Reading Summary:

In “Building the Empire of The Gaze: The Modern Movement and the Surveillance Society,” Peter Jones (1999) explores the relationship between the Modern Movement in architecture and the rise of surveillance in contemporary society. The architectural principles of the Modern Movement, characterized by transparency, openness, and functionalism, inadvertently facilitated the expansion of surveillance practices. This development has resulted in what he refers to as the “Empire of the Gaze,” a society where individuals are constantly monitored and observed. Architects of the Modern Movement sought to create spaces that were both functional and socially transformative. However, the emphasis on transparency and visibility led to a design ethos that encouraged pervasive observation. As a result, these architectural principles unintentionally laid the groundwork for a surveillance society, where privacy is diminished and individuals are subject to constant scrutiny. According to Le Corbusier, “Architecture is a visual art”. Under the influence of the modernist movement, architecture needed clear, transparent and organic rather than a lie or fisguise decoration. Since to the extensive use of glass, which underlies the modern interior design as a panoramic machine, it weakens the public and private spaces, allowing the two spaces to form a kind of blurred boundary, forming a space of architectural visibility and emphasizing the continuity of the space, In addition, this also applies to the era of mass production, and the design of modernism also promotes the visibility, observation and control of the labor force in large enterprises.

Building Interpretation:

Camp 13 Cafe is located at the inside corner of the John E. Jaqua Center surrounded with large surface of glass walls. Drawing from the theme of the “Empire of the Gaze” in Peter Jones’ article, Camp 13 Cafe can be interpreted as a physical manifestation of the tension between transparency, openness, and surveillance. As a space designed to foster social interaction and engagement, the cafe showcases various elements that embody the principles of the Modern Movement in architecture. The use of glass walls and open floor plans in the Camp 13 Cafe is reminiscent of the Modern Movement’s emphasis on transparency and visibility. This design choice allows for natural light to flood the space, creating an inviting atmosphere for patrons. However, it also inadvertently facilitates a surveillance culture, as the glass walls allow for constant observation of individuals both inside and outside the cafe. This visual permeability blurs the boundaries between private and public realms, contributing to the erosion of privacy and personal autonomy. As a result, its glass walls are double-layered, with an intersitial stainless steel screen between the tow layers trying to make the transparency inside and outside less clear. Because of the double glazed walls and steel screen, the interior spcae has illusion of being connected to the exterior when sunlight comes in, but its boundaries are not blurred. Furthermore, the layout of the furniture within the cafe, such as the arrangement of tables and chairs, promotes a sense of openness and encourages social interaction. However, it also creates an environment where patrons are easily observable by others, reinforcing the notion of the “Empire of the Gaze.” While embodying the Modern Movement’s ideals of transparency and openness, Camp 13 Cafe also serves as a microcosm of the larger issue of surveillance culture. This space exemplifies the need for a critical reassessment of architectural principles, balancing the desire for open and transparent spaces with the necessity to protect individual privacy and autonomy.

The main space of Camp 13 Cafe with large surface of glass walls