherever there was a mark for crossing without a traffic light. My colleague and I were honked at because we were waiting for the car to pass us. Having such an overt sign for the school area makes sense if this rule is in any way legalized – in giving the car driver the responsibility for protecting the pedestrians at crossings. This habit was not easy to adopt as it is counter-intuitive in any other countries I have been to. I wondered how residents here coped with this when they went abroad. As a german friend of mine nicely puts it: “I don’t know how many Germans and Swiss people have died because they thought they had right of way in other countries”.

Another rare sight was the trash bin combined with the traffic light post – a benefit of being the neutral country.

The typical park signs – dogs and plants.

I liked the intuitive flushing buttons at the toilet in a restaurant somewhere in the old part of the town – removing the questionable moment of wondering which one to press for number 1 or 2.

A sign that seems to go well with the city.

pause

Younghee Jung — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 17:36:44 +0000

pause
Originally uploaded by jabberer

Early sunday morning, luckily not raining and streets are drained. Garbage bins placed by the government. Dharavi, Mumbai, India.

signs of a long national holiday

Younghee Jung — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 17:36:23 +0000

signs of a long national holiday
Originally uploaded by jabberer.

I never saw the garbage collection room in my apartment building so full. Somehow it transcends the feeling of a long holiday season here that passed during my absence.

garbage collection

Younghee Jung — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 21:27:49 +0000

garbage collection
Originally uploaded by jabberer.

There are different days of the week to collect certain types of garbage. In big apartment building, its taken care by the janitor (hew.. So that i dont have to remember all those days). For collection, the janitor seems to take the whole container out like this.

Another thought- so many red prints! I wonder if these signs are off-the-shelf.

thats lots of drinks for a night

Younghee Jung — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 18:47:06 +0000

thats lots of drinks for a night
Originally uploaded by jabberer.

Not mine.. :-)

leash on the precious

Younghee Jung — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 04:01:42 +0000

leash on the precious
Originally uploaded by jabberer.

Somewhere in Tottenham court road.

garbage room

Younghee Jung — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 09:13:44 +0000

garbage room
Originally uploaded by jabberer.

The sink is for recyclable bottles.

garbage cabinet

Younghee Jung — Sun, 05 Mar 2006 04:17:40 +0000

garbage cabinet
Originally uploaded by jabberer.

shibuya.

automatic trash bin lid

Younghee Jung — Sun, 20 Nov 2005 23:51:06 +0000

automatic trash bin lid
Originally uploaded by jabberer.

Sensor operated trash bin lid in a toilet.