Gornja Siga has come, over the last few months, to assume an outsize role in the imagination of many — not only in Europe, but also in the Middle East and in the United States...What novel society might be accomplished in a place like this, with no national claim or tenant? Such were the thoughts that had for some time inflamed the spirit of Vit Jedlicka, a 31-year-old Czech politician who traveled to the land earlier this year and, in broad daylight, planted a new flag in its unstable soil. — NY Times
The New York Times has posted a riveting portrait of the ongoing movement to establish a libertarian micro state in the borderlands of Serbia and Croatia. While unmentioned in the article, there's already fascinating connections between the potential state and the world of architecture.
Last month, the self-described libertarian and Director of Zaha Hadid Architects, Patrik Schumacher posted on Facebook, "LIVE AND LET LIVE IN LIBERLAND !!! Lets support Vit Jedlicka's effort to establish the first libertarian country in Europe."
Schumacher visited Jedlicka at the "Czech embassy of Liberland" – aka his apartment in Prague – to talk about "entrepreneurship, markets, free money and about the possibility of a free market urban and architectural order."
In the posting, Schumacher admits he is "itching to get involved" in the project. Schumacher is a well-known proponent of free market principles, often discussing libertarianism in conjunction with his own theories regarding architecture's autopoiesis.
Describing Liberland as a "fascinating urban design problem," Schumacher notes, "Any planning framework must be super light touch and malleable, adaptive to the unpredictable creative initiatives of entrepreneurs."
"This poses the problem how to create a legible and recognisable urban identity via multiple authors without top down planning force," he continues.
"This can only be delivered by a bottom up convergence towards a heuristics of seeking continuities and resonances within the discourse and community of designers."
For a related conversation, check out our conversation with Patrik Schumacher about celebrity and architectural discourse on Episode 33 of Archinect Sessions.
30 Comments
looking at the last couple pictures, i can't help but think 'there is a man who thought the photo-op would only be above the waste.'
This is interesting.
Liberland = USA 2.0................ Schumacher = LeCorbusier 2.0...................so lets get this straight no government or entity that can be bought? a government model based on disruptive business like AirBnB and Uber. Does the mafia even have a chance here? this is equally as radical as a French style "commune", just the opposite of course.
I guess in Liberland one doesn't have to wear pants. Freedom?
Donna that is the essential definition of freedom - No Pants, No Shirts, Yes Service.
based on the whole color code app thingy mentioned in the NY Times piece, this beer has the logo for the official beer of Liberland
Give me liberty, or give me pants.
Their ripe for conquering, hold on, let me get out my Risk board.
#liberlanduberalles
oh this is a joke and mockery over nationality issues coming from the Balkans, this is funny..................oddly enough Beta it is a Cannon card on the Risk game, something to so with Bitcoin purchased Blackwater operatives as national police............for the Olympic team they learned from Qatar and allowed a bunch of Romanian gymnists to gain citizenship,Jamaican track athletes, Bulgarian and Hungarian weight lifters, and of course the horse team is made up of Swedes.
Powerless Shoemuncher doing politics. Oops.
wat this is some tax haven for criminals and/or stateless corporations to enrich the founder and hide the cash money of the fine upstanding citizens of this country, none of whom actually live there. sure, shoemaakar is involved of course.
If Liberland succeeds in establishing itself - and this depends primarily on being recognized by its neighbors Croatia and Serbia - it will (like bitcoin) surely become a pole of attraction first for the world's libertarian enthusiasts, and secondly for the world's most creative and experimental entrepreneurs who want to try their business ideas here where there are no restrictions on exchanges, contracts and associations between consenting adults whatsoever!
you mean it will be the next silk road, like the one set up by the dread pirate roberts (that's not his real name; they found someone to put in jail)?
as long as wealthy baby boomers who smoked pot, participated in multiple orgies,dropped acid,were Black Sabbath groupies and then became ruthless CEO execs cashing out on failure,making millions,and inventing retirement plans, as long as these failed billionaire old farts do NOT get involved....go liberland.
Patrik thinks he is John Galt.
ayn rand is the only thing i hate more than pants.
did ayn rand wear pants?
I knew John Galt, John Galt was a friend of mine, Patrik is no John Galt.
Can't wait for Syrian refugees to overpopulate this BoHo playground
ivory, Liberland needs a working class, so why not absorb the refugees conditionally to build the country and its infrastructure, but also make it very hard if not impossible for any of them to naturalize.
Ethical egotism, LOL. Patrik has found his muse.
hahahaha
design competition
Is the powerless apolitical Shoemuncher now an anarcho-capitalist or is he just sucking up to the dough?
Arschloch.
Miles you mike like this jam
Die Ärtzte arschloch
Look like anyone?
Schumacher has more of a Kraftwerk thing going on.
i'd like to hear more about what patrik thinks this means
no restrictions on exchanges, contracts and associations
if i want to buy a loaf of bread and some milk, i already have a convenient marketplace and currency to do that. there are even government regulations in place to make sure the bread and milk i buy are safe.
there are other things where it would currently be difficult for me to execute a contract or exchange for, such as if i wanted to purchase drugs, banned assault weapons, nuclear weapons, or slaves/prostitutes/child prostitutes. if the intent is to open a market where i am allowed to purchase such things, then i think it would be difficult to gain international recognition. there is a reason most countries have laws against drugs, certain weapons, and human trafficking, and all of those countries would likely work together to prevent liberland from becoming a haven for such activities.
if there is a libertarian benefit to what you're proposing other than drugs, weapons, and human trafficking, i'd be curious as to what benefit you see?
Your bread and milk is not safe...
And nothing is absolute. If you live in the US, you live in a hybrid sysytem. Libertarianism is a part of that system. If you support gay marriage, legalization of marijuana, etc...then you support libertarian positions. I hate this absolutist viewpoint that has dominated politics. All political systems in their absolute form are a disaster.
lol. my bread and milk is safe. iv'e made it this far, and i intend to survive for a few more years on the bread and milk available to me.
of course i don't ever really drink milk, and make my own bread (from corrupt tainted large corporation flour). i wonder if liberland will have better flour?
i wasn't really talking about some philosophical libertarian position, but what the actual intent for policy would be in patrik's vision of liberland.
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