If shared capitalistic ties between two countries can prevent war then it seems that the rapid economic growth toward globalism can help achieve any lofty goal. As for architecture, capitalism seems to have also reached its invisible hands into the discipline and altered its direction. However, this may not be for the better, according to Rem it's leaving us with "junk". Accepting that junk is being built all around us can be hard for any self respecting architect, especially for the ones who spent six plus years in a design program. Tough pill to swallow. The odd thing is that the general public doesn't seem to mind it. They enjoy just being close to commerce and other people from their hometown. The junkspace is just the backdrop for their Saturday adventures with their friends to the pretzel stand. Maybe our job as architects is to just accept this and try to add our own little signature to this increasing phenomenon. After all, boring architecture isn't bad, it's just uninteresting. At least for those of us designing it. If we could train ourselves to enjoy creating junkspace, it may not be that bad. Instead of lofty formal language, user centered junkspace design could become just as interesting if we run it through the design process a few times. It seems that for as long as the Golden Arches Theory of Conflict prevention essentially holds true, junkspace creation will also stay in business fueled by global economic growth. So I guess we might as well ride the wave and try to improve it along the way.
I think learning to live with some form of junkspace is okay too. The brands that pay for retail space need to still be brands and will have logos that won't match inevitably. Although I think some shopping malls go a little crazy with colors and replicating forms that probably have no sense being their, there can definitely be a balance of function and maybe more neutral forms that aren't so replicating.
ReplyDeleteI agree kev. The space is built for the users. I think give the people what they want, but do our best to make it good architecture. whatever that means
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Maybe comfort is, as Rem says, the new justice. If so, Junkspace is our international peacekeeping mission, our well-designed Starbucks the vehicle for our universally-decent-drip-coffee agenda.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I believe that as long as capitalism as an idea is still in play boring buildings are inevitable. Trying to make a beautiful building is not everyone's priority. Money tends to be at the top of the list when it comes to priorities and people will always try to make a profit by sparing expensive materials if it benefits them.
ReplyDelete