citizen scale : brady richards mla thesis defense presentation
DESCRIPTION
Brady Richards' master of landscape architecture thesis defense presentation for 'Citizen Scale: Facilitating Democracy in the Government Landscape'.TRANSCRIPT
M. BRADY K. RICHARDS
THESIS DEFENSE
MAY 7, 2010
CITIZEN SCALEFACILITATING DEMOCRACY IN THE GOVERNMENT LANDSCAPE
Y
X
Z
WHAT IS THEIR INTENT? HOW DO THEY FUNCTION? WHAT DO THEY MEAN?
ARE THEY DEMOCRATIC?
WHY ARE OUR PUBLIC PLACES THE WAY THEY ARE?
HISTORICAL ALLIGNMENTS
However much a period may try to disguise itself, its real nature will still show through its architecture.
Sigfried Giedion
DOES GOVERNMENT IDEOLOGY MANIFEST ITSELF IN THE GOVERNMENT BUILT ENVIRONMENT?
PALACE POLITY: ANCIENT SUMER
GOVERNMENT FORM
CONTEXT
BUILT FORM
POLITY DIAGRAMAUTOCRATIC THEOCRACY
3000 BCE . FERTILE CRESCENT (MODERN DAY IRAQ) . FIRST RECORDED GOVERNMENTS
GOVERNMENT COMPRISED OF GOD-KINGAND PRIESTLY CLASS
CENTRALIZED, UNLIMITED AUTHORITY DIRECTED FROM A CENTRAL PALACE
LARGE DEPENDENT PEASANTRY EXCLUDED FROM GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
FORUM POLITY: ANCIENT GREECE
GOVERNMENT FORM
CONTEXT
BUILT FORM
DIRECT DEMOCRACY
GOVERNMENT COMPRISED OF MALE, LAND-OWNING CITIZENS
FLEXIBLE DECENTRALIZED GOVERNMENT WITH CITIZENS ACTING AS BOTH EXECUTIVES AND LEGISLATORS
WOMEN, SLAVES, AND FOREIGN NATIONALS EXCLUDED FROM GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
POLITY DIAGRAM
500 BCE . GREEK CITY-STATES . INNOVATORS OF DEMOCRACY
POLITY TYPOLOGY IS INCONSEQUENTIAL.
GOVERNMENT AND ITS BUILT ENVIRONMENT ARE CONGRUENT.
THIS SUGGESTS A CAPABILITY TO UNDERSTAND A GOVERNMENT THROUGH ITS BUILT ENVIRONMENT, AND VICE VERSA.
VS.PALACE POLITY FORUM POLITY
CONCLUSION
Each age tends to flatter the part of the past that sends back its own image.
Lewis Mumford
AMERICAN PROGRESSION
DOES THIS SAME CONGRUENCE EXIST IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA?
AMERICAN DEMOCRACY
GOVERNMENT FORM
CONTEXT
BUILT FORM
RETURN OF THEFORUM POLITY...
POLITY DIAGRAM
1776-PRESENT . UNITED STATES OF AMERICA . INNOVATORS OF DEMOCRACY IN NEW WORLD
REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY
GOVERNMENT COMPRISED OF EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATIVE, AND JUDICIAL BRANCHES
CITIZENS ELECT GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES TO ACT IN THEIR STEAD
ARCHITECTURE
THE PRIVATE HOUSE WAS THE PRIMARY SYMBOLIC EXPRESSION OF CIVIC ARCHITECTURE
THE ISAAC POTTS HOUSE, PENNSYLVANIA ( C.1774)THE REV. HENRY WHITFIELD HOUSE, CONNECTICUT (1639)
AMERICA SOON DEVELOPED THE GOVERNMENT HOUSE, BORROWING PRIVATE FORM FOR PUBLIC USE.
LUMPKIN COUNTY COURTHOUSE, DAHLONEGA, GA (1836) SCHOOLHOUSE, GLOCESTER, RI (1800’S)
THE PRIVATE OR GOVERNMENT HOUSE DID NOT FACILITATE OR SYMBOLIZE THE NEW AMERICAN REPUBLIC.
ITS FORM SYMBOLIZED EXCLUSION AND PERSONAL INTEREST.
THE FOUNDING FATHERS BEGAN TO CONTEMPLATE LARGER PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND LOOKED TO THE EUROPEAN TRADITION.
