Architecture and Politics

    

    Should architecture be political? I don’t think it has much of a choice. Politics are a part of every aspect of our daily lives in one way or another. Just like politics, architecture creates a dialog and a space for debate. It’s a way in which we represent ourselves, and it creates the image of our cities. If the city is in poverty, war, or conflict, the architecture will reflect that. During these times, the peoples’ voices can be heard from the inner workings of the city. Because of the constant confrontations and pushback from the people, the government’s presence will continue to be a shadow over the city to keep power and control. Due to this, federal power has a direct influence on the future development of our cities. Telling the people what can be built, where, and how. With the government’s hold on urban planning, it keeps the city in a constant state of gentrification where the poor stay poor and the rich keep getting richer. Only certain areas within the city profit from the political input in architecture keeping a divide among the people.