Chipperfield lamented how architects have resorted to designing bars, cafes, restaurants, and interiors and criticized the propagation of the discipline as fodder for the “lifestyle pages” in popular media. To him, the role of architecture and design is diminishing into nothing more than an “anesthetic” and a “palliative” in a larger economic crisis, rather than stepping up as a means to address serious socioeconomic problems: “I feel more and more impotent in really doing things..." — blogs.artinfo.com
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this graph from Kelly Chan's piece stood out to me "Interestingly, Chipperfield’s concerns echo those of Biennale-basher Wolf Prix, whose wordy press release on the Chipperfield-curated Biennale likewise rued the impotence of contemporary architectural practice. But unlike Prix, Chipperfield points a finger at politicians instead of accusing the insular circle of practicing architects."
Just recently Chipperfield countered Prix's earlier criticism...
wasn't chipperfield just showcased in a lifestyle page?
also - we're still being punished for the horrible things we did to cities in the 50s and 60s...
Yeah, socioeconomic problems are worth solving, but I think architecture's role is still in creating well-made, authentic buildings (or designs)... for everybody. That's how it has always been.
In a side note, I just read that the MoMA's attendance has doubled from 1.5 million annually to 3 million, since the beautiful Taniguchi renovation in 2004. So, when a building is improved architecturally, people want to be there.. interesting. Of course this applies to the MoMA, a housing development, and your local grocery store.
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