The outward focused building
After considering Koolhaas' dismal approach to architecture as junkspace we flip the table and look at the proposals of Bjarke Ingels. Ingels sees relationships between everyday necessities such as parking and the building, not as a hindrance to the architecture but as a way to benefit architecture and promote life around it. He sees the building not simply as a self-serving mass within the city, but instead as an asset and extension of the city. This forward thinking is something that I think many architects seem to miss as they hone in on "their" project and how they can put the good of their project ahead, whereas Bjarke looks at how his project can advance the good of its surroundings. If more architects thought like Bjarke would there be less junkspace? Is the solution to junkspace simply giving buildings more than their original intended purpose?
I would begin to think that the question is not whether a building can do more, but rather can a building do nothing but it's intended purpose. Junkspace, contrasted by Ingels work, is generic, almost amorphous, but each of Ingels projects can clearly be understood for its purpose, without it, it is useless. That level of specificity I believe works to his advantage, reducing junkspace.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the fact that buildings are trying to do too much leads to junkspace? If we look back to the shopping mall example it seems that malls became junkspace when they started including every possible programmatic need beyond simple shopping. I tend to agree with Eric that specificty keeps spaces junk free serving the need it was built for.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Eric that the fact that the program and building is composed of several functions which reduces the junkspace of the building? If the building would have only been built for the single function and created a place where nobody except the workers and children that were dragged there visited it would have been a great waste of space but this building not only produces a function that fuels the city but it is now a place that the city will embrace and visit frequently because of the additional function of the ski slope.
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