Junkspace on a Timeline
We saw the transition of public spaces being outdoor - formed by the facades of a formation of buildings - to enclosed commerce spaces arranged among a central arcade. By bringing all the activities indoor, the architecture totally disregard its location, context, culture, history, etc. As Marc Auge argued in his book “Non-Place: An Introduction to Supermodernity,” places around the world no longer have their essence because they are trying to be something else that they are not. Globalization and popularity of starchitects heavily influenced the way places to become “non-places.”
“Tschumi at La Villette, Renzo Piano at Beaubourge or in Noumea, Gehry in Bilbao, Pei at the Louvre, Nouvel in Paris or New York are the global local, the local in global colourism, expressions of the system, its wealth and ostentatious assertiveness. All of these projects have their own particular local and historical justifications, but in the final analysis their prestige comes from worldwide recognition. Rem Koolhaas summerized his wholehearted approval of this with the pithy slogan ‘Fuck the context!’”
This is not to discredit these incredible architecture masterpieces. This is to realized how society chose to evolve.
Buildings are not only being created without its context. As we see in Fredric Jameson’s writing “Future City,” consumerism had became the main driver of the architecture we created today. Contemporary architecture has become what Koolhaas called Junkspace. Everything everywhere is Junkspace. But compare to what? What is NOT a Junkspace? Is nature not a junkspace?
I don’t have an idea to answer this question yet. So I’ll leave it here …
I believe that Rem Koolhaas was meaning any human-made architecture or space is Junkspace, including his own architecture (or any architecture made by a human, which includes every space, building, etc. built EVER). Initially, I assumed Koolhaas wouldn't include any relevant and successful architectural project, but now I'm doubtful.
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