Junkspace - What will it look like in the future
“Junkspace is additive, layered, and lightweight, not articulated in different parts but subdivided, quartered the way a carcass is torn apart- individual chunks severed from a universal condition.”
The way Rem Koolhaas describes junkspace paints a picture of any space (architectural) that is built to keep people trapped in surreal environments: malls, airports, casinos (maybe even Time Square) etc… These spaces are then changed and re-imagines and added onto as technology advances and people realize there is always more demand and more to be added onto.
"Continuity is the essence of Junkspace; it exploits any invention that enables expansion, deploys the infrastructure of seamlessness: escalator, air-conditioning, sprinkler, fire shutter, hot-air curtain …”
I am conflicted as far as how I feel about these spaces and how Koolhaas explains it. Part of me wonders - Isn’t there a case to be made about the versatility and adaptability of said junkspace? The retrofitting of these spaces rather than bulldozing them down to re-erect new structures that would probably end up being re-destroyed as people change their minds about what they want?
On the other hand, however, I do realize that the endless additive nature of these junkspaces creates disjointed spaces (and probably uncomfortable) that trap us inside while helping us to lose track of time. This then makes me think that this is perhaps the way we are headed especially if we think about all the new technologies that are slowly but surely dividing us (humanity). Maybe the new junk space is inside our phone screens, televisions and computer monitors that make it so easy to all “be connected” while being so far apart.
With that, what will Junkspace become and we move more and more into the digital and what is the role of the architect in all this?
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDom said it so brilliantly last week in a blog comment: Junkspace lives in our pocket now (on our phone)...
ReplyDeleteI see what you're saying about the versatility and adaptability of Junkspace, which is obviously a better alternative to demolition and starting new. However, the problem is that this supposed 'positive' of Junkspace is simply a means to create more and newer Junkspace...
Could the solution to ever-developing Junkspace be to attack it from within? Could a tactical urbanist approach be a means to start the long process of un-junking our space?
In considering the versatility and adaptability of these spaces I think you bring up an interesting point. Assuming that this trend in Junkspace won't be going away anytime soon as it seems to be in high demand and what the people demand at this point in time; however, as architects can we think of better ways in which to design these spaces in order to allow them to be retrofitted when the time does comes and these spaces become irrelevant?
ReplyDelete