While civic participation is at an all time low, studies show that interest in political issues remains high. Additionally, while skepticism with government may be fueling this lack of participation, advances in communication technology have allowed for he exchange of information between municipal governments and citizens. These same advances have made obsolete, and in some cases replaced, many of the functions of the traditional city hall as a physical presence and necessity, including Pittsburgh's own City-County Building.
Furthermore, the ability of the public to access the City-County Building is restricted and limited. Security concerns have closed multiple entrance and exits along the periphery of the building, limiting access to two guarded entrances, complete with metal detectors. The ability of the employees and public to link the services and events of the municipal government with their respective physical locations is difficult because of the fragmented organization of both space and information. Finally, the lack of easy circulation around, up, and through the building have eliminated the perception and use of the building as a public space.
Recent case studies of local governments around the world have shown that civic participation can and should be increased to increase the efficiency of providing and allocating services, as well as foster a greater sense of empowerment among the citizenry. To do so the studies argue, information systems and technology can be employed to increase communication and transparency between the two parties, however the dialogue must go both directions. Just as the City-County Building can and should be used as a resource by the local community, the municipal government needs to use its residents as a resource. The city hall of the 21st century should provide the means for this interaction, through a ReProgramming of its functions that allows for new possibilities of engaging the public.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Thesis Statement and Methodology (supplemented)
Events and rapidly changing technology over the first decade of this new century are challenging the relevancy of this historical notion. Advances in telecommunications have radically altered the way communities define themselves and relate to one another.
The traditional role of town hall as meeting place is moving towards irrelevance, accelerated along its path by alternate forms of disseminating and debating information.
Skepticism with government is at an all time high with a disenfranchised citizenry, encouraged towards polarization by a 24 hr political news cycle that favors sensationalism over substance.
All of these trends have coincided with an assault on public space by the increasing privatization of the contemporary urban condition, and a subsequent decrease in physical interactions between members of society that used to define the essence of urban life.
Finally, security driven over-reactions in a post 9-11 American Society have brought the schism between the citizen and the body of civic governance into the physical realm, as city hall's across the country have been all but fortified, protected from unrestricted public access.
THE DISCONNECT REALIZED
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Revision: 1,3,9
1. The American City Hall is need of a critical reevaluation of its purpose and realization in order to maintain relevancy in today's society.
3. Traditionally the city/town hall was the locus of civic life in the Western Democratic Society, providing a space for deliberation,dissemination, and decision making. However, over the last century, and moving forward into the 21st, the relationship between the city hall, as the tangible place of local governance, and the citizenry making up the municipality has become increasingly disconnected. The symbolic intent of civic architecture is being overshadowed by a subversion of its democratic ideals through restrictions on its use.
9. The city hall of the 21st century needs to reassert itself once again as the locus of municipal civic life. However, events and rapidly changing technology over the first decade of this new century are challenging the relevancy of this historical notion. Advances in telecommunications have radically altered the way communities define themselves and relate to one another. Additionally, the traditional role of town hall as meeting place is moving towards irrelevance, accelerated along its path by alternate forms of disseminating and debating information. Concurrently, the viability of the municipality is being challenged across the country, as budget constraints are encouraging consolidation, or at the very least the need to more with less. Finally, skepticism with government is at an all time high with a disenfranchised citizenry, encouraged towards polarization by a 24 hr political news cycle that favors sensationalism over substance. All of these trends have coincided with an assault on public space by the increasing privatization of the contemporary urban condition, and a subsequent decrease in physical interactions between members of society that used to define the essence of urban life. Finally, security driven over-reactions in a post 9-11 American Society have brought the schism between the citizen and the body of civic governance into the physical realm, as city hall's across the country have been all but fortified, protected from unrestricted public access. Thus, in order to maintain relevancy, the city hall needs to adapt to these societal changes through a comprehensive and complete reevaluation of its purpose and its realization, or succumb to its inevitable obsoletion.
3. Traditionally the city/town hall was the locus of civic life in the Western Democratic Society, providing a space for deliberation,dissemination, and decision making. However, over the last century, and moving forward into the 21st, the relationship between the city hall, as the tangible place of local governance, and the citizenry making up the municipality has become increasingly disconnected. The symbolic intent of civic architecture is being overshadowed by a subversion of its democratic ideals through restrictions on its use.
