Our new mediator: Architecture

 

    "But architecture is as much a physical construct as it is a social or political one and to understand architecture as a mere representation of the political is as problematic as to declare architecture entirely ruled by natural laws. In order to enable a viable strand of architectural politics, we need to politicize the discipline as the mediator between humans and non-humans, culture and technology and as the mechanism that will enable us to produce problematized matters of concern: Things rather than Objects."

                                                                                                                                        - Zaera

I really like this notion of architecture as a mediator that Zaera proposes in his introduction to "The Politics of the Envelope" because in many ways, architecture can be the means by which many problems are solved. Mediators are those who attempt to make others in conflict come to agreement. By this definition, architecture plays a significant role as it attempts to be the go-between of so many conflicting agendas and ideas. This can either be seen as an opportunity or a curse - many architects, I think, are naïvely indifferent. However, I think if we choose to see the mediation qualities of our discipline as both an opportunity and a privilege, we will serve and honor others with our work because our work will attempt to bridge the gap.