Turn that Junk into Funk!
Rem Koolhaas describes "junkspace" as a type of space that is cluttered, poorly designed, and serves multiple functions, often resulting in a chaotic and unsatisfying experience for users that have resulted from modern architecture. In order to fix these types of spaces that are not used/ have deteriorated over time/ and is seen as a waste or empty space, we as architects can use these spaces as opportunities to revitalize these structures and give back to the community. I believe that renovation and adaptive reuse will be a good portion of what we work on in the future if it is not already. In our discipline, there are times where it feels like that we have to design and almost predict the future. In a lot of cases, the building will outlive it's original purpose and a new program must be integrated. This does not mean to tear down and build from scratch because over time these structures hold history and can tells a story contextually in which we do not want to lose. By rethinking the way we approach design and considering the environmental, social, and cultural impact of repurposing brings on a new challenge, as well as an exciting one. This can involve incorporating elements of sustainability, adaptability, and community engagement into our designs. Additionally, architects can also explore alternative forms of development, such as denser, mixed-use communities, and more efficient use of land and resources that bring new business or revamps the communities culture. Two great examples are the Elbphilharmonie Hall in Hamburg, by Herzog & de Meuron and the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art in Cape Town, by Heatherwick Studio. The Elbphilharmonie was originally a clock tower along the port of Hamburg before it was destroyed during WWII. Herzog & de Mueron took the initiative to create one of the worlds most acoustically advanced concert halls. The Zeitz Museum was originally a grain silo complex that is seen as a monumental structure to the industry in Cape Town. In 1990, the structure was disused and abandoned until Heatherwick Studio found the initiative to create Africa's first international museum dedicated to contemporary African art.
As we outgrow and move past what Rem Koolhaas coined as "Junkspace," we must learn to alter these spaces to fit our future needs. Empty strip malls dot the landscape, and we should find a strategy to retrofit the structures or reuse the original materials in new buildings. If society transitions into denser, more walkable cities, it will be interesting to see what fills these old and seemingly useless spaces.
ReplyDeleteI do agree that renovation and repurposing of these junkspaces will help provide complex places that drive social interaction. I want to add couple more examples to your list, How will these skyscrapers, once occupied by businesses, adopt to future needs. Most of these buildings are designed to have an open floor plan within a grid. I’m curious to see how these grids are turned into spaces that activate social life.
ReplyDeleteI agree that "Junkspace" will be reimagined in the future. The layering of what exists now and what will be retrofitted in the future, will create a really interesting mesh of styles. So much of the architecture of today are huge boxes, and I hope that renovations will have more character and be at a more "human" scale.
ReplyDeleteJoe, I think you make a really good point about the power that flexibility, adaptive reuse, and renovating can play in architecture. The aforementioned Elbphilharmonie Hall in Hamburg, by Herzog & de Meuron, is a prime example of retrofitting a building that some may have considered to have been a lost cause and turning it into something that many people could not have even imagined before.
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