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.
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