Free Market: Architecture as an Interface of Expression

Page 1

free market: architecture as interface of expression

norgerie rivas villalongo | advisors: anda french, susan herderson | syracuse university school of architecture, 2013


“What is important today? What can architecture do to understand this world...? What will architecture be if it finally becomes a civic medium for speech and action?”1 1. Ole Bouman, “What Do You Want: Some Hope or Just Difference?”in “109 Provisional Attempts to Address Six Simple and Hard Questions About What Architects Do Today and Where Their Profession Might Go”, Edited by Jennifer Sigler and Roemer Van Toorn (Educational Studies Pr, 2003) 115.


1

concept index

2-13

preface

14-24

where are we now?

25-30

how did we get here?

31-50

where do we go from here?

51-53

what do we do now?

54-57

what will this be?

58-76

where will it be?

77-79

how will this look?

80-114

a new typology?

115-118

where is all this information coming from?

Image, still from movie “1984� Directed by Michael Radford (1984); manipulated by author.

table of contents


big data*_ collection of large and complex data sets capitalism_economic system in which investment in

and ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange of wealth is made and maintained chiefly by private individuals or corporations, especially as contrasted to cooperatively or state-owned means of wealth. consumerism_the concept that an ever expanding consumption of goods is advantageous to the economy. democracy_a state of society characterized by formal equality of rights and privileges. free market_space where citizens and corporations exercise democratic communication*; [economy] market where the price of a good or service is determined by supply and demand, rather than by governmental regulation. freedom_the power to determine action without restraint.

information system [it]_formal, sociotechnical,

organizational system designed to collect, process, store, and distribute information. invasive_invading or tending to invade; intrusive. pervasive_spread though out shadow space_the unintended consequences of design* transparency_“by the dictionary definition the quality or state of being transparent is a material condition... of our inherent demand for that which should be easily detected, perfectly evident;”2 architecture of constant information revelation* ubiquitous_existing or being everywhere, omnipresent. offline realm_the physical domain, the not virtual, either commercial or domestic*

concept index 1

defenitions from Dictionary.com (http://dictionary. reference.com/) 2. Colin Rowe; Robert Slutzky, “Transparency, Literal and Phenomenal” (Perspecta, Vol. 8. Yale University 1963), pp. 45-54. *author’s understanding of the concept.


In past years we have seen rapid advances in communication technology whose power to connect us is only rivaled by its power to invade our privacy. As the proliferation of these technologies goes unchecked, we must question their impacts on the nature of our constructed societies. In what ways does this access to information affect democracy and privacy in public space? Has our consumerist society traded in its freedom for higher capitalist ideals? Ubiquitous networks and their constant access is now a reality. “Access to the Internet is increasingly pervasive, with wireless and cellular network access having eliminated the final obstacle to ‘always on’ connections.”3 Today, finding free wi-fi while outside the home or office, is not uncommon or extremely difficult. “Information Technology (IT) knows who you are. It knows where you live. It knows what you do. It peers deeper into American life than the F.B.I. or the I.R.S.... the odds are that it knows

things such as your: age, race, weight, height, marital status, education level, politics, buying habits, petnames, health, worries, vacation dreams — and on and on.”4 From our locations, shopping trends, web searches... digital connectedness has facilitated ‘big data’ which is smart technology’s ability to collect and analyze data from our day to day lives. This data collection and distribution has occurred with people’s full cooperation. Today we willingly publicize our information through facebook, twitter, pintrest, youtube, pandora, linkedin, google+, foursquare, among hundreds more.5 It is then collected by companies such as Acxiom Corporation and sold to department stores, banks, automakers and any major company seeking insight into its consumers.6

3. Gabriele Piccoli, “Essentials of Information Systems for Managers”, (John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2012), 17. 4. Natasha Singer, “You for Sale: Mapping and Sharing, the Consumer Genome”, (New York Times, Jun 16, 2012). 5.“How Many Social Networking Websites Are There?”(http:// howmanyarethere. net/how-manysocial-networkingwebsites-are-there/). 6. Natasha Singer, “You for Sale: Mapping and Sharing, the Consumer Genome”, (New York Times, Jun 16, 2012).

preface 2


the advent of interconnection

computing power and storage capacity increases

cost of computing power decrease

easy to use computers

computers become interconnected

digitization and miniaturization increases

smart surveillance

interconnected computing devices becomes more pervasive and embeded in more aspects of our lives smart phones smart pads

network bandwith increases

cost of storage decreases smart readers

smart gps

diagram information from “Essentials of Information Systems for Managers�, Gabriele Piccoli, (John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2012), 20.

3


the distribution of data linkedin

150M users

foursquare [employment] 20M users [location]

pintrest

big banks

your information is purchased

facebook

[life]

170M users [web searches]

11.7M users [intrests]

901M

google+

pandora users

twitter

555M

175M users

[music preferences]

users [political affiliations]

automakers investment services

retail

collected sold to distributed analyzed

“In a fast-changing digital economy, Acxiom is developing even more advanced techniques to mine and refine data. It has recruited talent from Microsoft, Google, Amazon.com and Myspace and is using a powerful, multi-platform approach to predicting consumer behavior that could raise its standing among investors and clients.”7

7. Ibid diagram information found in “facebook, twitter, google+, pinterest: the users of social media” from all twitter, the unoficial twitter resource (http://www.mediabistro. com/alltwitter/social-mediausers_b22556)

4


The big idea behind information collection is to tailor advertisements for each customer. “Still, there is a fine line between customization and stalking. While many people welcome the convenience of personalized offers, others may see the surveillance engines behind them as intrusive or even manipulative.”8 In this manner late capitalist society has exchanged privacy and freedom for convenient shopping. Consider how much information we hand over to Google on a regular basis: _Much of Google’s financial success comes from its ability to remember what ads specific users are clicking on and selling that information to companies. _Google tracks all searches, and as search grows more and more user specific, the information becomes increasingly detailed and personalized. _Google has access to all of emails and tweets. _Through YouTube, Google collects large amounts of information about its users’ viewing habits.9

5

8. Ibid 9. Pingdom, “How Google collects data about you and the Internet”, (Jan 8, 2010, http://royal. pingdom.com/2010/01/08/ how-google-collectsdata-about-you-and-theinternet/) image, google search: google knows


google is watching you

watches

your internet searches

your emails

your tweets

your videos

remembers

6


Google knows information is power. With all this information Google can analyze trends and behaviors of not only specific users but also of cities and countries.10

10. Pingdom, “How Google collects data about you and the Internet”, (Jan 8, 2010, http://royal.pingdom. com/2010/01/08/howgoogle-collects-dataabout-you-and-theinternet/) image, “Google is Watching You” Still from movie 1984, manipulated by Nelson M. Rios and author.

7


Contention: In current practice, corporations employ invasive technologies to gather information we voluntarily make accessible online. This Big Data collection is fairly bening. The fear is: how controlling can these corporations become once the data compilation and distribution moves to the offline realm? [For the purposes of this book the offline realm refers to the physical domain.] These technologies challenge ideas of privacy and democrary in public space. This thesis will investigate ways in which architecture can ease the fear by providing spaces of dialogue between the corporations and the public. The thesis also intends to explore notions of democracy and freedom between agencies and citizens. For these purposes, small, medium, and large moments of expresion in the build environment will be catalogued; as well as mediated surfaces which render architecture as an interface for communication. image, unknown grafitti artist (http://webupon.com/ search-engines/how-thestreets-view-google/); manipulated by author.

