Since the Deconstructivist days of the bleak late 80's/early 90's ended, architectural theory has been in the doldrums. As usually happens during building booms, architectural critics get deliriously hung up on the flamboyant new structures going up around them and take little time for pondering deeper matters. It only makes sense that during this time of prolonged recession that architectural thinkers have the renewed space to reflect upon the philosophical questions of urbanism once again. As such, welcomed new voices are bound to emerge.
One of the most astute rising voices in architectural theory belongs to Columbia University professor Kazys Varnelis. In the most recent issue of the online urbanism journal, Triple Canopy, Varnelis has a discussion with the editors in a piece titled 'The Wrong Way Forward'. The title refers to the creeping complexity of bureaucratic networks and its adverse effect on urban development.
This is not to suggest that the U.S. should change from a democracy to a more authoritarian model-this would hardly be feasible. Instead, American cities should find ways to reduce the amount of bureaucratic red-tape involved in the development process. Ironically, this is already happening as the recession has forced municipalities to slash budgets and services due to decreased tax revenue.
Towards the end of the Triple Canopy discussion, Varnelis warns of the common trap of myopically searching for 'the next big thing and its close relative, the urge to find a quick fix'. This has been an affliction of the architecture and planning professions in recent years as they have blindly grabbed onto any trend (LEED certification, parametric/generative design, New Urbanism, etc...) that appears to be a panacea for all of society's ills.
Design professionals are generally deluded into thinking that their narrow ideas will have a significant impact on the built environment when in reality it is money, power and politics that ultimately determines what gets built. This reality is especially pronounced in bad economic times like now where there isn't even the money for designers to produce new work.
Instead, architects and planners would better serve both themselves and society by coming down from their technocratic ivory towers and engaging in a deeper understanding of the complexity that surrounds them. This may mean becoming more familiar with subjects other than design. Varnelis drives this point home when he concludes: 'Architecture has always been about much more than just designing buildings.'
One of the most astute rising voices in architectural theory belongs to Columbia University professor Kazys Varnelis. In the most recent issue of the online urbanism journal, Triple Canopy, Varnelis has a discussion with the editors in a piece titled 'The Wrong Way Forward'. The title refers to the creeping complexity of bureaucratic networks and its adverse effect on urban development.
In particular, Varnelis mentions the problematic nature of the 'bottom-up' political approach to development that has evolved over time in the U.S. While well-intentioned, a number of small moves to monitor and regulate urban development has created an environment where building new and beneficial infrastructures in America's cities is next to impossible. This is in contrast to a place like China, where a 'top-down' approach is responsible for engendering the astounding urbanization we are witnessing today.
This is not to suggest that the U.S. should change from a democracy to a more authoritarian model-this would hardly be feasible. Instead, American cities should find ways to reduce the amount of bureaucratic red-tape involved in the development process. Ironically, this is already happening as the recession has forced municipalities to slash budgets and services due to decreased tax revenue.
Towards the end of the Triple Canopy discussion, Varnelis warns of the common trap of myopically searching for 'the next big thing and its close relative, the urge to find a quick fix'. This has been an affliction of the architecture and planning professions in recent years as they have blindly grabbed onto any trend (LEED certification, parametric/generative design, New Urbanism, etc...) that appears to be a panacea for all of society's ills.
Design professionals are generally deluded into thinking that their narrow ideas will have a significant impact on the built environment when in reality it is money, power and politics that ultimately determines what gets built. This reality is especially pronounced in bad economic times like now where there isn't even the money for designers to produce new work.
Instead, architects and planners would better serve both themselves and society by coming down from their technocratic ivory towers and engaging in a deeper understanding of the complexity that surrounds them. This may mean becoming more familiar with subjects other than design. Varnelis drives this point home when he concludes: 'Architecture has always been about much more than just designing buildings.'
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