THE
HOUSING
TAROT
Alfred Twu & octo-pisces
MMXIX
Berkeley, California
Art by Alfred Twu
Words by Alfred Twu and octo-pisces
First edition, November 2019
Berkeley, California
feedback: [email protected]
to order a deck:
californiarailmap.com/housingtarot
Introduction
For many years, people have used tarot to
understand the self and their relationships
with others.
Today, as we live in interconnected
metropolitan societies, there’s also the
need to know a community’s past, present,
future, and links to the wider world.
The Housing Tarot can aid in understanding
one’s block, neighborhood, city, or entire
metropolitan area. It can also be used like
a regular tarot deck for finding meaning at
the personal or family scale.
As a Californian, the architectures and
issues of this present time and place take a
large role in this Housing Tarot. There are
many truths in this world and the reader
is advised to adapt and reinterpret their
findings to local circumstances.
Contents
Using the Housing Tarot......................2
Major Arcana.........................................6
Dingbats................................................17
Brownshingles......................................23
Missions................................................28
Victorians..............................................33
Using the Housing Tarot
Shuffle the cards face down. One at a time,
reveal the cards and place them on the
spread while reflecting on the meaning.
The upright and reversed meanings are
always both present. Sometimes a card will
come out upside-down. In these cases, pay
special attention to the Reversed meaning.
Simple Spread
1 2 3
1. Past: systems, decisions, and events that
continue to affect us today.
2. Present: current challenges, debates, and
things to focus on right now.
3. Future: changes, hopes and fears, things
to monitor and prepare for.
Celtic Cross
This is a common tarot spread for in-depth
readings.
10
9
4 1 6
2
8
1. What are the current conditions?
2. What obstacle do we face?
3. What deeper systems are at work?
4. What does our past tell us?
5. What is going on today?
6. What lies in the near future?
7. What are we thinking about?
8. What is happening in nearby places?
9. What do we want or fear?
10. What lies in the long term?
Time and Space
A spread for expanding one’s physical and
temporal horizons.
6 8 9
Global
3 5 7
Regional
1 2 4
Local
Present Near Long Term
Future
Timeline
A spread for problem solving.
1 2 3 4 5
1. What is the deeper issue behind this?
2. What important things have happened?
3. What resources do we have within us?
4. What external influences can be expected?
5. What direction should we take?
Compass Rose
A spread for thinking deeper about relations
and connections with neighboring areas.
North
4
7
8
5 1 3
West East
9
2
6
South
Other possible spreads
- City council or supervisor districts.
- Building floor plans.
- Transit maps.
- Project flowcharts.
MAJOR ARCANA
0. The Fool
A stack of half-abandoned shipping
containers sprout from a muddy
field. Hot and cramped, they’re
bad for housing, but it’s in these
odd spaces that art and informal
business flourish. The space of
the fool is one of freedom. It’s
late-night urban exploring into the vastness
of the unknown. Bright-eyed excitement and
naive wonder, either not yet jaded or so jaded
that nothing matters anymore. Open to new
experiences, to creating a new vision without a
map. Upright: Makeshift structures, amateur
design, emergency housing. Reversed:
Recycling bad ideas, fads, shantytowns.
I. The Magician
In the heart of downtown, a
theater is reborn with homes and
terraces above. The magician
transforms visions into reality,
builds something out of nothing.
The magician is manifestation at
it’s finest with an energy that can
charm anything into being. Upright: Magic
of the city, The invisible hand, Entertain-
ment. Reversed: Bad faith policy, Things
too good to be true, Corporate welfare.
II. The High Priestess
Under the arch in the park, we
watch a neighborhood revitalize,
but as the rents climb, the
community is again dying. The
high priestess knows all the
answers lie within. This is a time
to look toward intuition, gut
feelings, and spiritual guidance. A time to
connect to elders, ancestors, and history.
Fiercely pursue what you know to be true,
let it be your map.
What would Jane Jacobs do?
Upright: Revitalization, Desire, Gateways.