9. The city hall of the 21st century needs to reassert itself once again as the locus of municipal civic life. However, events and rapidly changing technology over the first decade of this new century are challenging the relevancy of this historical notion. Advances in telecommunications have radically altered the way communities define themselves and relate to one another. Additionally, the traditional role of town hall as meeting place is moving towards irrelevance, accelerated along its path by alternate forms of disseminating and debating information. Concurrently, the viability of the municipality is being challenged across the country, as budget constraints are encouraging consolidation, or at the very least the need to more with less. Finally, skepticism with government is at an all time high with a disenfranchised citizenry, encouraged towards polarization by a 24 hr political news cycle that favors sensationalism over substance. All of these trends have coincided with an assault on public space by the increasing privatization of the contemporary urban condition, and a subsequent decrease in physical interactions between members of society that used to define the essence of urban life. Finally, security driven over-reactions in a post 9-11 American Society have brought the schism between the citizen and the body of civic governance into the physical realm, as city hall's across the country have been all but fortified, protected from unrestricted public access. Thus, in order to maintain relevancy, the city hall needs to adapt to these societal changes through a comprehensive and complete reevaluation of its purpose and its realization, or succumb to its inevitable obsoletion.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
One, Three, Nine , A Thesis Proposal
ONE- You Can't Fight City Hall? : An Investigation into the Spatial Requirements of Democratic Participation and Governance in the 21st Century
THREE- The ultimate success of a democratic society is contingent upon an active and informed citizenry. Traditionally, in Western Democratic Societies, the city/town hall has been the locus of activity, providing a space for debate, dissemination, and decision making. However, over the last century, and moving forward into the next, the relationship between the city/town hall as the tangible place of governance and the citizens making up the community under its jurisdiction has, and is, becoming increasingly fragmented.
NINE- The City Hall of the 21st Century needs to reassert itself once again as the locus of municipal civic life. Advances in technology have radically changed the way communities define themselves and interact with each other. Yet the typology of the city hall has altered little. Additionally, the traditional role of town hall as meeting place is moving towards obseletion, accelerated along its path by alternate forms of information dissemination and telecommunications. Concurrently, the viability of the municipality as a governing body is being challenged across the country, as budget constraints are encouraging consolidation, or at the very least an increase in efficiency attune to doing more with less.
Finally, the nature of public space in the contemporary urban condition is increasingly becoming privatized, limiting outlets for public demonstration and discussion. These factors have led to an increasingly polarized society that is reflected in our use of space in the city. The symbolism of classical civic architecture has been subverted from its ideals, communicating elitism, and furthering this polarization.
In order to maintain relevancy, the city hall needs to adapt to these societal changes through a reevaluation of its purpose and its realization.
THREE- The ultimate success of a democratic society is contingent upon an active and informed citizenry. Traditionally, in Western Democratic Societies, the city/town hall has been the locus of activity, providing a space for debate, dissemination, and decision making. However, over the last century, and moving forward into the next, the relationship between the city/town hall as the tangible place of governance and the citizens making up the community under its jurisdiction has, and is, becoming increasingly fragmented.
NINE- The City Hall of the 21st Century needs to reassert itself once again as the locus of municipal civic life. Advances in technology have radically changed the way communities define themselves and interact with each other. Yet the typology of the city hall has altered little. Additionally, the traditional role of town hall as meeting place is moving towards obseletion, accelerated along its path by alternate forms of information dissemination and telecommunications. Concurrently, the viability of the municipality as a governing body is being challenged across the country, as budget constraints are encouraging consolidation, or at the very least an increase in efficiency attune to doing more with less.
Finally, the nature of public space in the contemporary urban condition is increasingly becoming privatized, limiting outlets for public demonstration and discussion. These factors have led to an increasingly polarized society that is reflected in our use of space in the city. The symbolism of classical civic architecture has been subverted from its ideals, communicating elitism, and furthering this polarization.
In order to maintain relevancy, the city hall needs to adapt to these societal changes through a reevaluation of its purpose and its realization.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Architecture Is
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The first architect who really captured my interest, and influenced my choice to study the field was Buckminster Fuller. My visual response was triggered by an exhibition on his life's work I saw a couple of years ago at the Whitney in New York entitled, Starting With the Universe. The image, which is a matrix of screenshots taken from Ray and Charles Eames Powers of Ten video, is an expression of what I value most about the architectural education, and what aspect of Architecture I find most interesting, which is the ability to simultaneously work at different scales within a cohesive whole. |
Architecture Is...
the exploration and implementation of interventions into space relating to human use. Central to its purpose, architecture is defined by its ability to synthesize disparate and often competing factors in numerous fields, realms, and scales, into a cohesive whole. Exemplary architecture challenges its users to explore and define new relationships between both each other, and their environment through a thoughtful engagement of the human body and imagination. The nature of space is an important element in influencing the way we as a society interact with one another, thus positioning architecture as an influential actor within society.
Believing this has led me to question the nature of our society's civic architecture. How does our democracy manifest itself in space? What are the spaces of our civic engagement? Why are we as a society so ambivalent, passive, and apathetic when it comes to participating and engaging in government? Is watching CSPAN really the best way to participate in a democratic society? The Greeks had the Pnyx, what do we have?
Believing this has led me to question the nature of our society's civic architecture. How does our democracy manifest itself in space? What are the spaces of our civic engagement? Why are we as a society so ambivalent, passive, and apathetic when it comes to participating and engaging in government? Is watching CSPAN really the best way to participate in a democratic society? The Greeks had the Pnyx, what do we have?
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