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Richard Haut
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Joined: 18 Apr 2004
Posts: 1128
Location: Nice, France
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 Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2004 4:49 pm Post subject: |
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The nature of what happened for architecture appeared to be that buildings of very high quality - intended to be and to represent the positive aspects of a great city - themselves were turned into both a target and a weapon.
That they were the target is what we all saw, but the collapse made the buildings themselves into part of the attack.
The buildings were turned into the total opposite of what an architect wants - they became an instrument of destruction for people inside them, for the urban fabric in which they had existed, and even as a destructive force for the whole society of which they had been symbols of pride.
The buildings did not fail. The architect did not appear to have built "bad" buildings. How could he have foreseen an attack of this nature ? He would have been thought deranged.
Contrary to the views of many, I believe that the collapse was the entire purpose of the attack. The work of the architect - neither intended to be, nor in any way, dangerous - had been turned into an object of fear.
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Richard Haut has worked with the architectural profession for over 25 years and produces the weekly Richard Haut's Competitions, which has given architects details of many thousands of projects for which they can apply across Britain and Europe. |
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Architorture
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Joined: 31 Jul 2004
Posts: 1376
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| Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2004 4:55 pm Post subject: |
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| the curious thing there is that both pruit igo and wtc have the same designer... |
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phansford
Joined: 18 Apr 2004
Posts: 525
Location: SW Ohio
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| Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2004 5:05 pm Post subject: |
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Interesting.
Thereby making the user/client uneasy about using or occuping the building. Fears abound for the user as they try to conduct their daily business - whether at home or office. Would that be a correct understanding? I think I can agree to that theory for tall buildings in large urban centers. But for smaller locations - not necessarily the case.
However, I think it would be hard to attach those feelings to architecture only and it is not necessarily an emotion evoked by a particular architectural statement, but rather a large public building, space or vechicle of mass transit. And is it really just an American phenom. What about car bombs and such in other parts of the world.
But am I understanding your thesis correctly? |
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Richard Haut
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Joined: 18 Apr 2004
Posts: 1128
Location: Nice, France
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| Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2004 5:45 pm Post subject: |
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It is not just the scale of the attack, but the apparent effect on americans (I am basing this on what I see reported - it may be different in reality).
fear-levels appear to be very high - out of proportion to the real risks. The way that the reaction to the anthrax attacks was reported indicated near panic.
in addition, it looked to me as if certain US officials were going out of their way to frighten the US public. Blair certainly tried it in Britain, but with rather limited effect.
the headmaster of a British Prep school (private school for horrid little boys aged 8 to 13) received 83 anthrax attacks - at which point he said that that was enough of that joke (sugar, flour, talcum powder, etc.).
the idea of Ricin being used for terror was laughed off the BBC by a scientist (4000 tons spread about needed for an attack of any size, then people would have to be persuaded to eat the stuff).
in the film "the first 24 hours" it looked to me as if New Yorkers coped spectacularly well, so it may be the media rather than reality spreading the notion of fear.
it was Lenin who said that the purpose of terrorism is to cause terror. If it fails to cause the terror, then the attack itself just becomes a criminal act.
the same would apply to the "image" of the buildings collapsing. If it is seen as being that event on that day - rather than as an image of a larger fear, then the effect on architecture is diminished.
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Richard Haut has worked with the architectural profession for over 25 years and produces the weekly Richard Haut's Competitions, which has given architects details of many thousands of projects for which they can apply across Britain and Europe. |
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phansford
Joined: 18 Apr 2004
Posts: 525
Location: SW Ohio
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| Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2004 7:08 pm Post subject: |
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Richard,
I think this is a very astute observation on your part. From where I work and live, the fear is not great and the effect diminished. My opinion of course, but there are still some Chick Little's here in the midwest.
But having been to the larger east coast cities and having friends and family there, your observation have more truth (reality may be a better word). Lot of security and discussion about being vigilant.
So overall, maybe it is real (because perspection becomes reality) at the epicenter of New York and then it disapates the further you get away from New York. |
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Architorture
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Joined: 31 Jul 2004
Posts: 1376
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| Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2004 11:32 pm Post subject: |
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i think the fear levels are very much an individual thing...
you have two people next to each other on the subway one may not believe there will ever be another major attack in NYC while the other might be gripped with fear at that very moment that someone is going to release gas in the subway car...
i think the general belief is that vigilence is necessary but not active vigilence maybe... people are not going about looking for troublesome characters but in the case that they observe one they may take note...
i really don't think the united states is gripped with fear of a terrorist attack...if anything is true of the american people, its that they are often very ready to accept tasteless jokes very soon after a tragedy... such as dressing up as the WTC and airplanes for halloween...only a month after 9/11...
so i think as for the question of building tall, i'm certain we still will...just look at the WTC now...its going to be tall again... and of course it can be characterized in many ways, is it a rebirth? or the middle finger? or demonstration of pride? ect ect
and we are also forgetting about the other sites involved in 9/11.. the pentagon was fixed up and ready to go only a year after 9/11...it was a very fast rebuild and if anything, the attack showed them they had little to fear since all of the reinforcing and such that took place greatly reduced the damage and death toll...
then you have new york which i think is quickly getting over 9/11 as a state of fear or shock, obviously it will never be forgotten, but no one is gripped by it...
but when i look at shanksville pa i think i see the slowest recovery... it isn't that far away from PSU and its only about a 20 min drive from my girlfriends house... i've been there several times and last year's stewardson competition was based there...
the solemness of the place and the aura there is still quite serious, more so than i felt in DC or NYC....
it is probably one of the most interesting things i have ever observed... |
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Richard Haut
millennium club
Joined: 18 Apr 2004
Posts: 1128
Location: Nice, France
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| Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2004 1:13 pm Post subject: |
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"gripped with fear at that very moment that someone is going to release gas in the subway car... "
same in elevators.
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Richard Haut has worked with the architectural profession for over 25 years and produces the weekly Richard Haut's Competitions, which has given architects details of many thousands of projects for which they can apply across Britain and Europe. |
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Architorture
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Joined: 31 Jul 2004
Posts: 1376
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| Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2004 1:21 pm Post subject: |
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| elevators are far more of a terror to casual social exchange than anything else... |
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LeCorbusier
Joined: 15 Apr 2004
Posts: 139
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SDR
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Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Posts: 1693
Location: San Francisco
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| Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2004 1:51 pm Post subject: . |
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| What? |
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cast
Joined: 15 Dec 2004
Posts: 9
Location: seattle
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| Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2004 7:06 pm Post subject: |
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| Blur, by Diller + Scofidio. the final dematerialization of architecture. |
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