Dumpster Fire?
According to Koolhaas, “architecture disappeared in the 20th
century” and all that is being constructed now is Junkspace. Junkspace is the residue
mankind leaves on the planet, or the fallout of modernization. He states that “Junkspace
is sealed…like a bubble.” Funny he should mention that, since everything Bjarke
Ingels designs is covered in a bubble to make it separated, safe, and special.
Junkspace creates counterfeit architecture, where instead of
real culture, we are given engraved bricks. Instead of places to explore, we
are given places to rest like experiencing Junkspace is exhausting. Humankind seems
to have lost the ability to appreciate space for what it is, and so it has been
created into something we think it needs to be.
If presented with real architecture again to satisfy the
definition of Koolhaas, would people be able to avoid turning it into Junkspace?
I think Junkspace is inevitable, has always existed, and may have its place on this earth somewhere. Humans have evolved, priorities have shifted, and the idea of a “good
time” has changed. I mean, take the Metaverse, for example. Yikes.
I think this is a really great point. We have been thinking about junkspace as unique to this time. Creating this narrative that architecture has gone downhill creates this mystical past where all architects were intentional and deliberate with their work. The reality is that junk has and always will exist even if we don't like it.
ReplyDeleteYeah, Lydia Bass. I do agree with you. I think we've always had a brand of junkspace. If you went to the New York tenements in the 20's, you would probably call that a type of junkspace, or service stations in the 50's. I think were things get more complex is that our previous "junk" had purpose, it always served some function - from living to serving vehicles. I think you could argue, our current junk is junk, it exists apart from the utility of things. Yikes.
ReplyDeleteLydia - you're exactly right to say that Junkspace has always been around. Part of the growing pains of globalization is hearing about all the good (and bad) things that happen across the world, here including all the junky architecture and commercial spaces that make up a nasty percentage of our cities. I think there's an opportunity to study these more and analyze what works and what doesn't - both from a sense of profit and development-oriented goals, and from a civic and humanitarian perspective. Just a big ol' mix of professionals tryna make a buck, while making a big ol' mess for someone else to deal with later.
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