Unsafe Architecture
In "Architecture without Architects," Bernard Rudofsky discusses the boundaries of defined architecture, it's discipline, and the art of building as a universal phenomenon. Architecture without architects is a world of practice separated from the regulations, education, and theory students in architecture are taught. It overcomes boundaries, health, safety, and welfare concerns, and any thought of regulated constructions. The illegal construction of structures such as Walled City, Kowloon, in Hong Kong, China, is a great example.
For me as a student, it is hard to think of what can be learned from this type of structure in terms of architecture, participation, and the longevity of a project. To step back and look at this from the perspective of a user, I think the role of the architect should have been more involved with this process. I know that these are illegal structures, completed without government participation, and without concern of using an architect. However, there are too many alarming health, safety, and welfare concerns for these complexes to be inhabited.
How could architects have been apart of this process to provide a safe environment for the users of structures like these?
For me as a student, it is hard to think of what can be learned from this type of structure in terms of architecture, participation, and the longevity of a project. To step back and look at this from the perspective of a user, I think the role of the architect should have been more involved with this process. I know that these are illegal structures, completed without government participation, and without concern of using an architect. However, there are too many alarming health, safety, and welfare concerns for these complexes to be inhabited.
How could architects have been apart of this process to provide a safe environment for the users of structures like these?
Which is the bigger risk though, leaving these people on the streets or allowing them to live in some type of structure within a "community"? I think sometimes we are too concerned with safety and try to account for everything that could happen with codes. These people build the way they do because of a lack of money and proper materials. Involving an architect would not solve the problem, unless someone comes in and pays for the project to be built.
ReplyDeleteI agree with people that something we today seem to forget is shelter is a basic necessity for life and man has made shelters for many more years than architects have been around. I think that it is safer for them to be allowed to make a shelter then being forced to sleep in streets with nothing to protect them. If we could take anything from the walled city is that if we do not make shelter for everyone then they will make it themselves, and unless we are willing to do something to help them then we should allow them to create their own safe housing.
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