Reversed: Gentrification, Obsession,
Vacancy.
III. The Empress
A grand hotel brings a forest into
the city under a glass dome. The
empress is the forest, providing
sustenance and care to an entire
community. The forest creates
an ecosystem that supports and
loves all inhabitants.
Upright: Indoor environmental quality,
Beauty, Plants.
Reversed: Air conditioning, Stunted
growth, Humidity.
IV. The Emperor
An imposing tower of limestone
rises in steps, capped by a
golden pyramid. The emporer
represents structures and
boundaries. The rules. The map
that says where to go and how
to get there. Rules can stifle and
they can also liberate. How will you hold
your power?
Upright: Efficient government, Law and
order, The establishment.
Reversed: Authoritarianism, Surveillance,
Patriarchy.
V. The Hierophant
A bridge connects the mundane
city to the heavenly city. The
heirophant is a teacher, building
bridges between vastly different
worlds. The hierophant knows
exactly what to do and why. The
Hierophant has seen it all and
has so much wisdom to impart .
Upright: Sacred sites, The clergy, Bridges.
Reversed: Sectarian disputes, False
prophets, Bottlenecks.
VI. The Lovers
The gaytowns69 district of the
city is home to dozens of clubs,
bars, and other queer spaces.
Love, lust, and community
characterize this district. The
lovers represents a partnership -
buisness, personal, or otherwise.
Feelings and desire are prioritized over
anything else.
Upright: Festivals, Love, Crossroads.
Reversed: Riots, Shame, Gridlock.
VII. The Chariot
Amidst a worsening crisis of
homelessness and shortage of
housing, a lot has been set up for
safe RV parking. The Chariot is
the community organizer, the
person who rallies the troops
and makes things happen. The
person who makes the plan and doesn’t stop
until the goal is reached. Determination,
stamina, and drive.
Upright: Vanlife, Resilience, Nomadic
lifestyle.
Reversed: Homelessness, Being trapped,
Feeling unwelcome.
VIII. Strength
The people united have shut
down the port to demand a
living wage and a union. This
card is a reminder to never give
your power away, to demand
what’s right. We are stronger
together. The pursuit of seeking
accountability and providing checks and
balances is necessary.
Upright: Labor unions, Solidarity, Strikes.
Reversed: Monopolies, Disputes, Lockouts.
IX. The Hermit
Behind gates and winding
roads, a luxury compound finds
a second life as a meditation
retreat. This is a productive, yet
restful retreat, one that leaves
you feeling rejuvenated.
Upright: Detox, Quality of life, Gated
communities.
Reversed: Avoiding responsibility, Exurbia
and rural sprawl, Tax avoidance.
X. Wheel of Fortune
From around and beyond the
city, buses come together on the
hour in a timed transfer. The
Wheel of Fortune enables this
magical synchronicity.
Upright: Paying it forward, Synchronicity
Buses.
Reversed: Running from problems,
Relying on chance, Missed connections.
XI. Justice
The scales of justice tilt towards
the many living in an apartment
building, rather than the few that
live in a oneplex. The watchful
avocado looks forward to all our
neighbors. Justice tilts the scales
to where they need to be. Justice
aligns itself with what is fair and correct.
Upright: Rule of law, Lawful good,
Housing justice.
Reversed: Lawsuits, Lawful evil,
Exclusionary zoning.
11
XII. The Hanged Man
An old factory becomes a
brewery and beer garden. This
card indicates the moment
before a decision or a major
change. The first step in a
series of shifts moving toward
something better. Progress.
Upright: Nightlife, The unexpected,
Gathering spaces.
Reversed: Substance use,
Hangovers, Low wage service economy.
XIII. Death
A freeway comes down, to be
replaced by trees and homes.
Transformation. The death of the
old way is sometimes necessary
in order to make space for the
seeds of something new.
Upright: Redesigning entire systems, Major
change, Freeway revolt.
Reversed: Systemic failure, Fear of change,
Road closures.