8


Big data and the technologies that facilitate the process of distribution are the beginnings of the technologies of the Sentient City.12 “Acxiom, analysts say, is pursuing far more comprehensive techniques in an effort to influence consumer decisions. It is integrating what it knows about our offline, online and even mobile selves, creating indepth behavior portraits in pixilated detail. Its executives have called this approach a ‘360-degree view’ on consumers. This is how it moves from online to offline.”13 The Sentient City, is able to watch, listen, feel and remember us; a city of complete surveillance. It is made up walls that have eyes and ears, and floors that feel and recognize your footsteps. It knows your web searches, purchases, and Facebook profile. It is a space that not only remembers but also knows who you are. In these ways, the sentient city alters public space as we know it. 9

As these issues disturb the notions of how architecture intervenes in space we must ask what will occur when the city transforms itself into Jeremy Bentham’s panoptic model? What will we do when public spaces are the tower of the Panopticon and citizens enter the Panopticon cells every time they set foot outside? Still, even Bentham’s ultimate design of control has moments where it can be challenged. The central tower is thought to have unlimited visibility inside the cells. However, there are spaces of shadow which allow for the momentary escape from the agents of control. Therefore, unintended consequences of design should be studied. It is in this shadow space where people find the freedom to regain control. Learning from shadow space can result in a designed escape from these mechanics of supervision and dominion by creating a space of democracy within the framework of the Sentient City.

12. “Toward the Sentient City”, Edited by Mark Shepard, (Cambridge: MIT Press, 2007). 13. Natasha Singer, “You for Sale: Mapping and Sharing, the Consumer Genome”, (New York Times, Jun 16, 2012). image, “City as Panopticon”, prison in Cuba manipulated by author.


shadow space

shadow space [unintended consequences of design]

the tower was believed to have unlimited visibility inside the cells of the panopticon...

...yet even the panopticon can have spaces of shadow. 10


What will be the architectural implications when data gathering moves into physical space? One can imagine, in a hyperbolic state of constant streams of data, architecture’s language rewrites itself as complete transparency. In this way technology and the built environment work hand in hand accumulating knowledge and becoming the Sentient City. A city where capitalism has allowed for public spaces to know and monitor all.

Architecture should produce a new model of approaching retail design in which the public and the corporation engage in a dialogue. People can then begin to understand the goals [what they want to do with the information and how they are going to do it] of the corporations. Instead of a society where the public begins to fear the invasiveness of companies, architecture must provide a conversation between agencies and citizens.

This project will situate itself in a world where the public is viewed as a constant sea of data. While corporations pervasively access and collect information from citizens in physical space, people experience a loss of democracy and privacy in the public realm by reliquishing control of their information to such industries. The solution then lies in re-instilling control to the public by working through the corporate models to remove the public’s fear of surrendering control over their data.

Public spaces controlled by technologies governed by corporations to better serve our consumer needs might sound harmless until one realizes the power and size of those in authority. During the summer of 2011 it was reported that Apple had more cash than the US treasury.14 A U.S. business news website, Business Insider, found that many American corporations’ revenues in 2010 surpassed the 2010 GDP of countries.15 It is not difficult to imagine a future where companies become the governing systems of public space.

11

14. Brandon Griggs, “Apple now has more cash than the U.S. government”, (CNN, Jun 19, 2011). 15. Vincent Trivett, “25 US Mega Corporations: Where They Rank If They Were Countries”(Business Insider, Jun 27, 2011; http://www. businessinsider. com/25corporations-biggertan-countries-20116?op=1) image to the right “Companies: Today’s Countries” information from Vincent Trivett, “25 US Mega Corporations: Where They Rank If They Were Countries”, Business Insider (Jun 27, 2011 http://www. businessinsider.com/25corporations-bigger-tancountries-2011-6?op=1).


companies: replacing countries one shopper at a time walmart’s revenue > 3/4 of the world’s gdp15 norway $414b gdp walmart $421B revenue

24th

latvia $24.1b gdp mcdonald’s $24.1B revenue

92th country

country

morocco $103B GDP ford $129B revenue

croatia $60.6b gdp microsoft $65.5B revenue

60th country

66th country

ecuador $58.9B gdp apple $65.2B revenue

68

th

mongolia $6.1b gdp

yahoo $6.3B revenue 139th country

oman $55.6B gdp pepsi $57.8B revenue

country

69th country kenya $32.2B gdp amazon.com $34.2B revenue

paraguay $18.5B gdp

nike

$19.2B revenue

86th country

madagascar $8.1B gdp ebay $9.2B revenue

129th country

102th country new zealand $140B GDP general electric $151B revenue *rankings based on gdp

52th country

12


architecture of transparency and continuous data distribution

public realm as a constant data flow from which stores collect all knowledge about its clients and bombard propaganda

13

Stills from Minority Report 2002 manipulated by author


The year is 2084. We have allowed for the inconspicuous control of technology and consumerism over our society. What was in the beginning of the century tools for harmless advertising has turned into the Sentient City. The intrusive technologies of the Sentient City belong to marketing corporations who now own our information. This has altered the public realm as a constant data flow from which stores collect all knowledge about its clients and bombard propaganda. This enacted environment reformulates our notions of power. As a response to the technological surveillance, architecture has rendered the built retail environment a transparent space of continuous information distribution. “Visibility both literal and metaphorical is transformed. What was

solid and opaque becomes transparent”17 Consumers have become the spectacle of companies as well as those outside of the stores. The private sector has invaded the public realm to such an extent that more than 85% of urban public spaces are privately owned The city was allowed to become sentient by us. We were not alarmed when they installed cameras all throughout our public spaces. We did not complain actively enough to put a stop to companies selling our information for advertisement purposes. Society moved and evolved at such a rapid pace by the time we realized the city and marketing agencies knew us by name there was nothing we could do to reverse the process.

16. Chuihua Judy Chung, Jefferey Inaba, Rem Koolhaas, Sze Tsung Leong, “The Harvard Design School Guide to Shopping”(Taschen, Koln 2001). 17. Dana Cuff, “Immanent Domain: Pervasive Computing and the Public Realm”, Reader OP ARC Vision+Visuality in Architecture, Edited by Jon Yoder (Syracuse, Blue Print) 4.

where are we now? 14


Today there is nowhere we can move outside our homes, nothing we can search in the internet, nothing we can speak of in the street, that industries won’t know. It appears we have lost complete privacy in the public realm.

It should be architecture’s responsibility to restore the citizens sense of control in public space. As Rem Koolhaas once declared, architecture is as oppressive as it is liberating.18 It is time to design a space where citizens retake control and democracy of their information in public space. Architecture can achieve this by providing spaes of dialogue between the corporations and the public. This would once again establish notions of democray and freedom between agencies and citizens. Architecture must produce a new model for retail design in which the public anad the corporation engage in conversation to better understand each other’s needs and goals. A space where the clients can be 15

listened to; where they are welcomed to share ideas and concerns with the company; is a space where both entities get what they need. The free market proposal is such space. The design of a new privately owned public space typology explores ways in which architecture serves as an interface between public and the store. The free market proposal foments democracy by designing spaces such as loggias, walls of discourse, thinking pods, and stations of discussion that encourage conversation and provide a forum between people and corporation. First, we should study the city we now live in, in order to understand ways to opperate within the systems. Then we should research different moments where architecture and design have been utilized as a medium of speech. This knowledge can then inform the design of the free market and public space as we know it.

