Anarchitecture
In his article, Insurgent Public Space, I think Hou is differentiating what actually belongs to the public and what is exists under false pretenses.
For example, Bowman field is a high traffic area utilized by students all over campus. And what is it? An empty field of grass. It is hardly designed except for the steps toward Tillman. Conversely, the Scroll of Honor (green area/park in front of the football stadium) is hardly ever occupied. I realize this area feels sacred, like we aren't suppose to use it for leisure. However, I am not sure that is actually the intention. This is an extremely designed space. Even the hill is obviously artificially sculpted, the pathways paved, and edges very blatantly established. All of these attributes deter the public from occupying this space. It would feel disrespectful to lay on the grass mound that is surrounded by carefully arranged stones because it memorialized. Therefore it is the intentionality of the design that, I think, designates its use or lack thereof.
The point Hou makes rings true in these examples. He describes that designated public spaces in Asian societies are recognized as areas of the state, and therefore, unused. The liveliness of the city (the everyday life) is found in the back alleys, the city's parallel universe. Therefore the so-called public space of the city, the designated and designed space, is actually viewed as private space. It does not belong to the people but the establishment. Likewise, the areas that we may deem to be more private (tight alleyways and narrow residential streets) are teeming with the life of the general public.
I found it interesting, and a little discouraging, that the architect seemed to be grouped with the private sector. In London the group that "hijacks" dead public space to revamps it call themselves "anarchitects." This is as if to say it is the architect that designs the urban space while it is the people that design the everyday space. How have we become synonymous with the authority that generates failing spaces that foster a contrived everyday life experience? And how do we get out of it? How do we revitalize?
For example, Bowman field is a high traffic area utilized by students all over campus. And what is it? An empty field of grass. It is hardly designed except for the steps toward Tillman. Conversely, the Scroll of Honor (green area/park in front of the football stadium) is hardly ever occupied. I realize this area feels sacred, like we aren't suppose to use it for leisure. However, I am not sure that is actually the intention. This is an extremely designed space. Even the hill is obviously artificially sculpted, the pathways paved, and edges very blatantly established. All of these attributes deter the public from occupying this space. It would feel disrespectful to lay on the grass mound that is surrounded by carefully arranged stones because it memorialized. Therefore it is the intentionality of the design that, I think, designates its use or lack thereof.
The point Hou makes rings true in these examples. He describes that designated public spaces in Asian societies are recognized as areas of the state, and therefore, unused. The liveliness of the city (the everyday life) is found in the back alleys, the city's parallel universe. Therefore the so-called public space of the city, the designated and designed space, is actually viewed as private space. It does not belong to the people but the establishment. Likewise, the areas that we may deem to be more private (tight alleyways and narrow residential streets) are teeming with the life of the general public.
I found it interesting, and a little discouraging, that the architect seemed to be grouped with the private sector. In London the group that "hijacks" dead public space to revamps it call themselves "anarchitects." This is as if to say it is the architect that designs the urban space while it is the people that design the everyday space. How have we become synonymous with the authority that generates failing spaces that foster a contrived everyday life experience? And how do we get out of it? How do we revitalize?
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