XIV. Temperance
At the end of a journey of
hundreds of miles, water
cascades down the hill to the
treatment plant. Temperance
calls for balance, integration, and
smooth waters.
Upright: Running smoothly, Tranquility,
Aqueducts and water systems.
Reversed: Deferred maintenance, Blissful
ignorance, Drought.
XV. The Devil
A huge mcmansion sprawls
over fields of lawn. The devil
represents greed, addiction,
and vices. It also calls for a
lighthearted nature, not taking
things too seriously.
Upright: Inherited wealth, Greed,
Corporate executives.
Reversed: Money laundering, Insecurity,
Nonprofit industrial complex.
13
XVI. The Tower
Lightning strikes the Tower,
casting billionaires down to the
angry mob below. Disaster and
destruction are all represented
by this card. Despite the crisis
this card indicates, it also offers
protection and healing from the
fall out.
Upright: Uprisings, Revolution,
A fall from power.
Reversed: Billionaires, Real estate industry,
Slow moving disasters.
XVII. The Star
A reflecting pool and temple
mark the halfway point of
water’s journey from mountain
to city. The star represents
replenishment, emotional health,
and general prosperity.
Upright: Statewide infrastructure, Long
journeys, Ecological balance.
Reversed: Urban-rural divide, Out of sight,
out of mind, Environmental impacts.
XVIII. The Moon
On this side of the gate, dogs
walk on leash. On the other
side, we howl at the moon in the
wilderness beyond the horizon.
The moon brings out the shadow
side out in us all. The moon is
characterized by instability and
feeling untethered.
Upright: Unpolluted nature, Wildlife,
Regional parks.
Reversed: Natural disasters, Feral animals,
Lack of open space.
XIX. The Sun
From world’s fairs to new
neighborhoods, the island has
always been forward looking.
The sun represents partnership,
such as a friendship or a business
partner.
Upright: Expositions, Optimism,
Grand plans.
Reversed: Hidden hazards,
Irrational exuberance, Sea level rise.
15
XX. Judgement
A dead mall comes down, to
be replaced by homes, offices,
and rolling green roofs.
Accountability is happening,
those who caused harm are now
going to have to pay.
Upright: Redevelopment,
Entering a new era, Densification.
Reversed: Dead malls / retail apocalypse,
End of an era, Doubling down on bad
choices.
XXI. The World
Vertical neighborhoods line
the street, skybridges forming
gateways to more places. In
order to live in a world we want
to live in, we have to imagine
it first. The World card lets you
know much more is possible
than you can imagine right now.
Upright: Downtown, Globalization,
The metropolis.
Reversed: Futuristic dystopias,
Sensory overload, The concrete jungle.
DINGBATS
Invented in mid 20th century
Southern California, dingbats
represent fire, energy, modernity,
mobility, and the economy.
Look for the palm trees and the
gray concrete sidewalks.
Accessory Dwelling Unit
of Dingbats
A brand new modern backyard
house comes with a matching
doghouse. The fierce intensity of
a bright, new idea.
Upright: Innovation in design,
Precision, Famous architect.
Reversed: Untested ideas,
Inflexible plans, Design errors.
Duplex of Dingbats
Two neighbors share an odd-
shaped fence, following an odd
subdivided property line. Handle
nuance with care. Only ask the
questions you want answers to.
Upright: Good fences make
good neighbors, Clearly defined
relationships, Exchanging meals. Reversed:
Odd boundaries, Pettiness, Food politics. 17
Triplex of Dingbats
A three-unit dingbat has two
homes above and one home and
parking below. Be intentional
with your energy, preserve it for
what is necessary. Get ready to
put your gifts out into the world.
Upright: Economic mobility,
Second chances, Dogs.
Reversed: Rootlessness, Precarious status,
Friends moving away.
Fourplex of Dingbats
A four-unit version of a famous
Modernist house. Rest, relaxation,
meditation - a necessary retreat
to reset your energy.