18. Hilde Heynen, “The Antinomies of Utopia. Superstudio in Context”, in “SuperstudioThe Middelburg Lectures”, Edited by Valentijn Bycanck, (Amsterdam: De Vleeshal+Zeeuws Museum, 2005) 74.


a study in

the operations of the sentient city

16


“The experience of the street was more influenced by ambient, immaterial, and kinetic forces than by the detailed formal articulation of space and material.”19

19. “Toward the Sentient City”, Edited by Mark Shepard (Cambridge: MIT Press, 2007). Original image Plaza Puerta del Sol from http:// www.bu.edu/madrid/ files/2009/10/puerta-delsol.jpg, manipulated by author Image to the right: Data collected from International -Telecommunication Unition http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ ict/statistics/at_glance/ KeyTelecom.html -Jeffrey Rosen, “A Watchful State”, (New York Times, Oct 7, 2001) -Jane Wakefield “Watching Your Every Move”(BBC News Online, Feb 7, 2002; http:// news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/ nature/1789157.stm).

17


all the senses of the city invasive pervasive technologies 5.9 billion cellphone users*

2.4 billion internet users*

welcome to the modern panoptic city

+25 million surveillance cameras*

watches

communicates and remembers listens

follows *worldwide by 2012

18


“...reflexively monitoring its environment and our behavior within it, becoming an active agent in the organization of everyday life in urban public space.”20

20. “Toward the Sentient City”, Edited by Mark Shepard (Cambridge: MIT Press, 2007) 19. original image Plaza Puerta del Sol from http://www.bu.edu/madrid/ files/2009/10/puerta-del-sol.jpg, manipulated by author

19


space watches , listens, and acts Surveillance cameras constantly monitor people’s movements and walls listen to conversations.

space

you 20


“Imbued with the capacity to remember, correlate and anticipate...”21

21. “Toward the Sentient City”, Edited by Mark Shepard (Cambridge: MIT Press, 2007) 19. original image Plaza Puerta del Sol from http://www.bu.edu/madrid/ files/2009/10/puerta-del-sol.jpg, manipulated by author

21


space watches and remembers The city recognizes your footsteps and remembers the paths you have traveled. It has the ability to record and foresee your moves.

where you have been

the city knows where you will go 22


“...discount coupons for their favorite espresso drink are beamed to their mobile phone as they pass by Starbucks”22

22 “Toward the Sentient City”, Edited by Mark Shepard (Cambridge: MIT Press, 2007) 19. original image Plaza Puerta del Sol from http:// www.bu.edu/madrid/ files/2009/10/puerta-delsol.jpg, manipulated by author

23


space communicates When you pass by retail spaces these recognize and communicate with you by sending messages, such as coupons or special information, to their mobile devices.

space

mobile

you 24


In 2002 Dana Cuff from the Department of Architecture and Urban Design of UCLA predicted:

“An emergent wave of digital technology holds vast implications for the public sphere...these new forms of mobile and ubiquitous systems, called pervasive computing, challenge some of our fundamental ideas about subjectivity, visibility, space, and the distinction between public and private. Together, these challenges reformulate our conception of the civic realm. From cellphones to wireless local area networks, smart buildings to embedded vehicular computers, an invisible web of digital technology already lies across the visible world creating new space for work, data, advertisement, investigation, communication intimacy, and danger. This generation of computers is so well integrated with the environment that it will be difficult to distinguish between the two, which represents a profound transformation for everyday life.”23

“If cyberspace is dematerialized space, the cyburg is spatially embodied computing, or an environment saturated with computing capability. It is the imminent stage of digital media that places computation in all things around us...”24 Today pervasive computing has invaded our public realm challenging previous ideas of privacy. This has rendered our society as one of exhibitionism, where we, with not much of a choice, show off moments of our lives that were at a time private. If one does not understand the agencies behind the technologies it can appear as if they control the space which the constantly survey.

23. Dana Cuff, “Immanent Domain: Pervasive Computing and the Public Realm”, Reader OP ARC Vision+Visuality in Architecture, Edited by Jon Yoder (Syracuse, Blue Print) 1. 24. Dana Cuff, “Immanent Domain: Pervasive Computing and the Public Realm”, Reader OP ARC Vision+Visuality in Architecture, Edited by Jon Yoder (Syracuse, Blue Print) 6.

how did we get here? 25


when you are about to enter the train

it recognizes

a surveillance systems will register you

and remembers you

Stills from Minority Report 2002, manipulated by author

it may sense hostility and close the door

26


The technologies of vigilance did not become ubiquitous overnight. During the end of the last century London witnessed the inception of the ‘Ring of Steel’. Advertised as a security installation following bombing attacks by the Provisional Irish Republican Army [IRA], the Ring of Steel is an area of London which is heavily populated by Close Circuit TV [CCTV]. This defensive system is able to record every vehicle entry into the city and monitor the area as a whole creating an architecture of paranoia and fortress urbanism.27 The government persuaded its citizens to forego their privacy rights within the public realm by insisting “If you’ve got nothing to hide, you’ve got nothing to fear.’’26 In 2001 Jeffrey Rosen reported for the New York Times that the extent of the quantity of cameras and spaces under the surveillance of CCTV in the United Kingdom was so great that people had stopped counting.27 At the time of Rosen’s article there were an estimated 2.5 million surveillance cameras in Britain, yet he suspected there might have been far more. 27

Imagine the average Briton was most likely captured by 300 separate cameras in a single day.28 Inspired by the ‘Ring of Steel’ on November 2008 ‘The Lower Manhattan Security Initiative’ went live. It is an extensive web of cameras and roadblocks designed to detect, track and deter terrorists. It is made up of 3,000 cameras including 156 surveillance cameras and 30 mobile license plate readers.29

25. Henrietta Williams, “Ring of Steel: Entering the Panopticon” August 22, 2010 (http:// henriwilliams. blogspot. com/2010/08/ entering-panopticonstudy-of-ring-of.html) 29. Jeffrey Rosen, “A Watchful State”, (New York Times, October 7, 2001) 27. Ibid.

“These new levels of information, security, conservation, and access are balanced by heightened possibilities of intrusion, tracking, classification, and exclusion.”30

28. Ibid. 29. Ibid. 30. Dana Cuff, “Immanent Domain: Pervasive Computing and the Public Realm”, Reader OP ARC Vision+Visuality in Architecture, Edited by Jon Yoder (Syracuse, Blue Print) 6.


9,000* surveillance cameras in London

3,000* surveillance cameras in Lower Manhatan *estimate

28


“The digitally embedded city strewn with sensors, pervasively monitored and actuated...the possibility of being seen...is everywhere. But without the identifiable point of observation surveillance becomes pernicious potentially everywhere by any agency, for unknown purposes”31 31. Dana Cuff, “Immanent Domain: Pervasive Computing and the Public Realm”, Reader OP ARC Vision+Visuality in Architecture, Edited by Jon Yoder (Syracuse, Blue Print) 8.

29

Image prison in cuba modeled after Bentham’s Panopticon, manipulated by author.


Much like the guard in the tower of the Panopticon may or may not be present in order for the prisoner to feel watched; these ubiquitous technologies can likewise be everywhere and nowhere in order to assert their control over the public realm.

