Architecture as Visual Device -> Cologne cathedral to switch off lights

2015-01-03T22:18:00-05:00

By switching off the floodlighting we want to make those on the march stop and think. It is a challenge: consider who you are marching alongside.

Cologne cathedral to switch off lights in protest at anti-Muslim march.

Two strong reads are possible, one with the actual intent of the official response to racist march to show church's disapproval, the other is more involuntary, perhaps recalling the core of the situation as the idea of crusades are reflamed across Europe in recent times. Perhaps it will never be possible to take marchers' cross away.

A quote from

" Most Pegida followers insist they are not Nazis but patriots who worry about the “watering down” of their Christian-rooted culture and traditions. They often accuse mainstream political parties of betraying them and the media of lying."

Given the 'scale' of the gesture though, I need to conclude this news bit by saying architecture is a powerful medium for public to read messages and the off switch is always there to say yea or nay.

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Architecture as Visual Device -> Cologne cathedral to switch off lights