Upright: Utopia, Retirement,
Summer parties. Reversed:
Obsolete visions, Unemployment,
Long hot summers of discontent.
Fiveplex of Dingbats
Squatters of an abandoned
apartment building prepare to
fight off an eviction. Confict and
destruction before regrowth.
Upright: Class struggle, Fighting
back, Squatting. Reversed:
Crime, Disorder, Vandalism.
Sixplex of Dingbats
A flying saucer sits on the roof of
a dingbat. Is it part of the decor,
or is it real? This card represents
success and victory. Who is the
winner?
Upright: Space age, Technology,
Retrofuturism.
Reversed: Vaporware, The downsides of
automation, Uneven progress.
Sevenplex of Dingbats
Often it’s nondescript buildings
where - made possible by cheap
rents - culture thrives. The
courage to speak truth to power
and the community needed to
provide a security net if it doesn’t
work out.
Upright: Adapting spirituality to modernity,
Expanding the mind, Intentional
communities.
Reversed: Turning back to society,
Conspiracy theories, Cults.
19
Eightplex of Dingbats
A midcentury dingbat gets
updated with a new paint job.
Take the next step toward what
you want. Step into your power
and move forward.
Upright: Modernization,
Reinvention, Turning the corner.
Reversed: Property flipping,
Forgetting the past, Cutting corners.
Nineplex of Dingbats
Built at an angle from the street,
is this building following an old
railroad or is it rotated to catch a
view or the winter sun? You have
everything you need within you
to walk through the fire into the
unknown. Upright: Low rent,
Abundance, Moving in. Reversed: Mass
produced dullness, Waste, Moving out.
Tenplex of Dingbats
On top of this house, a bounce
house. Chaos and depravity.
Nothing is logical or coherent
about this. Synapses firing
everywhere. Upright: Tactical
urbanism, Excitement, Safety
third. Reversed: Code violations,
Danger, Recklessness.
Mixed Use Building of
Dingbats
This dingbat features a political
billboard, calling for more homes
to be built. Open-minded and
excited, in a learning process.
Upright: YIMBY, Immigration, Food trucks.
Reversed: Things being temporary,
Leaving home, Intense competition.
Transit Oriented
Development of
Dingbats
An old subway car takes a second
journey as a clubhouse on the
roof of a building over a subway
stop. Great ideas that need to
work on follow through. Movement and
communication toward action.
Upright: Jobs, Things happening quickly,
Rapid transit.
Reversed: Struggling to make ends meet,
Passage of time, Long commutes
21
Dormitory of Dingbats
Making the most of a corner site,
this dorm sits atop a parking
garage. Find a way to get your
ideas out into the open with care,
creativity, and love.
Upright: Commuter colleges,
Convenience, Casual relationships, Parking.
Reversed: A shortage of time,
Misunderstandings, Air pollution.
Social Housing of
Dingbats
Bread and roses decorate this
large modern housing block.
The fully realized manifestation
of experience and action. The
ability to share this wisdom with
others.
Upright: Socialism, Efficiency, Bikes.
Reversed: Bureaucracy, Scarcity,
Exposure to the elements.
BROWNSHINGLES
Brownshingles are one of the
Bay Area’s oldest styles. They
represent the earth, nature, wealth,
organizations and institutions. Look for the
sunflower and the uneven slate sidewalks.
Accessory Dwelling Unit
of Brownshingles
Two oxen move a cottage up the
hill to a new foundation pad.
New beginnings and success in
the earth realm: health, wealth,
and happiness.
Upright: Incremental development,
Improvisation, Going carbon neutral.
Reversed: Unfunded mandates, Scarcity,
Off the grid.
Duplex of Brownshingles
Behind the duplex driveway,
a bridge leads to a stair in the
woods. Bridging two worlds, the
only thing constant is change.
Upright: Country living, Back to
the land, Trails and paths.
