H2O - From Highlands to Oceans

Tony Hiss, one of my favorite authors (Experience of Place and The View from Alger's Window and yes, this is Alger Hiss's son, it's worth checking out the Alger's Window site), has been working hard to understand the regional dynamics of the Tri-State area. H2O: Highlands to Ocean is the result. You can download it for free from the Geraldine Dodge Foundation.

Amazingly, there is relatively little done on understanding the regional despite the enormous diversity - from incredible urban density to beautiful natural ecologies. Tony is also the founder of Nature Rail, a group dedicated to "fighting sprawl from within."

A great display of Green Maps at the Municipal Art Society served as the backdrop to the book party. Given the huge necessity of a global effort to be more environmentally savvy (you know, limited natural resources, global warming and climate change, yada yada) it's horrible that projects like Green Map is the exception, not the rule.

Anyhow, Tony's work makes great connections between urban and natural environments. He makes connections that many professionals miss, so check out the latest.