Image Modern Panopticon

30


Now, it is time to ask how can architecture act as a civic medium for speech and action inside the sentient city? Architecture can regain a citizen’s sense of control inside public space by establishing communication between the agencies that command the technologies and the public. This can be achieved by analyzing spaces of expression. Spaces of expression are spaces where citizens exercise control over design and regain a sense of democracy. More often than not spaces of expression are born as shadow space, as unintended consequences of design. Even though these spaces appear to be spontaneous acts, there is a logic, meaning and reason behind each of them. A contextual and formal study of these spaces will reveal a set of conditions necessary to escape our Panoptic state and enter a city of communication and democracy.

“In certain instances, people will inhabit and make use of any space whatsoever, regardless of, indeed even in spite of, its formal arrangement and functional assignment.”32

32. Rem Koolhaas quoted in “ the SentientToward City”, Edited by Mark Shepard (Cambridge: MIT Press, 2007) 22.

where do we go from here? 31


a study of

spaces of shadow spaces of expression spaces of democracy at three different scales

small|medium|

large

32


who: how:

where: 33 35

the Pasquino, the first, most famous, and still active out of the five talking statues of Rome

small

talking statues: pasquino|babuino

During the 1700s Cardinal Oliviero Carafa draped the torso of the statue in a toga and decorated it with Latin epigrams in celebration of Saint Mark’s Day. The gesture was seen by Romans as unnecessary opulence. The common folk answered by criticizing the pope and his government writing satirical poems and adhering them to the statue. In this manner, Pasquino revealed the people’s dissatisfaction, denounced injustice, and misgovernment by members of the Church. The Church placed the space under heavy surveillance in attempts to stop the practice which resulted in the proliferation of Talking Statues through Rome.33

Piazza di Pasquino, adjecent to Piazza Navona and near the Pantheon

33. Pasquino: Talking Statue of Rome. http://www. italyguides.it/us/ roma/rome/mythsand-legends/talkingstatue-of-rome/ pasquino.htm] 34. Ibid


who:

the Babuino, one of the five talking statues of Rome, second longest active statue

how:

The Babuino statue became an alternative location for posting satirical messages directed at the Church government without a high risk of being caught. In modern times locals began expressing themselves through the medium of graffiti on the Wall of the Spanish Embassy. Yet in 2007 the government painted the privately owned public space with anti-vandal paint, marking the end to centuries of tradition and expression.34

pre 2007

where:

Via del Babuino in front of Spanish Embassy, in between Piazza di Spagna and Piazza di Popolo

talking statues became a physical interface for the expression of messages too dangerous to say out loud.

post 2007

34


These small pockets of space near important plazas turned statues of roman figures into interfaces of expression. Rendering Piazza di Pasquino and Via di Babuino, shadow spaces in the city of Rome.

35


medium speaker’s corners: space of expression

hyde park, london 1872 Parliament allotted the space for expression after activities of the Reform League.

Oosterpark, amsterdam2005 The Foundation for Freedom Expression bought a space of

wascana center, regina 1966 Designed to honor free speech and WWII veterans.

of

the park for the free expression of ideas after the murder of a man who directed a movie critizing Islam’s treatment of women. padang kota lama, penang 2010 Inspired by political change since 2008. Represents a platform of democracy for all Malaysians.

ingridients of speaker’s corners: -corner of open park in a city, -small podium or platform

the domain, sydney 1878 Began when Spearker’s Coner of Hyde Park Sydney was closed down after a riot. A pastor refused to lose a space and relocated to The Domain park. 36


medium monument to the first ammendment: space of expression

image from http:// www.flickr.com/photos/ grasshoppergirl/243561162/ sizes/l/in/photostream/

37


what: the monument to the first ammendment how:

While most monuments pay tribute to individuals or events, it is unique to dedicate a monument to an idea. Since April 2006 The monument to the first amendment is a celebration to the civil liberty of free expression. The monument is made up of a two-sided wall of Buckingham slate, approximately 54’ long by 7.5’ feet, on which members of the public may express their views, in chalk, on any subject they choose. The project was funded by the not-for-profit organization The Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression following what they believed was a long series of incidents of acts of censorship in both public and private sectors.

where:

First Ammendment Plaza, City Hall of Charlottesville, Virginia, United States.

Information found in The Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression (http://www.tjcenter. org/monument/) Image First Ammendment Monument in front of Charlottesville City Hall

38


Designed by architects Peter O’Shea and Robert Winstead, the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression presents a tangible embodiment of the concept of free expression.35 Located directly in front of Charlottesville’s City Hall and perpendicular to the city’s amphitheater. “Permanently inscribed on one segment of the wall is the text of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. On the immediate opposite side is the following quote by the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall: ‘...To permit the continued building of our politics and culture, and to assure self-fulfillment for each individual, our people are guaranteed the right to express any thought...’”36

The monument’s design includes a podium as a contemporary soapbox where individuals may address both planned and impromptu public gatherings. The entire area outside City Hall is known as the First Amendment plaza consisting of walls for written and artistic expression and a platform for verbal expression. 39

35. The Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression (http://www.tjcenter. org/monument/) 36. Ibid.


large

occuppied areas: space of democracy

The city of Virginia has given physicality to ideas of freedom and democracy, yet many times these types of spaces are not designed, they simply occur. A study of spaces of movement and occupation will reveal an understanding necessary for the design of a free market space. 40


mapping dissent: arab springs 10,000

10,000

41


1,000

tunis, tunisia

2,000

algiers, algeria beirut, lebanon

algiers, algeria rabat,morocco

noakchott, mauritania

5,000

beirut,lebanon tunis,tunisia; deraa,syria sidi bouzid,tunisia baghdad,iraq palestine amman,jordan cairo,egypt kuwait city, kuwait benghazi, libya manama,bahrain 10,000

khartoum,sudan

ammam, jordan 500 70

muscat, oman quatif,saudi arabia sana’a,yemen

sana’a university, yemen 200

pearl roundabout, bahrain 100

10,000

rabat, morroco

monumen [2/17]

1,000

universitiy [2/17]

shopping mall [1/17]

deraa, syria 100

automobile [1/17]

10,000

shajara square, libya parliment, kuwait

1,000

civic building [10/17]

khartoum university, sudan baghdad, iraq

10,000

square_plaza_park [5/17]

automobiles, saudi arabia tahir squre, egypt

4,000

capital [15/17]

shopping mall, oman

palace 1 mai, mauritana square of unknown soldier, palestine

42


largest crowds 200

:occupy movement

2 months

0.7 acres

toronto, canada new york city, united states 150+ 1 month

3.6 acres

mexico city, mexico

bogotรก, colombia

150+ 1.5 months

religious institution 0.4 acres shopping mall automobile universitiy civic building monument square|plaza|park capital

43

8001 week

zuccootti park, united states

17 sept 11- 15 nov 11 federal presidential constitutional republic privetly owned public space 300ft by 100ft occupiers forcibly removed because of health hazards

st. james park, canada

15 oct 11- 23 nov 11 federal parliamentary democracy, constitutional monarchy privetly owned public space 400ft by 350ft occupiers asked to abandon space because their stay would cost the city 45,000 in repairs

paseo de la reforma, mexico

11 oct 11- 21 nov 11 federal presidential constitutional republic public promenade 77ft by 240ft while police was constantly vigilant occupiers left of their own accord

universidad distrital, colombia

12 nov 2011- 19 nov 2011 unitary presidential constitutional republic public classroom space occupiers leave of their own accord


puerta del sol, espa単a

15 may 11- 12 jun 11

1000+ 28days

unitary state parliamentary constitutional monarchy

public plaza 630ft by 750ft occupiers left of their own accord

hsbc square,hong kong

21 aug 2011 - 23 oct 2011 special administrative region of China privately owned public space 200ft by 200ft occupiers evicted by the authorities

