THE FABRICOF GREAT PLACES

IN PRAISE OF GREAT ‘BACKGROUND’ BUILDINGS

Scan the pages of most architecture magazines or follow news coverage of important new buildings, and you’ll notice the focus is often on the most iconic and “heroic” architecture. It makes sense that mega projects and those with great civic and cultural significance get attention. Typically designed by the most notable names in architecture, these projects can help put a neighborhood, a city, or even an entire country on the map. Think about how the Sydney Opera House changed perceptions of Australia, or how The Guggenheim Museum introduced the world to Bilbao, Spain.

Yes, heroic, big-budget projects may serve as high-profile landmarks and places of public gathering. But hero worship has always been a distorted lens through which to look at architecture and the profession as a whole. Seattle is known for the Space Needle and New York for the Empire State Building, but we know both cities are much, much more than that. Indeed, judging the quality of a city by its skyscraper, cathedral, castle, or museum is like judging a person by their hairstyle or wardrobe.

Our day-to-day experience of a place is profoundly shaped not by its famous monumental architecture, but by its urban fabric: the colorful tapestry of hundreds of smaller—often more unassuming—yet equally beautiful buildings that make up the totality of the community. What is the housing stock like? What does the typical building on Main Street look like? How do everyday civic and cultural institutions get expressed architecturally? What is the quality of the streetscape and its urban design? What materials, textures, colors, and shapes comprise the buildings, parks, and public squares?

Imagine yourself for a moment in one of your favorite cities or towns. I’m willing to bet your memories conjure feelings of cultural richness and human connection. These feelings are the hallmarks of a great urban experience; they reflect a place’s unique identity and zietgiest. By the way, I’m also willing to bet your favorite places aren’t your favorite just because of their architectural icons. For me, Barcelona is not just the Sagrada Familia; it’s also Los Ramblas and all of its colorful details, both large and small, grand and subtle, precious and imperfect. The most wonderful places in the world are those whose urban fabric elevates them from standard to sublime.