Reversed: Primitive
infrastructure, Supernatural horror,
Wildland urban interface. 23
Threeplex of Brownshingles
An old brownshingle has been
expanded for more homes and
solar power. This represents the
past, present, and future. Work
and perserverance leading to
progress.
Upright: Green tech, Science,
Grassroots organizing. Reversed: Planned
obsolescence, Superstition, Anarchy.
Fourplex of Brownshingles
A pair of buildings houses four
families in a bucolic setting.
Boundaries, structure, and the
cyclical nature of the passage of
time in the earth realm.
Upright: Ecotourism, Harmony,
Romantic pastoralism. Reversed:
Short term rentals, Sloth, Suburbia.
Fiveplex of Brownshingles
Cops face off with the
community, who have linked up
to defend their homes. Depletion
of resources, scarcity, being run
down and impoverished.
Upright: Community organizing,
Defense, Rent control. Reversed:
Landless peoples, Last stand, Market failure.
Sixplex of Brownshingles
Two buildings are raised up to
add additional housing below.
Small successes. Taking the time
to acknowledge achievement
after hard work. Upright:
The middle class, Upgrading,
Breaking ground. Reversed:
Debt, Materialism, Construction delays.
Sevenplex of Brownshingles
Cottages surrounds a clearing
in the woods. Neglecting what
needs to be done. Failing to act
because of fear. Upright: Smol
towns, Earth spirits, Forests.
Reversed: Cult of domesticity,
Isolation, Tree problems.
Eightplex of Brownshingles
A long building follows the curve
of road up the hill. Keep what is
scared protected. Proceed with
caution. About to emerge, but
not quite yet.
Upright: Long periods of growth,
Expanded horizons, Hills.
Reversed: Diminishing returns, Being
overwhelmed, Erosion. 25
Nineplex of Brownshingles
This village of fine homes rises
up the hill alongside stairs.
Strength and success that
comes from seeing the results
of previous efforts. Upright:
Wealth, Accomplishment, Stairs.
Reversed: Social stratification
Arrogance, Accessibility challenges.
Tenplex of Brownshingles
This apartment complex is
designed to look like a medieval
village. Health, wealth, and
happiness. All the gifts of the
earth realm. Upright: Built to last
Deep time, Revival of old styles.
Reversed: Outdated, Static
society, Problematic history.
Mixed Use of Brownshingles
A row of shops and upstairs
apartments serves a trolley stop.
Discover what you need in this
world and make plans to find it.
Upright: Entry level jobs and
homes, Pulling oneself up by the
bootstraps, Morning. Reversed:
Cramped spaces, Dead ends, Evening.
Transit Oriented Development
of Brownshingles
A tram pulls into the station,
located under a hotel. Follow the
signs and move toward what you
want. Upright: Light rail
Prosperity, Business travel.
Reversed: Lost heritage, Boom
and bust, Mass layoffs.
Dormitory of Brownshingles
An old hotel finds a second life
as student housing. Remain true
to yourself. Allow yourself to be
seen in all your imperfection.
Upright: Academia, Mixing
science and art, Underground
creeks. Reversed: Being restless,
Drugs, The underworld.
Social Housing of Brownshingles
The tower in the village: a ring
of shophouses circles this tower
block. Solitary and all-knowing.
One who has come out on the
other side of struggle and will
protect their success.
Upright: Affordable housing, Permanence,
Density. Reversed: Waitlists, Persistent
problems, Concentrated poverty. 27
MISSIONS
Inspired by Mediterranean
architecture, Mission style is
common throughout California. These
buildings represent water, emotion,
romance, culture, and family. Look for
the succulents and the checkerboard tile
sidewalks.
Accessory Dwelling Unit
of Missions
A rainbow path leads to an in-law
unit with a hot tub. New love, joy,
connection, and feelings.
Upright: Starter homes, Family,
Hot tubs. Reversed: Kids
moving out, Relationship drama,
Dirtiness.
Duplex of Missions
Two different families moved
into this duplex ‘s opposite units,
but now live and play together.
They develop a deep connection
and relationship.