10.9 acres

edinburgh, scotland

40+ 3 months

0.9 acres

galway, ireland paris, france madrid, espa単a

london, england amsterdam, netherlands copenhagen, denmark frankfurt, germany prague, czech republic

hong kong, china

martin place, australia

100+ 10months

15 oct 2011 - 27 aug 2012

federal parlamentary constitutional monarchy

privately owned public space 70ft by 250ft government rules occupation illegal

city hall square, denmark 15 oct 2011 - 21 dec 2011

0.4 acres

100+

sydney, australia

2.5months

unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy

privately owned public space 200ft by 185ft occupiers evicted by the authorities

0.9 acres

shown countries are those were occupy movement protests have occured. highlighted spaces are those where citizens where able to occupy space for a number of days.

44


40+ 9 months

1.9 acres

120+ 5 months

0.6 acres

200 6 months

2.3 acres

250+ 7 months

0.4 acres

ecb square, germany

15 oct 11 - 6 aug 12 federal parlamentary constitutional republic public space 370ft by 225ft occupiers forcibly removed because of health hazards

beursplein, netherlands

2.8 acres

400+

15 oct 11 - 19 mar 12 unitary parliamentary democracy constitutional monarchy public space 170ft by 145ft occupiers forcibly removed because of health hazards

eyre square, republic of ireland 15 oct 11- 16 may 12 parlamentary republic public space 290ft by 348 ft occupiers evicted by the authorities

st. paul’s cathedral, london 15 oct 11- 14 jun 12 devolved government within a constituional monarchy privately owned public space 170ft by 95ft occupiers asked to abandon space

st. andrew square, scottland

250+ 4 months

13days

5.5 acres

100+ 1.5 months

1.5 acres

15 oct 11- 10 feb 12 devolved government within a constituional monarchy privately owned public space 350ft by 350ft city council recognized the occupy movement worldwide and supported the effort on november 24 2011

esplenade della defanse, france

4 nov 11 - 17 nov 11 unitary semi-presidential constitutional republic privately owned public space 300ft by 800ft occupiers forcibly removed

park of ww2 monument, czech republic 4 apr 12 - 27 may 12 parliamentary republic public space 450ft by 145ft occupiers forcibly removed because of noise complaints

[6/15]

[2/15]

[11/15]

[10/15]

[4/15]

[1/15]

[2/15]

[0/15]

[1/15]

45


The Arab Springs where generally protests against human rights violations, corruption, extreme poverty and lack of freedom of speech. Protestors believed these to be mostly caused by the government.

[10/17] Therefore, most of the Arab Springs uprisings occured in capitals near civic buildings [10/17]. While the Occupy Movement marches where located mostly in financial districts [10/15].

Whereas the Occupy Movement is an international protest against social and economic inequality. Protestors believe large corporations and financial systems are greatly to blame for the problems of society today.

$

[10/15]

46


sites of dissent

federal reserve bank one chase manhattan plaza museum of american finance zuccotti park arab league

tahrir square

ruling party hq cairo, egypt 47

mogamma government building

new york stock exchange one world trade center financial distric manhattan, united states

occupied space


food stalls

clinic

toilets street vendors

water point school

mapping tahrir square tanks

wall of martyrs

waste containers bloggers

newspaper wall

campsite clinic artwork

pharmacy

main stage

Diagram from BBC, “Egypt Unrest�, Feb 11, 2012 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/ news/world-12434787). Manipulated by author.

48


mapping zuccotti park library art

information

media outreach sanitation

assembly kitchen sleeping art/flexible information

comfort medical

sacred space

social space

49

art

Diagram images from Jonathan Massey and Brett Snyder, “Mappig Liberty Plaza�, The Design Observer Group, Sep 17, 2012 (http:// places.designobserver.com/ feature/mapping-libertyplaza-zuccotti-park/35948/). manipulated by author


design : public square

shadow space : occupation

shadow space: revolution: the uninteded consequence of design

design : privately owned park

shadow space : occupation Occupied Zuccotti Park picture from Jonathan Massey and Brett Snyder, “Mappig Liberty Plaza�, The Design Observer Group, Sep 17, 2012 (http://places. designobserver.com/feature/ mapping-liberty-plaza-zuccottipark/35948/). manipulated by author

50


“Shopping is arguably the last remaining form of public activity.”38

If retail companies and their big data collection appear to control public space, then architecture must provide a space of communication in order to regain democracy of public space. Imagine a utopic place where both corporations and their clients get what they want. In order to achieve this I will present a new way of approaching retail design. This is similar to a project done by the design firm IDEO on 2011 ‘Next Door’ for State Farm Insurance. To approach an altering marketplace and foster stronger relationships with clients, State Farm and IDEO developed ‘Next Door’. This was a community-focused learning center that offers free financial coaching to the Chicago area. Next Door welcomes the public and makes them feel comfortable by providing a bright, modern interior furnished with comfortable sofas, free

what do we do now? 51

38. Chuihua Judy Chung, Jefferey Inaba, Rem Koolhaas, Sze Tsung Leong, “The Harvard Design School Guide to Shopping”(Taschen, Koln 2001).


wi-fi, white boards, and a cafe. When people enter the space helpful hosts explain what Next Door has to offer. “A wall-sized chalkboard advertises free classes taught by financial coaches and local other experts, as well as events like art exhibitions and yoga classes hosted on-site by community members. Professional conference rooms can be reserved for free, and a lending library is filled with books about personal finance.�39

39. IDEO, Next Door for State Farm Insurance, (http:// www.ideo.com/work/ next-door/) images from Ibid.

52


space of interaction facades recedes inviting the outside in

cubicles welcomes personal interaction

wall of discourse transmits messages 53

images from IDEO, Next Door for State Farm Insurance, (http://www. ideo.com/work/next-door/) manipulated by author.


people

architecture as interface of expression walls of discourse loggias stations of discussion thinking pods

retail coorporation

what will this be? 54


loggia di lanzi Loggia dei Lanzi

[14th century], built for the assemblies of the public and ceremonies of the government and citizens of Florence. The loggia is found sitting to the right of Palazzo Vecchio on Piazza della Signoria. The loggia’s location, adjacent to city hall, allowed it to be a space of conversation between the authority figures who lived in Palazzo Vecchio and

Loggia dei Lanzi a house of communication. f

the common folk.

ro m

pa la

zz o

ve

cc hio

to

log

gia

il

from lo

palazo vecchio 55 57

de

piazza della signoria

an

zi

ggia

za dell to piaz i z n a l dei

a signo

ria

loggia dei lanzi


CHAPTER ON PROGRAM: loggias, walls of discourse, thinking pods, and a stage of discussion

loggia del mercato nuovo Loggia del Mercato Nuovo

[16th century], located in the city center of Florence, near Ponte Vecchio. Since its inception it has been a market space. It was first used for the selling of silk and luxury goods. Four centuries later mostly leather goods and souvenirs are sold. The loggia typology is allows for an open space where direct communication between buyer and seller occurs.

Mercato Nuovo a house of communication.

