Towards an Old Architecture

By Nikolaeva, Natalya, Ms.

Book Id: WPLBN0004023635
Format Type: PDF eBook:
File Size: 6.35 MB
Reproduction Date: 10/31/2015

Title:	Towards an Old Architecture
Author:	Nikolaeva, Natalya, Ms.
Volume:
Language:	English
Subject:	Non Fiction, Architecture, Constructivist Architecture
Collections:	Authors Community, Architecture
Historic Publication Date:	2015
Publisher:	Self-published

Member Page:	Natalya Nikolaeva
Citation APA MLA Chicago Natalya Nikolaeva, B. M. (2015). Towards an Old Architecture. Retrieved from http://gutenberg.cc/

Description
This article seeks to illuminate a commandeering of a design philosophy to serve capitalist property development. It is proposed to contrast various world renowned projects to their Constructivist forerunners highlighting the abandonment of the movement's social ideals for stylistic icon creation. Turning a social philosophy into a capitalist marketing strategy. I believe that little or no attention is being paid to the hallow misappropriation of revolutionary ideas by leading architects.

Summary
Commentary on contemporary architecture mimicking Constructivist architectural form for commercial benefit rather than social improvement.

Excerpt
About a year ago, the Council of Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) in Chicago selected the Interlace, a luxury housing development in Singapore designed by the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA), as the inaugural winner of its Urban Habitat Award. The development was cited by the jury for breaking down the preconception of stand-alone icons, for creating a ‘topographical phenomenon’ and was hailed for creatively realizing the model of a ‘tower as a park.’ The Interlace is undoubtedly an impressive structure, however this accomplishment clearly owes much to Constructivist architects whose work was achieved nearly a century earlier and was imbued with social and political philosophy which stands in sharp relief against the vapid commercialist structures aping the design vocabulary of Constructivist architecture.