Upright: Cultural pride,
Cooperation, Shared resources.
Reversed: Nationalism, Unequal
relationships, Water rights disputes.
Triplex of Missions
A duplex becomes a triplex with
the conversion of the garage into
another apartment. Connection,
closeness, and growth.
Upright: Design for people
instead of cars, Closeness, Birbs.
Reversed: Overcrowding,
Lack of privacy, Infestations.
Fourplex of Missions
A large suburban tract house
is remodeled into a fourplex.
Retreating emotionally, stuck
inside one’s own emotional
world. Upright: Adaptive
reuse, Modest living standards,
Conservation. Reversed:
Downward mobility, Loss, Rationing.
Fiveplex of Missions
Tenants of a gentrifying
bungalow court organize a rent
strike. The heartbreak card.
Disappointment and distress.
All is not lost.
Upright: Tenant unions, Unity
in face of crisis, Rent strikes.
Reversed: Landlord-tenant conflict,
Desparate times, Evictions. 29
Sixplex of Missions
This six-unit building has a bit
of whimsy to it, including a
treehouse in the back. Mutual
aid, taking care of each other.
Upright: Playgrounds, Fun,
Maker culture. Reversed:
Juvenile delinquency, Not taking
things seriously, Unpermitted construction.
Sevenplex of Missions
In the back courtyard of the ornate
apartment, an event takes place.
Is it a wedding or something else?
Fantasy and addiction. Wearing
rose-colored glasses that obscure
the truth. Upright: Faith based
institutions, Ritual and ceremony,
Two communities joining.
Reversed: Social conservatism, Conspicuous
consumption, Heteronormativity.
Eightplex of Missions
Alongside a street fair, a fanciful
building rises from a base
looking like rock caves. Knowing
when to leave something that
is not serving you. Upright:
Street fairs, The arts, Cultural
exchange. Reversed: Detours,
Inpracticality, Tourist traps.
Nineplex of Missions
Behind the courtyard apartment,
orchards fill the rear yard. Wish
fullfillment in all areas.
Upright: Urban agriculture,
Holisitic systems, Food culture.
Reversed: Landscaping water
use, Cost overruns, Snobbery.
Tenplex of Missions
The shade of the courtyard
offers peace within. Having
everything one needs and more.
Joy, fulfillment, community, and
peace. Upright: Self contained,
Perfection, Pleasant shade.
Reversed: Failure to adjust,
Exclusivity, Dark shadows.
Mixed Use Building
of Missions
This mixed use community
has apartments, townhouses,
and small businesses. Learning
how to feel all the feelings
and integrate them. Upright:
Community serving retail,
Pursuing a dream, Old world charm.
Reversed: High prices, Unrealistic goals
Cookie cutter development.
31
Transit Oriented
Development of Missions
Apartments sit in front of a
large train station. Open to
new experiences and feelings.
Jumping in before looking.
Upright: Regional connections,
The romance of travel, Trains.
Reversed: Divided neighborhoods,
Displacement, Intersections.
Dormitory of Missions
A large dorm rises at the top of
the hill, built to bring together
students from around the world.
Acts as a leader who provides
nurture, sensitivity, and warmth.
Upright: International exchange,
Peace, Partnership. Reversed:
Cultural hegemony, Heirarchy, Ivory towers.
Social Housing of Missions
This housing block steps down
to provide a series of terraces
resembling a hill town. Ability to
be in charge and handle turmoil
with grace. Upright: Sense of
Place, Creativity, Uniqueness.
Reversed: Predetermined
destiny, Bad compromises, Elitism.
VICTORIANS
Victorian style buildings have
elaborate ornament and dramatic
roofs. They represent air, intellect, views,
the past, and government. Look for the
small flowers and circular sidewalk pattern.
Accessory Dwelling Unit
of Victorians
A train depot finds a second life
as an accessory dwelling unit,
complete with an updated sign.
It represents communication
and creating something
new. Upright: Landmarks,
Storytelling, Journeys of the imagination.