58 56


walls of discourse

The First Amendment Monument is a physical structure which embodies the concept of free expression. The public is welcomed to express their views, in chalk, about anything they want, political or otherwise.

Hampshire College is a private liberal arts college in Amherst, Massachusetts. The Graffiti Wall of Hampshire College is a designated graffiti courtyard area where students are allowed and encouraged to express themselves. image from: kelsey freeman, “Lessons from Hampshire College� http://www.driftingfocus.com/ blogs/?p=8157

59 57


In today’s world designing a free market is a pivotal endeavor for the investigation of an architecture that serves as an interface between agencies and citizens. Retail corporations have control over Big Data and public space. In addition to that, retail and consumerism is deeply rooted in American society.

A study of the built environment of 5th Avenue [circa 2012], will reveal ways in which one can intervene in the hopes of designing architecture as a civic medium for speech and action. A closer look at 5th Avenue will show trends in transparency of retail spaces, formal and programatic organizations of the street, and strategies towards the intervention of the free market proposal.

Out of the total world retail area, 39% is found in the United States of America. From 60th to 49th street, 5th Avenue in Manhattan is one the most popular and expensive shopping streets in the world. Manhattan is one of the most crowded and visited cities in the United States. These conditions allow for 5th Avenue to be an ideal testing ground for a new retail model of expression and democracy between the public and store.

where will it be? 58


global retail space total retail area of the world_ 2.1508110 sqft 39%

37%

8,3131,575,000 ft2

7,932,530,000 ft2

united states

asia

10% europe

1,943,978,000 ft2

7%

latin america

1,575,852,000 ft2

1%

0.3%

312,156,000 ft2

78,577,000 ft2

latin america

africa

information from: Chuihua Judy Chung, Jefferey Inaba, Rem Koolhaas, Sze Tsung Leong, “The Harvard Design School Guide to Shopping�(Taschen, Koln 2001).

59


world’s most expensive shopping streets 4 out of the 10 most expensive shopping streets in the world_ are found in new york city

$1,100ft

9

ginza, tokyo $1,057/ft2

$1,100ft 2

10

east 57th street, ny madison avenue, ny

6

5

$2,100ft 2

4

$2,500/ft2

champs elysées $1,129/ft 2

fifth avenue, ny times square, ny

8

omotesando, sydney $972/ft2

7

tsim sha tsui, hong kong $1,547/ft 2

3

central, hong kong $1,856/ft2

1

causeway bay, hong kong $2,630/ft2

2

information from: Ashley Lutz, “The Most Expensive Shopping Streets in the World” (Nov 14,2012; http://www.businessinsider. com/the-most-expensiveshopping-streets-201211?op=1)

60


fifth ave nyc: a study

61


retail space of 59st-57ststreets apple 2006

fao schwarz

general motorsbuilding

1986

retail

louis vuitton 2004

name of building

year built

men’s bergdorf goodman 1990

bergdorf goodman 1928 62


tiffany and co. 1940

gucci

57st-55ststreets

trump tower

1983

armani

escada

1959

1959

the corning glass building the corning glass building

bulgari

piagiet

mikimoto

1990

1996

1975

the crown building the crown building the crown building

63

prada 1998

omega, breguet

disney

1927

1927

the coca-cola building the coca-cola building

abercrombie & fitch 2008


55st-53ststreets

forever 21

55 -53 streets 1993 st

st

de beers, pucci bottega veneta st. regis hotel

st. regis hotel

2005

2005

takashima building

elizabeth arden, zara Aeolian Building

diesel 1926

681 5thAve

2010

1927

wempe

blanc di chine 1930

tommy hilfiger fendi 2005

lindt

the peninsula hotel

the peninsula hotel

2011

2009 gap

swarovski

the peninsula hotel

2012

buchman tower

1957 64


53st-51ststreets rolex

cartier

rolex building

cartier building

1977

1917

versace

gant, h.stern, a|x

1995

1975

versace building

olympic tower

ermenegildo zegna salvatore ferragamo 2004 2012

uniqlo

666 5th Ave

2011 65

holister

666 5th Ave

2010

juicy couture

h&m

Piaget Building

640 5th Ave

2008

2004


51st-49ststreets saks fifth avenue 1924

faconnable

banana republic rockefeller center

rockefeller center

rockefeller center

1939

1939

1939

1939

rockefeller center

cole haan

cole haan

66


a 5th ave. nolli map

bergdorf goodman louis vuitton tiffany and co.

private space residential office space

privately owned public space cartier, versace

retail religious plaza

public space space saks fifth avenue

67

street sidewalk


plazas of 5th ave.

grand army plaza general motors plaza

Public spaces [plaza, square] that are not part of city circulation, [street, sidewalk] Three out of four are privately owned public spaces

atlas square rockefellar plaza

68


public spaces, a dilemma As the built environment continued expanding, the city witnessed a decrease in public outdoor space. Today much less than 15% of 5th Avenue between 59th to 49th street is open outdoor public space. Retail infrastructure may take advantage of their built spaces, as well as constructing new public space models. In this way introducing new typologies for privately owned public spaces. By presenting loggias, walls of discourse, thinking pods, and stages of discussion at different elevations of the building, the store will become an experience of interaction leading customers through layers of public space. These spaces will also become a test to study ideas of architecture as a medium of connection and speech.

69


towards an intervention: strategies lessons from 5th Avenue 2012, architectural strategies.

conceal and reveal

layering

hybrid

7070


apple store study

strategy 1: revealing he concealed

71

store sits on plinth


if: program is sunken

then: reveal the concealed

72


louis vuitton study

strategy 2: layers of transparency

73

0% transparency


50% transparency

75% transparency

100% transparency

74


escada store study

strategy 2: sidewalk|store hybrid

75

if: store recess


if: sidewalk enters store

then: opportunity in the moment where strore meets street

76


The theme of consumerism and capitalism is not new in architectural discourse. Since the 1960s radical architecture groups such as Archigram and Superstudio, have been exploring how architecture opperates within a consumerist society. It is interesting to look at these two groups side by side because of their opposing views as well as the architectural drawings they produced. Similar modes of experimentation in representation, such as photomontages, comic strips and pop art, show Superstudio and Archigram were paying close attention to each other. Yet, Superstudio’s distaste for consumerism positioned the Italian architects as the negative response to British Archigram. The explorations pursued by both groups reveal there is much to learn from both the positive and the negative utopia presented by capitalism during the sixtees.

how will this look? 77

image from Barbara Kruger “I Shop therefore I am�, (1987). Manipulated by author.


consumerism: a utopia

Plug-in-City [Peter Cook, 1964] is a mega-structure

composed of a large framework and standardized parts which replaced conventional buildings. All program, such as housing, became standard components meant to fit within the framework of the city. The framework was made up by a set of tubes that connected all programs. Other than holding the city together, the tubes served to conviniently deliever goods to different pods and dwellings. In this way, architecture became a tool of consumerism, enabling the process to grow. The city became a productive machine of capitalism for people to take advantage of and enjoy.

78


consumerism: a dystopia

The Continuous Monument [Superstudio, 1969] is meant as a metaphor of architectural and societal issues of the time. It was intended to be a negative utopia displaying the result of a consumerist society. The great Countinouos Monument fits all! Without regards to culture or geopolitical conditions, it homogonizes the cultural identities of cities rending all one and the same. Superstudio presented a dystopic condition yet failed to provide a solution. The Continuous Monument was not made to be seen as the problem but more as a lense from which to critically observe society. images from Martin van Schaik and Otakar Macel “Exit Utopia: Architectural Provocations 1956-76�(Prestel Publishing, 2005).Manipulated by author.