THOMAS JEFFERSON WAS THE MAIN PROPONENT OF A DEVELOPING A NATIONAL STYLE.
MONTECELLO, VA (1769) CAPITOL OF VIRGINIA (1788) UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA (1819)
JEFFERSON USED SYMBOLISM TO IMBUE THE SPIRIT OF CLASSICAL REPUBLICS ON AMERICA.
METAPHOR OVER FUNCTIONAL FORM.
LANDSCAPE & PLANNING
L’ENFANT’S DC PLAN (1791) PENNSYLVANIA DC NATIONAL MALL
L’ENFANT IMPORTED THE FRENCH IMPERIAL PLANNING STYLE INTO AMERICA’S NEW CAPITAL.
LARGE SCALE BOULEVARDS AND MONUMENTAL ARCHITECTURE REFERENCED THE POWER OF EUROPE’S KINGS, NOT THE POWER OF AMERICA’S CITIZENS.
INFLEXIBILITY
GOVERNMENT EVOLVED WHILE ITS BUILT ENVIRONMENT DID NOT.
IS IT STILL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE AMERICAN DEMOCRACY? WAS IT EVER?
AMERICA HAS NEVER HAD A BUILT ENVIRONMENT THAT FACILITATES ITS DEMOCRACY.
HOW COULD WE DESIGN IT TO DO SO?
CONCLUSION
POLITICAL TRANSPARENCYTHE POLITICAL IDEAL FOR OPEN AND HONEST GOVERNMENT ACHIEVED THROUGH:
ACCESSIBILITY OF INFORMATION
CITIZEN INTERACTIVITY
GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY
ARCHITECTURAL RESPONSE:
NORMAN FOSTER’S EDITION TO THE REICHSTAG, BERLIN (1999)
DESIGN INTERVENTIONS MUST ADDRESS THE REQUIREMENTS OF POLITICAL TRANSPARENCY: ACCESSIBILITY OF INFORMATION, CITIZEN INTERACTIVITY, AND OFFICIAL ACCOUNTABILITY.
GOVERNMENT SECURITY
GOVERNMENT SECURITY IS NECESSARY BUT MAY THREATEN DEMOCRATIC IMPERATIVES OF CITIZEN ACCESS AND INTERACTIVITY.
AT WHAT POINT DOES SECURITY UNDERMINE DEMOCRACY?
DESIGN INTERVENTIONS MUST ADDRESS SECURITY CONCERNS WHILE MAINTAINING CITIZEN ACCESS AND INTERACTIVITY.
DIGITAL MEDIA
FLATTENING TIME AND SPACE.
CONNECTING COMMUNITY AND ALTERING THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT.
CHANGING HOW GOVERNMENT IS RUN.
PEAK OIL
PEAK OIL WILL CAUSE MAJOR READJUSTMENTS IN AMERICAN SOCIETY.
GOVERNMENT PROCESS WILL HAVE TO ADAPT AS WELL.
HUBBERT’S PEAK
DESIGN INTERVENTIONS MUST ADDRESS FUTURE ENERGY RESTRICTIONS CAUSED BY THE INEVITABLE ARRIVAL OF PEAK OIL.
1. Human scale over monumental scale.
2. Modesty over opulence.
3. Accessibility over exclusion.
4. Transparency over opacity.
5. Interactivity over broadcast.
6. Function over symbolism.
7. Flexibility over stagnation.
8. Expression over suppression.
9. Integration over isolation.
10. Government decentralization over centralization.
DESIGN POSSIBILITIESHISTORICAL
ANALYSISAMERICA’S
PROGRESSIONCONTEMPORARY
INFLUENCES+( )+
DEMOCRATIC FORM
PRINCIPLES
CITIZEN SCALE
Y
X
Z
THE PARTICULAR REQUIREMENTS OF AN AMERICAN CITIZEN REGARDING STRUCTURE, SPACE, AND INFORMATION.
GOVERNMENT MUST TAILOR ALL FACETS OF ITS ORGANIZATION TO THE DEMOCRATIC IMPERATIVES OF THIS INDIVIDUAL CITIZEN.
A FLEXIBLE CONCEPTUAL MODEL APPLICABLE TO BOTH THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND GOVERNMENT.