Reversed: Arcane preservation laws,
Confusion, Bygone ways of life.
Duplex of Victorians
A garage lives a double life, on
one side, a guest space, on the
other, a workshop. The two
spaces represent communication
and the duality of what is
presented to the word and what
remains inaccessible to others.
Upright: Live/Work, Flexibility, Garage
startups. Reversed: Industrial nuisances,
Chaos, Jobs-housing inbalance. 33
Triplex of Victorians
Three matching rowhouses line
a street, backyards separated by
fences. Gossip, heartache, and
communication breakdown.
Upright: Private property rights
Individualism, Homeowner
associations. Reversed: Legal
disputes, Secrecy and lack of trust, Gossip.
Fourplex of Victorians
A pair of greystone duplexes
sits in front of garden boxes.
A restorative retreat, not one
of isolation, but one of much
internal reflection and rest.
Upright: Community gardens,
Healing, Recreation. Reversed:
Shrinking cities, Decline, Postapocalypse.
Fiveplex of Victorians
NIMBYs and YIMBYs argue over
whether to have taller buildings.
An impasse, prioritizing logic
and ideals over compromise,
feelings and resolution.
Upright: Democracy, Debate
Elections. Reversed:Rumors,
Conflict, Impasse.
Sixplex of Victorians
A pair of triple deckers. A
surveyor lays out more homes
in the back. Travel, movement,
shifting perspective.
Upright: Phased development,
Careful planning, Land value tax.
Reversed: Lengthy processes,
Conformity, Enclosing the commons.
Sevenplex of Victorians
After years of remodels and
expansions, an old mansion
becomes an apartment building.
Despite efforts to preserve the
mansion, change was inevitable.
Upright: Living history,
Charitable institutions, Group
homes. Reversed: Haunted houses,
Scandals, Habitability problems.
Eightplex of Victorians
Half this building is still a proper
Victorian while the other half is
a hippie crash pad. Self-imposed
bondage and restraints. Limiting
beliefs. Psychological limitations
projected as an external reality.
Upright: Hippies, Sudden change,
Rebelling against a previous
generation. Reversed: Hipsters, Cultural clash,
Commodification of the arts. 35
Nineplex of Victorians
Behind an old building,
archaeologists dig up the
backyard. Self-excavation.
Digging up the skeletons in the
closet. Upright: Archaeology,
Making peace with the past,
Interpretative displays.
Reversed: Historic districts, Dark secrets,
Forgotten lessons.
Tenplex of Victorians
A huge antenna tops this building.
Down below, a leafblower is
used on the lawn. Reaching new
heights. Anxiety and fear occurring
before a transformation. Upright:
Upper middle class, The comforts
of home, Media representation.
Reversed: Inequality, Boredom,
Media addiction.
Mixed Use of Victorians
Bustling blocks like this are
the building blocks of many a
great city. New opportunities
are being created. New avenues
for learning begin. Upright:
Merchants, Opportunity,
Successful businesses. Reversed:
Hucksters, Scams, Capitalism.
Transit Oriented
Development of Victorians
Cities grow where different
forms of transportation meet.
This enables messages to
be delivered and necessary
communication to occur.
Upright: Transportation hubs,
Choices, Fast pace of life. Reversed:
Traffic jams, Uncertainty, Feeling rushed.
Dormitory of Victorians
A classic college quad, with dorms
from various centuries - or at
least the appearance of. Young,
inquiring minds, eager to solve all
the problems. Upright: Liberal arts
colleges, Specialization, Academic
traditions. Reversed: Town and
gown conflicts, Lack of common
sense, Country clubs.
Social Housing of Victorians
A cupola adds a bit of formality
to a large housing block. Know
your truth. Communicate
it into existence. Upright:
Broad prosperity, Grandeur,
Planned economy. Reversed:
Consumerism, Showing off,
Vanity projects. 37
Art by Alfred Twu
www.firstcultural.com
Writing by Alfred Twu
and octo-pisces