79


lessons, from visionary architecture

Archigram and Superstudio present two opposing architectural stances, one of complete acceptance and another of total rejection. While radical in their time, these are not the only available responses. Architecture may respond in a conciliatory way, a space meant to bridge gaps. A conciliatory design may be the new radical architecture of its time.

a new typology? 80


sentient h&m on fifth ave The city has become sentient. retail corporations’ invasive technologies have moved the tracking from the online to the offline realm, following people through physical space; now being able to detect people’s information and communicate with them as they pass by a store catering to what the technology believes people want; as a result customers have become extremely suspicious of walking near spaces that employ these methods. How can spaces of communication create a conciliatory architecture to ease the uneasiness brought upon the sentient city?

81


conciliatory architecture

listens watches follows interacts

82


program Architecture can respond to the public’s concern by creating various types of spaces of dialogue at different scales; spaces such as: WALLS OF DISCOURSE, LOGGIA, STATIONS OF DISCUSSION, and THINKING PODS. While these may not be common programs they each stem from know typologies or existing spaces. WALLS OF DISCOURSE opperate as chalkboard or graffiti walls enacting architecture as an interface for communication. LOGGIAS are historically spaces of information exchange. Occupied spaces inspire a physical forum for expression to be achieved on STATIONS OF DISCUSSIONS. Whereas THINKING PODS are meant to allow a more intimate dialogue experience than the aformentioned spaces.

83


THINKING PODS

STATION OF DISCUSSION

LOGGIA

WALLS OF DISCOURSE

84


incentivized design Incentivized design is one driven by an exchange, such as Privately Owned Public Spaces [POPs]. POPs are usualy an amenity provided and maintained by a private developer for public use, in exchange for additional floor area.

The Seagram Building set back on Park Avenue provided one of the first public plaza for pedestrians and office workers to gather and mingle. This was a precursor to POPs all throughout New York City.

The Waterfront Design Guidelines Text Amendment was presented to ensure the development of inviting, high-quality publicly accessible spaces on waterfront properties. As a result improving the public’s enjoyment of the waterfront.

The Times Square Pedestrian Zone allowed for the repurposing of congested, vehicle-laden streets into pedestrian-only public spaces. This resulted in dramatic increases in foot traffic, revenues for local stores and a decrease in traffic related injuries, reinvigorating urban life.

In the design of Free Market, this new typology of POPs seeks to gain retail space for public use and pedestrian plazas, while offering retail an increase in advertising space. 85


Facade of retail space is pushed out. The project is placed between the extended and existing facades. 86


WALLS OF DISCOURSE extend facade of store to sidewalk.

WALLS OF DISCOURSE rotate public realm from the horizontal to the vertical plane.

LOGGIA AND WALLS OF DISCOURSE render the sidewalk domain of the store.

STATIONS OF DISCUSSION AND THINKING PODS attach to facade

87


private public

FREE MARKET: a new typology for publicly owned public space.

privately owned public

88


site rolex

cartier

rolex building

cartier building

1977

1917

versace

gant, h.stern, a|x

1995

1975

versace building

olympic tower

ermenegildo zegna salvatore ferragamo 2004 2012

uniqlo

666 5th Ave

2011

89

holister

666 5th Ave

2010

juicy couture

h&m

Piaget Building

640 5th Ave

2008

2004


constraints: density of populated space

90


constraints: site circulation

How does the project manifests itself on site? Does it move horizontally connecting from retail space through retail space as an elevated sidewalk? Is it a series of vertical moments that move up each store? Or is a hybrid of horizontal and vertical cirulation movement being governed by rules and constraints of density of people and program codes?

91


51st street

52nd street

53rd street

While streets of Manhattan are often saturated with people, 5th Ave has the widest streets in all of the borough and the project has space to ground itself inside street furniture and entrance clearence zones.

ENTRANCE CLEAREANCE ZONE

h. stern

STREET FURNITURE ZONE

5th ave STREET FURNITURE ZONE

hollister

ENTRANCE CLEAREANCE ZONE

h&m

site plan

92


constraints: program codes

93


possible scheme 1: hidden spaces [Sheme: Hidden Spaces] Program divided between outside and inside. WALLS OF DISCOURSE and LOGGIA remain outside, whie STATIONS OF DISCUSSION and THINKING PODS are placed inside, behind vertical circulation spaces.

thinking pod thinking pods, third floor

space of discussion

thinking pod

stations of discussion, second floor

space of discussion

walls of discourse|loggia, ground floor

94


possible scheme 2: exposed spaces thinking pod

[Sheme: Exposed Spaces] Program divided between outside and inside. WALLS OF DISCOURSE and LOGGIA remain outside, whie STATIONS OF DISCUSSION and THINKING PODS are placed inside, on central location exposed on atrium space.

space of discussion

thinking pods, third floor

stations of discussion, second floor

walls of discourse|loggia, ground floor

95


possible scheme 3: facade [Sheme: Facade] All programs attached and connected through facade. WALLS OF DISCOURSE and LOGGIA remain outside, whie STATIONS OF DISCUSSION and THINKING PODS are connect to the inside space of the store. thinking pods, third floor thinking pod

space of discussion stations of discussion, second floor

walls of discourse|loggia

112

walls of discourse|loggia, ground floor

96


final floor plans

I like these WALLS OF DISCOURSE

Stop sending me emails

ground floor

97


Google I am not a teenage girl just because I search justin beiber news daily

Google thinks that of me too. I will correct that at this STATION OF DISCUSSION

i agree with what you are writing

the LOGGIA is the new hang out

second floor

98


I’m glad we can talk about this in this THINKING POD by gathering your data we can better serve you.

third floor

99


components column and beam discretely connect inside of wall of discourse

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

1 2 3

4

5

100


Furniture faces WALLS OF DISCOURSE. Seating in the middle of LOGGIA can be moved to manipulate space according to user needs.

101


furniture breaks away, hidden wheels allow it to move. furniture form and operation is informed by human needs and WALLS OF DISCOURSE

102


STATIONS OF DISCUSSION have a number of movable stations which can accomodate different formations of people.

103


larger monitors run on rail cellphone and tablet beds USB and charging outlets

104


I’m glad we can talk about this in this THINKING POD by gathering your data we can better serve you.

THINKING PODS employ one monitor to be shared by a low group of people in an intemate or professional setting

105


a day on the free market

You notice the project from accross the street.

You see people writing on the WALLS OF DISCOURSE.

You say: “Let’s check it out!” and go up the stairs.

At the LOGGIA, people are writing, reading, discussing.

You vistit the STATIONS OF DISCUSSION, and then

the THINKING PODS, everywhere people interacting!

