Turning Negative into Positive

    In moments of governmental crises, communities can either fall prey to the system or rise up and take matters into their own hands. A great example of this is Santiago Cirugeda, a Spanish architect who helps design and construct public spaces for his community in Seville. Cirugeda shines light on the Spanish government's downfall and how it loses funds during the construction of high-end urban living developments. What is left, as Cirugeda points out, are thousands of abandoned concrete shells.

    Three interesting things occur as a result of Seville's predicament. Firstly, Cirugeda's solution to this dilemma is to build affordable, easy-to-assemble spaces for public gatherings, or as Cirugeda refers to them as "collectives." Cirugeda's use of recycled materials inspires friends and neighbors to assist in the construction process. It is evident that Cirugeda's willingness to turn a negative situation positive persuades his community members to do the same.

    Secondly, some individuals have a certain reaction to these endeavors, in that these affordable buildings are ugly. Cirugeda comments on the contemporary movement and how it has tricked people into thinking architecture has to be beautiful in order to be good. This response is certainly a reflection on the Spanish government's attitude towards urban development and its obsession for high-end, fancy living. Cirugeda's explains how architecture is far more than beauty; it is meant to be functional, cheap, and a reason to come together.

    Last but not least, Seville's response to these cheap builds is to tear them down. Spanish law forbids self-builds as they are not regulated by the government. This speaks far louder than the previous two occurrences. A government that is in debt prioritizes control over its people, but does not analyze the public's response to their failed urbanization. Many reasons could be the source of this flawed perspective of power. Maybe government officials simply do not want to be outsmarted by the governed when resolving political issues. Perhaps it is an immense lack of trust between citizens and politicians. Whatever the reason, Cirugeda's attempt at turning a negative into a positive truly conveys the level of impact one person can have on their community.