Politics on the Periphery
The façade treatment of a building is a direct conversation with the public. We walk through the city and immediately know which spaces invite us in, and which are meant to deter us from exploring further. Politics exist at the boundary, where people and power collide.
If we focus on the politics of entry; who’s welcome, and where, the façade treatment plays an important role. At the ground level alone, the way you treat a façade tells the public whether they are welcome.
Glazing and storefront windows are used to promote visibility and transparency. They allow the public to look in, and the occupant to look out. Glazing softens the boundary and when accompanied, by large, generous doors, a wide vestibule, an outdoor canopy, and signage it tends to suggest a welcoming threshold.
On the other hand, solid walls, and doors on the periphery leave no clue to what is on the other side. There is a deliberate unwelcomeness presented to the public. Façade treatments of this nature show the power of who is kept out, and who/what is contained within.
Interesting thoughts about the facade and its Politics, Michael. I want to add something to this power relationship. In most protests and riots, these facades get vandalized. People treat these facades as a tool to express their condemnation. Its adjacency to the street or public space creates this relationship. I’ve always thought of facades as an added ornamentation to the building. It is a Powerful building element creating a boundary between Indoor and Outdoor.
ReplyDeleteWhen a facade is made of welcoming glass, is it the glass that invites people inside, or the space seen through it? Do glass facades give more significance to the interior space?
ReplyDeleteMichael, this is an interesting point in how glass can make a building seem more welcoming and softens that boundary. A good example of where this doesn't happen are liquor stores. Their windows tend to be frosted or covered with advertisements of the products sold inside. In some jurisdictions, there are laws or regulations that require liquor stores to cover their windows or use opaque glass to limit the visibility of alcoholic beverages from the outside. This is often done to comply with local laws related to the sale of alcohol, such as age restrictions or restrictions on advertising alcoholic beverages. Liquor stores may cover their windows to deter theft and enhance security. By limiting the visibility of the store's interior from the outside, it can make it more difficult for potential thieves to survey the store's layout, inventory, or security measures. This can help prevent break-ins, burglaries, or shoplifting. Another possible reason for covering liquor store windows is to protect the interior from direct sunlight and UV radiation. Exposure to sunlight over time can potentially damage alcoholic beverages, particularly those in clear glass bottles, by affecting their flavor, color, or quality. Window coverings can help reduce the amount of sunlight that enters the store, protecting the inventory from potential damage.
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