106


alternative interventions: hollister

ground floor

107


second floor

108


alternative interventions: h stern

ground floor

109


alternative interventions

second floor

110


111

h&m transverse section


nightime view

view down avenue

112


free market h&m

113

free market hollister


acknowledgements Norma Villalongo Jerry Rivas Rafael Marcial United Colors of Slocum Lou Kearns Manuel Rios Bhumi Patel Lionel Camacho Stephen Tortorella Andrea Novazzi Zinou Wang Stephen Muir Mariel PĂŠrez Adriana Ostolaza Patricia Olivera Cristina Abondano Stephanie Tager Ismael Segarra Everyone in the Computer Lab Dark Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans Thank You

114


online Apple (http://www.apple.com/privacy/). Ashley Lutz, “The Most Expensive Shopping Streets in the World” (Nov 14,2012; http://www.businessinsider.com/the-most-expensiveshopping-streets-2012-11?op=1) BBC, “Egypt Unrest”, Feb 11, 2012 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-12434787). Manipulated by author. Claudia Daut, “Willing to Die for Change”, Nov 17, 2011 (http://blogs.reuters.com/photographers-blog/2011/11/17/willing-to-die-forchange/) Darryl Chen and Elen Pascolo“Too Much of a Good Thing” Tommorrows Thoughts Today; (http://www.tomorrowsthoughtstoday.com/) “Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest: The Users of Social Media” from all twitter, the unoficial twitter resource (http://www.mediabistro.com/alltwitter/social-media-users_b22556) Frederik Balfour, “Occupy Central Hong Kong Protesters Enter Their Second Day”, Oct 16, 2011; (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-16/occupy-central-hong-kong-protesters-enter-their-second-day.html) Henrietta Williams, “Ring of Steel: Entering the Panopticon” August 22, 2010 (http://henriwilliams.blogspot.com/2010/08/enteringpanopticon-study-of-ring-of.html) Garry Bligh, Sheila Pulham and Paul Torpey “The Path of Protest-Arab Spring: an interacive timeline of Middle East protests Jan 5, 2012 (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2011/mar/22/middle-east-protest-interactive-timeline?fb=native) Gemma Fox, “Occupy Edinburgh - peaceful protest in St Andrew's Square”, Oct 23, 2011; (http://digitaljournal.com/article/313251) “How Many Social Networking Websites Are There?”(http://howmanyarethere.net/how-many-social-networking-websites-are-there/). IDEO, Next Door for State Farm Insurance, (http://www.ideo.com/work/next-door/)

where is all this information coming from? 115


International Telecommunication Unition http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/statistics/at_glance/KeyTelecom.html Jack Ewing, “Occupy’s Frankfurt Camp Is Closed as Health Hazard”, Aug 6, 2012; (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/07/world/europe/ frankfurt-occupy-camp-cleared-on-health-concerns.html?_r=0) Jane Wakefield “Watching Your Every Move”(BBC News Online, Feb 7, 2002; http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/1789157.stm) Kelsey Freeman, “Lessons from Hampshire College” http://www.driftingfocus.com/blogs/?p=8157 Jayme Poisson, “Occupy Toronto protesters settle in at St. James Park”, Oct 16, 2011; (http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1070694 --occupy-toronto-protesters-settle-in-at-st-james-park) Jonathan Massey and Brett Snyder, “Mappig Liberty Plaza”, The Design Observer Group, Sep 17, 2012 (http://places.designobserver.com/ feature/mapping-liberty-plaza-zuccotti-park/35948/)` Occupy Together (http://www.occupytogether.org/) Ole Bouman, “What Do You Want: Some Hope or Just Difference?, 109 Provisional Attempts to Address Six Simple and Hard Questions About What Architects Do Today and Where Their Profession Might Go”, Edited by Jennifer Sigler and Roemer Van Toorn (Educational Studies Pr, 2003). Pasquino: Talking Statue of Rome. http://www.italyguides.it/us/roma/rome/myths-and-legends/talking-statue-of-rome/ pasquino.htm] Pinal Dave “What is Big Data--An Explanation in Simple Words” SQL Server Feb 14 2012 (http://blog.sqlauthority.com/author/pinaldave/ page/3/) Pingdom, “How Google collects data about you and the Internet”, Jan 8, 2010; (http://royal.pingdom.com/2010/01/08/how-googlecollects-data-about-you-and-the-internet/) Simon Rogers, “The Occupy Map of the World”, Sep 17, 2012; (http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/interactive/2012/sep/17/ occupy-map-of-the-world) The Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression (http://www.tjcenter.org/monument/) Vincent Trivett, “25 US Mega Corporations: Where They Rank If They Were Countries”(Business Insider, Jun 27, 2011; http://www. businessinsider.com/25-corporations-bigger-tan-countries-2011-6?op=1)

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print Amanda Reeser Lawrence and Ashley Schafer“Re:Programming”, Praxis Journal of Writing+Building Issue 8 Brandon Griggs, “Apple now has more cash than the U.S. government”, (CNN, Jun 19, 2011). Chuihua Judy Chung, Jefferey Inaba, Rem Koolhaas, Sze Tsung Leong, “The Harvard Design School Guide to Shopping”(Taschen, Koln 2001). Colin Rowe; Robert Slutzky, “Transparency, Literal and Phenomenal” Perspecta, Vol. 8. (Yale University 1963), Dana Cuff, Immanent Domain: Pervasive Computing and the Public Realm, Reader OP ARC Vision+Visuality in Architecture, Edited by Jon Yoder (Syracuse, Blue Print). Felicity D. Scott “Involuntary Prisoners of Architecture”(October Magazine, Ltd. and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.)75-101. Gabriele Piccoli, “Essentials of Information Systems for Managers”, (John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2012), 17. Hilde Heynen, “The Antinomies of Utopia. Superstudio in Context”, in “Superstudio-The Middelburg Lectures”, Edited by Valentijn Bycanck, (Amsterdam: De Vleeshal+Zeeuws Museum, 2005) 74. Jeffrey Rosen, “A Watchful State”, (New York Times, October 7, 2001) Martin van Schaik and Otakar Macel “Exit Utopia: Architectural Provocations 1956-76”(Prestel Publishing, 2005). Michael Foucault, “Discipline & Punish, the Birth of the Prison” (Pantheon Books 1978) Natasha Singer, “You for Sale: Mapping and Sharing, the Consumer Genome”, (New York Times, Jun 16, 2012). Neil Spiller, “Visionary Architecture”(Thames & Hudson, New York 2006) Sarah Whiting, “Welcome to the Banquet (or How to Increase the Relatifve Happiness of the M. Arch. Thesis Student), Dialogue Eleven Selected Essays by Robert Gutman, Edited by Dana Cuff and John Wriedt (Princeton Architectural Press 2010)

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film 1984, Directed by Michael Radford, 1984 Blade Runner, Directed by Ridley Scott, 1982 Documental Acampada Sol 15M#acampadasol, 2011 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyGE4HCTI6c) Metropolis, Directed by Fritz Lang, 1927 Minority Report, Directed by Steven Spielberg, 2002 Productive Dystopia, a video by Tommorrows Thoughts Today (“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD0wyaWCHk0”)

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As invasive technologies become increasingly pervasive retail corporations employ these to gather personal information from their customers. The year is 2084. The city has become sentient; retail corporations’ invasive technologies have moved the tracking from the online to the offline realm following people through physical space; now being able to detect people’s information and communicate with them as they pass by a store catering to what the technology believes people want. As a result customers have become extremely suspicious of walking near space that employ these methods. Architecture can respond to the public’s concern of the sentient by creating various types of spaces of dialogue at different scales to address each others’ needs and opinions. How can spaces of connection create a conciliatory architecture to ease the uneasiness brought upon the sentient city? By designing small scale prototypical formal scenarios to occupy retail spaces in streetscapes creating private/public interaction, by exchanging amenities and values, advertising spaces for square footage.


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