UNIVERSITA’ DEGLI STUDI DI URBINO “CARLO BO” – FACOLTA’ DI LINGUE E LETTERATURE STRANIERE
ESAME DI LINGUA INGLESE II [LOC, CL 1, CL 2, CL 3] – SESSIONE STRAORDINARIA – GENNAIO 2012
2nd YEAR READING COMPREHENSION & COMPOSITION
Urban Arts and Culture Districts
If you build it, will they come? That's the basic question motivating plans to develop grand arts districts in otherwise
derelict urban neighbourhoods. The idea is shrewd: hire architects to build something beautiful (or at least something big), and
then the related businesses should definitely follow. This approach to urban rejuvenation - often called the ‘Bilbao effect’ (after
Frank Gehry's transformation of the Spanish city) - has yielded some success stories, such as Washington DC's ‘Penn Quarter’
and Minneapolis's ‘Mill District’. Cleveland's ‘Gordon Square Arts District’ has essentially resuscitated an entire area. But can
the same be said of the ‘Dallas Arts District’?
Taking more than 30 years and $1 billion to create, the ‘Dallas Arts District’ is a 19-block area of museums and
performance halls. It glitters with impressive buildings, including the handiwork of four Pritzker Architecture Prize winners I.M. Pei, Renzo Piano, Norman Foster and Rem Koolhaas. However, Blair Kamin, the architecture critic for the Chicago
Tribune, is not impressed. Alas, he comments that, “despite the ‘architectural firepower’, it is an exceedingly dull place." He
adds, “There are no bookstores, few restaurants other than those in the museums and not much street life, at least when there are
no performances going on. Even some of the architects who designed the buildings here, privately refer to the district as an
‘urban zoo’ of architecture which (1)_______________ , and much less home-grown urban vitality.”
Part of the problem is that Dallas lacks urban density, particularly in this area, so inevitably fewer people are to be
found here. Another problem is that the buildings themselves are essentially beautiful fortresses which (2)_______________ and
were designed as grand monuments, not as public spaces that give off an inviting air. Some locals complain that they are clearly
built for those who drive there for a ‘taste’ of culture, and then drive away. Mr Kamin suggests that plans for a new park (which
will bridge an underground highway and connect the district with a livelier neighbourhood to the north) should create more
pedestrian traffic when it opens in late 2012. Otherwise, he warns, Dallas may have created "the dullest arts district that money
can buy."
Unfortunately, however, it is possible to spend even more money to create an even duller arts district. Let's consider the
project of ‘Saadiyat Island’, the sprawling arts development being built in Abu Dhabi. Like the arts district in Dallas, ‘Saadiyat
Island’ has imported various ostentatious names to create some impressive ‘starchitecture’. Frank Gehry has designed the new
$800m overseas outpost of the Guggenheim gallery (12-times the size of its New York home); Jean Nouvel (the Pritzker prizewinner) is creating the Abu Dhabi branch of the Louvre; Norman Foster is designing a museum of national history; and the
problem of building density may be solved by new luxury resorts and villas. As for bookstores and the local cafe culture,
unfortunately the mesmerising ‘mess’ of the ‘Gehry building’ will make it unnecessary for visitors to stop for a dose of caffeine
and impossible for them to stop and read.
The ‘Guggenheim Abu Dhabi’ has been in the news a lot lately, due to a possible boycott by more than 130 artists due
to the bad working conditions of those who are employed to construct these ‘modern temples to art’. But setting aside this
public-relations disaster, one which could significantly hamper the Guggenheim's work in filling this museum, the ‘Saadiyat
Complex’ (3)_______________ - will people come? Is it enough to build these gigantic monuments to modernity (in an
otherwise not-so-modern and very remote place) and assume that the visual excesses will lure the tourists? Dallas's experiment
illustrates flaws in development - flaws that considered the needs of architecture at the expense of the needs of its visitors. A
culture district without the ‘buzz’ of wandering pedestrians (or an atmosphere of working artists; or even real streets) may
struggle to get by.
(Adapted from The Economist - March 22nd 2011 http://www.economist.com/blogs/prospero/2011/03/urban_arts_centres)
INSTRUCTIONS (N.B. Marks will be deducted if you fail to comply with these instructions !)
 Time allowed: 3 hours total
Dictionary allowed: mono- and bilingual
 Write ALL answers (for sections 1 & 2) on the blank answer-sheet provided, and not on this question-sheet.
 Use blue or black pen only. The use of correction fluid is not permitted.
 Print your surname, first name and ‘Corso di Laurea’ (LOC, CL 1, 2 or 3) in the top right hand corner of each sheet
of paper.
 Write clearly, leaving narrow margins to the left and right of your text, and do both parts of the paper (1) and (2).
 Remember that you should support your answers with explanations and reference to the text, but express the ideas
using YOUR OWN WORDS where possible. If you quote directly from the text, use inverted commas.
 Put a single line through any pages of rough copies before you hand in your work.
PART (1):
COMPREHENSION - Having read the previous text, answer the following questions basing your answers on the
information given (do NOT write your answers on this question-sheet – ALL answers must be written on the blank
answer-paper provided). Use your OWN WORDS where possible.
1. The following expressions have been removed from the text. On your answer sheet, show where you think they
should go by matching the letters with the numbers – e.g. a) 2; b) 3; etc.
(a) poses a larger question
(b) contains many works by big international names intended to impress
(c) compete against each other for public attention
2. How would you define the ‘Bilbao effect’?
3. Explain Blair Kamin’s opinion of the ‘Dallas Arts District’ and the reasons for his opinion.
4. In what sense is there a great deal of “architectural firepower” (paragraph 2) in these areas?
5. Do the new buildings in the ‘Dallas Arts District’ seem welcoming? Explain why.
6. What is the “public relations disaster” referred to in the final paragraph?
7. Explain the meaning of the following sentences or phrases in your own words:
(a) This approach to urban rejuvenation […] has yielded some success stories (paragraph 1, lines 3 & 4);
(b) ‘Saadiyat Island’ has imported various ostentatious names to create some impressive ‘starchitecture’ (paragraph 4,
lines 2-3);
(c) the mesmerising ‘mess’ of the ‘Gehry building’ will make it unnecessary for visitors to stop for a dose of caffeine
(paragraph 4, line 7)
8. For each of the following words, find a term or expression in the paragraph indicated which is an exact synonym:
(a) abandoned (paragraph 1);
(b) branch (paragraph 4);
(c) overlooking (paragraph 5)
9. Which of the following statements support the ideas expressed in the article ? (On your answer sheet, simply
write the letter of each statement, followed by ‘Yes’ or ‘No’)
(a) The area of the Dallas Arts District, like the area of Washington DC's Penn Quarter, has been
successfully resuscitated.
(b) The author is of the opinion that impressive arts districts like these will generally attract tourists.
(c) Architecture alone cannot guarantee an art district’s popularity.
PART (2):
WRITE A COMPOSITION (about 250 words) on ONE of the following titles ( do not forget to indicate A or B at
the start of your composition):
A – As we read in the article, these arts districts are often “built for those who drive in for a ‘taste’ of culture, and then drive
away”. An increasing number of cultural districts, as well as shopping centres and other attractions, are built far from town
centres and inhabited areas. What could be the possible advantages and disadvantages of these ‘out of town’ centres in general?
B – The article states that the cost of the Dallas Arts District was $1 billion. In your opinion is it correct to spend so much money
on culture (especially during a time of financial crisis), or are there other more important areas that should be financed with that
money? Give reasons and examples to support your answer.