Talk – 3 comments
responsive architecture and open society
freedom and mobility through changeable environments
How can architecture support the idea of an open society, one in which people have the freedom to shape their architecture to their own desires?
Cedric Price (1934–2003) believed that architecture should not only change and respond to its users, but challenge them as well. His Generator project (1976–79, unbuilt) proposed a series of cubes, cat and boardwalks and screens that could be recombined as its users combined. "The whole intention of the project is to create an architecture sufficiently responsive to the making of a change of mind constructively pleasurable." At the same time, Generator challenged its users, reconfiguring itself when its parts hadn't been moved enough. In other words, it got bored.
I'll introduce Price's Generator as well as others of his projects, and will also bring up contemporary work such as that of Eyal Weizman, who describes a different mode of architectural breaching and subversion of freedom.
3 comments
fancy creating a 'movie trailer' version of your main talk?
Hey Molly - can't get hold of your contact details, hence the comment; I think your talk would make a fantastic 'micropresentation' as well:
www.reboot.dk/artefact-4625-en.html
If you'd like to try this out, my contact details are here - send me a mail, and I'll give your more info.
www.reboot.dk/person-401-en.html
guy.
Play
I'm looking forward to seeing this Molly (you are on the program, right?) Missed you present about this at Interaction 08, this time it won't happen. I think Generator would've been an awesome playful physical environment that never hits an end state. Great example for IxDs interested in keeping things moving - literally.
Good proposal!
The coming decades will (hopefully) see the introduction to architecture of network and online paradigms, such as user generated content, continuous change, endless room for adaptation and improvement, and perpetual beta’s.
Maybe one day our buildings will be as adaptive to differing circumstances as online structures. And — as Price proposed — more interactive as well. Space to live wíth, instead of only live in.
I’ll be there!