The Circus of Urban Development

In the video Rebel Architecture – Guerilla Architect we see “The Circus”, a technically illegal yet loved and often visited informal urban arts center, designed by Santi Cirugeda.  At Cirgeda’s architecture practice “Urban Recipes”, they work on the edges of the law because their work, design build, is technically illegal in Spain.  Sadly “The Circus” was dismantled because the authorities did not approve of it.  It is a shame to see good work that is enjoyed by the community destroyed because it isn’t approved of by the governing bodies.  This work targets the ideas of a collective right within the city and emphasizes the individual within society to make change regardless of the established authority. 

This video also reinforces the point that simply throwing money at a problem does not solve it but a combined effort from community members often is a step in the right direction.  This was exemplified in the schoolhouse project that was being built by the community including the students themselves.  People are often far more capable than we give them credit for and it’s great to give members of the community a sense of ownership in a project.

Cirgeda’s architecture exists in an undefined realm of legality.  It seems to be beneficial to the public but it does raise questions about the morality of it considering it’s breaking the law.  Just as robing the rich to feed the poor has a beneficial component it still involves theft which is wrong.  This ideology is a tightrope to walk although it is not a unique to a time, place, or culture.  It has always been people’s prerogative to alter the order they are part of when it has devolved too far into chaos.  Throughout history we have seen the positive impact of revolutionary ideas and action as well as the negative and catastrophic outcomes of such action.  Regardless of the outcome the ethos of the city as a battleground and a center for social change is emphasized through his work.  Throughout this video the overarching question I see is how we encourage the governing authorities work for the people and with them.