99% Invisible Revisiting The 99% Invisible City
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Sep 9, 2025 Celebrate five years of design exploration with a guided audio tour through downtown Oakland. Discover hidden histories shaping urban life and the intriguing evolution of safety in architecture. Delve into the subtle boundaries of property that often go unnoticed in public spaces. Reflect on how the foundations of architecture can parallel a rich life. Learn about the creative journey from podcast to book, tackling challenges of storytelling and collaboration while commemorating milestones along the way.
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Design Speed Bumps For Emergency Access
- Use speed cushions to slow normal traffic while allowing emergency vehicles unhindered passage.
- The wheel-wide slices let ambulances pass without delay while calming cars.
Color Meanings Differ Across Cultures
- Traffic signal colors vary culturally; Japan's ‘green’ reads bluish due to linguistic color categories.
- Roman connects this to non-signatory status on international road conventions leading to a bluer green.
Osaka Turned Manholes Into Art
- Roman admires Osaka's ornate manhole covers and recounts Yasutake Kameda's 1980s campaign.
- Kameda used artistic lids to raise sewer system visibility and spur municipal investment.
