Neoliberalism is Killing the Public

Neoliberalism has dictated many things in America, including the built environment. As power transfers from public institutions and the government into the invisible hands of the market, many interests are being tossed aside or lost altogether. How can we as architects preserve and support the city as a place to thrive without succumbing to the private sector?

As Jeremy Till describes, “...a phrase that indicates that global/local is not an either/or but a both/and.” This is a call for architects to play a larger role than designers. Rather, they ought to utilize their specific skill set of critical thinking, problem seeking and solving, and holistic approach to interact with the social, political, and physical forces alongside aesthetic and tectonic arrangement.