Creating the Authentic Place

 

    I think critical regionalism is about responding to context (both manmade and natural). Instead of just a stand alone building, It’s more about seeing your design as part of a more holistic environment. I believe that as of right now, some modernists are realizing that designing within a community of local designers, this can somehow create authentic places than designers who operate within an isolated self contained bubble. Either that, or from designing within the realms of a tradition that is not even associated with any place. Critical regionalism cannot let go of the element of time and this is the sole reason why it is a step toward traditional architecture. 

Most critical regionalists in my belief are keen on maintaining the separation between the work in which they do and the existing and historical contexts within which they might work. In turn, this sets up a discord within the character of a place. It would be nice to see critical regionalists designing with a shared form-language because Communal and shared form-languages are extremely important when it comes to “place-making”. Some designers are only "inspired" by the surrounding context and the results can be rather telling with its disconnect from the area. To some degree, I think that is ok. Individual architects and designers are all different, so the levels that they aspire to are rather different. 

Some designers would get closer to the nature of the local architecture, and they are able to do this without copying the old. They can take the concept and appearance while learning from the locals and local designers before they start designing. This is sometimes easier said than done, as this opportunity might be too costly or may not even exist. A claim could also be made that in terms of time and effort, it may not be worth the risk. They for-go the inspired by context route with the same disconnected results. Sometimes even our own local architects and designers may not hit the target and get it right. However, it can and should become a priority to work with the local experts who can properly judge how foreign or close the design one is proposing has become.