Radically Public Architecture

The 2011 earthquake and tsunami devastated the northeast regions of Japan leading to the loss of thousands of lives and displacement of many more people now without home nor community. The replanning of these destroyed towns was one of complete disaster prevention with top-down control from government municipalities who chose engineers for the job to design failproof structures to make sure these events never happened again. Architects were completely left in the dark from the process. Despite the clear rejection for the need of architects, Japanese architects came together in support of these abandoned communities in hopes of rebuilding and designing for the people. Two organizations, ‘Home For All’ and ‘ArchiAid’ rose to the challenge to design for the well-being of the community a step above of the basic provisions provided by the government, who lacked to take into account the importance of proximity and community connection driven design, so nobody is left isolated. Architecture is there to improve the quality of life of people and create a relationship with the community, as the author succinctly puts it, “architecture has to become a sort of form of cooperation […] so it should not be something that is going to be controlled by the economy but it should be something that creates a relationship of trust among people” (91).

Indigenous Modernities

Grids are often thought of as being European/US notions of modernity; however, their origins go much further back to that of ancient civilizations in the planning and construction of many places. The grid systems used by these people of the past was not for creating gathering spaces for the purpose of many people but rather provided a connection to the surrounding landscape, the land and the sky. A stark contrast was the grid system of colonial Spanish planning that was a symbol of power, whereas the Indigenous grid system was in communication with the surrounding environment and for a purer sense of connection. Not only were these Indigenous grid systems in connection to that of their surrounding landscape but also related to cosmology and socio-religious conceptions. These large plazas were representations of the universe as a whole and its vastness. The colonial grid systems sought to control the land dividing it up into parcels to be traded off and occupied, rather using the landscape instead of connecting to it. Ultimately, the grid system has become a symbol of modular modernization and creating a cohesive interconnection of communities across cultures.

“I mean to be Critical, but…”

Critical architecture, the practice of creating structures resistant to cultural norms and behaviors, has its own autonomy that resists the dominant societal order through its material and design choices. The author suggests that critical architecture goes beyond reconstructions and fixed identities but takes on a layered, multi-faceted dimension engaging with new forms of identity and asking how architecture constructs these identities and in whose interests. Its goal is to disorient and unsettle its subjects, not conform to society. The other dimension of critical architecture is that of spatiality and the mediation of social spaces to reshape the social world. This form of architecture also creatively responds to programs to liberate these spaces of mindless socio-spatial forms and interests. Architecture should make people reconsider how they interact with the world around them through forms that are able to deconstruct the dominant social being. Critical architecture is necessary to avoid stagnant practices and evolve the field to respond to an evolving and ever-changing society. The community’s well-being goes hand in hand with the process of critical architecture.

Critical Response

I believe we will see a lot more situations as that of which happened to Japan in the near future. The need for a collective response from the community is vital to not only rely on top-down government resources providing the bare minimum in these extreme scenarios. I agree with the author of the necessity to really engage with communities throughout the whole displacement process and make it an evolving progression not a one-off aid package and some temporary housing. The ripples of these events go much deeper than simply the physical displacement of these communities. All their sense of normalcy and home has been stripped from them, leaving these communities especially vulnerable. The need for architects to collaborate with community members to understand their needs and meet them through design and thoughtful consultation is so important for the rebuilding and reconciliation of these people. In these devastating scenarios we can’t just think solely of prevention methods but need to dig deeper into the layers of healing that is needed for the people and how to approach a continual process of adaptation that comes with growth.

Application and Interpretation

The Schoonschip Community in Amsterdam embodies the ideal integration of community in the design process. The project is a floating house community that shares communal spaces and prioritizes self-sufficiency and circulation. It was developed in collaboration with residents and local community and ultimately put together by the firm Space&Matter. The community housing puts the stewardship of the land and neighborhood at the forefront and keep the neighborhood completely open in a sustainable cycle for perpetuity. Furthermore, the project is entirely open source and can be accessed by anyone with interest in the project. It has reshaped the urban landscape of this community and brought them closer together in a space designed to support and look after one another, closely aligned with the mission of Japanese architects following the disasters.

Takeaways

• It is vital to engage with the community because it is ultimately them you are designing for, and their input is most valuable
• Community is integral to the practice of critical architecture and necessary for it to evolve and grow
• The grid is a very flexible system that can be used for control but also has a history in connection to the earth and natural landscapes