In the article “Building the Empire of The Gaze: The Modern Movement and the Surveillance Society,” Peter Jones, the author, explores the complex relationship between architecture and surveillance in the context of the modernist movement. Jones argues that the modernist emphasis on transparency and visibility in architecture was part of a more significant societal trend toward increased surveillance and control.
The author provides a historical overview of the sense of “watch” in architecture, with the panopticon prison design of Jeremy Bentham as the example, then move on to the modernist vision of the “glass box” building. He argues that modernist architects relate transparency and visibility to promote social harmony and efficiency. On the other hand, the design features he mentioned in the article reinforce social hierarchies and increase surveillance.
Throughout the article, Jones provides various examples to describe how modernist architecture was utilized as a way of controlling and regulating human behaviors. He mentions that hospitals, schools, and other institutions were designed to maximize visibility, look toward the outside view, and minimize privacy, be seen from the outside. That windows and mirrors were strategically placed in public spaces to enable surveillance. Jones argues that the modernist vision of the “ideal” city was one in which every aspect of daily life was subject to supervision and control.
In Jones’ article “Building the Empire of The Gaze: The Modern Movement and the Surveillance Society,” the author effectively argues that modernist architecture was closely tied to the rise of a surveillance society. While Jones acknowledges the negative aspects of modernist architecture regarding surveillance and control, he does not give much attention to the positive aspects of transparency and visibility in architecture. For example, modernist architects aimed to promote social harmony and efficiency through design techniques such as open floor plans and large openings, allowing natural light access and better air ventilation. These elements are crucial in the design field, heavily increasing the quality of residential and commercial spaces. On the other hand, these features also enabled surveillance and control; they also had the potential to promote social interaction and well-being.
Moreover, the transparency of an urban, city, or architecture should not be limited to a specific purpose or explanation, surveillance, and control. The object observed could be a human, vegetation, or landscape. For instance, in the traditional Chinese garden, the whole design relates to the idea of seeing and being seen. Numerous frame windows at different locations in the garden lead people to explore various view angles. The “observation” in the garden is meant to lure people into exploring, appreciating, and feeling mother nature.
View from the main exit of Whole Food Market, next to the cashiers, toward the dining area.
The design at Whole Foods Market has an extensive glazed system as the storefront. I believe that one factor of this design is similar to the article mentioned, surveillance and control. The visibility in a commercial space is heavily based on the safety concern, which is a power of control. However, the glazing system in the store is not only based on this specific factor but also concerns the importance of positive influences on human behavior. Having natural light access in a commercial space has been proven can increase the sales rate and make products more natural and healthful looking. Moreover, the dining area is located close to the window, which creates a scene toward outside people, pedestrians, that can attract potential customers into the space. The activity of seeing and being seen can create positive bonds between people inside and outside, triggering interesting relationships and activities.