the-otherarchitect

[the-otherarchitect]

who is a good architect?

who is a good user?

who defines it?

[the-otherarchitect]

'the death of the author', by Roland Barthes, suggests that the author has no real control over his own content (words, images, sounds, etc.) but that the control belongs to the reader who interprets them. this essentially means one piece of text can have n number of meanings, revealing a much more fluid, creative and meaningful experience to the reader.  

applying it to architecture, the architect has no control over his own built outcome but the control belongs to the user who may interpret the building as he wishes, use the building as he wishes, see the building as he wishes. can the architect even be called an architect anymore?

[the-otherarchitect]

to do: kill the architect

Constant (Constant Anton Nieuwenhuys) Untitled from Labyrismen, 1968

a major project of artist and architect Constant Nieuwenhuys, was "New Babylon", a visionary of a new world and a new way of life. he explored his idea through drawings, paintings, collages, lithographs, experimental maps and built maquettes of this proposed speculative city. it is a post-revolutionary society, a society with no work, labor, exploitation. production is automated, so all you really have to do is live.   the city becomes an architectural studio and the only thing to do, is to be an architect. not with years of architectural school, not with experience, anyone and everyone is an architect; and build spaces for yourself and your friends and family.