Utopia to Dystopia
Utopia can be defined as an
imagined place or state of things in which everything is perfect. This idea
tends to put architects into a sense of alternative reality. Koolhaas describes
large cities such as New York City, an attempt at creating a utopian city. Instead,
they have created a rejection of what architecture was and created a metropolis
that is. Koolhaas’ breakdown of the skyscraper brings an interesting thought:
are they a feat of modern engineering, or modern architecture? Although the
architecture tends to remain as a façade, or programmatic layouts, the miracle
of a skyscraper is its height. Koolhaas’ critique on the invention of the
elevator eludes to the idea that because of this, a Metropolis no longer has to
be constrained to the Z axis, and thus skyscrapers began.
In conclusion, skyscrapers are
modern design and engineering marvels working in harmony to create an
experience. Especially now with the more aesthetically pleasing skyscrapers
that interact with the user in ways Koolhaas could not relate to at the time.
We had to take tiny steps to begin taking larger leaps forward. Our modern
depiction of a Metropolis pushed the envelope of steel design, could large
timber design use a push like this?
Very well-said. As much as the Vessel at Hudson Yards has been critiqued, I think we should appreciate the fact that it is a deviation of a skyscraper but serving a more experiential purpose rather than programmatic functions alone like many of the first skyscrapers.
ReplyDeleteIt is intresting how the introduction of new materiality in buildings (such as steel) essentially allowed archtects to push the boundries of design. I think further exploration of large timber design opens up an entire new possibilty for new construction...certainly one that is more sustainable and eco-friendly.
ReplyDeleteThat is quite interesting. The skyscraper is only one century old in comparison to the several centuries other building typologies had to develope. Thus, there is oviously lots of place for improvement.
ReplyDeleteI like how Koolhaas put it, the further the floors got from the ground, the further they could leave reality behind. This seemed to then be coupled with the fact of using architecture to deny reality. Something else troubling happening in New York is the rate of Development made purely for Billionaires, where the city can give you certain experiences, if you have the resources to get in the club. It's as if in a way developers are still perpetuating what Koolhaas was referencing years ago.
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