Failed Architecture

In this first installment of a two-part episode, FA editors Michael Nicholas, Kevin Rogan and Joshua McWhirter discuss the weird world of traditional architecture revivalism, or ‘trad architecture’ for short. Starting with a critique of pop philosopher Alain de Botton’s recent article ‘Why is the Modern World so Ugly?’, the three editors examine the surface-level aesthetic fixations and flattened historical perceptions of the trad architecture movement — so often a cipher for the exaltation of ‘Western’ culture, even as it makes claims to an apolitical stance.

FA editor Joshua McWhirter speaks to Jilly Traganou, editor of the recently published book ‘Design and Political Dissent: Spaces, Visuals, Materialities’. Near the end of a year filled with mass protests on streets across the United States and the world, Jilly talks about some of the book’s themes and their significance during a moment when many architects are thinking about how to leverage their skills in the service of social justice movements.

In the 12th Breezeblock episode, FA editors Charlie Clemoes and René Boer discuss the future of De Wallen (aka Amsterdam’s Red Light District), which is under increasing threat from the so-called “smooth city”: the safe, clean, well-functioning and homogenous urban environment that has been taking over cities around the world in the past few decades.

In the episode, they talk about the ways in which the municipality, developers and various old white dudes are conspiring to frame the neighbourhood as an “urban jungle” and pushing to replace it with a “monumental garden”. Against these moves, René has written a counter-manifesto, “Wallen 2020”, which is intended to galvanise resistance to the neighbourhood’s creeping sanitisation.

In the 12th Breezeblock episode, FA editors Charlie Clemoes and René Boer discuss the future of De Wallen (aka Amsterdam’s Red Light District), which is under increasing threat from the so-called “smooth city”: the safe, clean, well-functioning and homogenous urban environment that has been taking over cities around the world in the past few decades.

In the episode, they talk about the ways in which the municipality, developers and various old white dudes are conspiring to frame the neighbourhood as an “urban jungle” and pushing to replace it with a “monumental garden”. Against these moves, René has written a counter-manifesto, “Wallen 2020”, which is intended to galvanise resistance to the neighbourhood’s creeping sanitisation.

For #Breezeblock 11, FA editors Chiara Dorbolò and María Mazzanti discuss Failed Architecture special series A City of Our Own: Urbanism for the 99%.

Breezeblock #10 acknowledges that land reparations have remained largely unaddressed by the architecture profession, despite the glaring adjacency of building, landscape, and planning to land and the colonial concept of property. What do land reparations really mean for the many communities who have been harmed in different ways by white supremacy?

Having connected through recent movements on work seed distribution and community gardens in the midst of the BLM protests, kuwa jasiri and FA’s Christin HU share recent personal experiences and current work, as well as thoughts on the unanimous city council vote in Asheville, North Carolina (US).

Breezeblock #9 departs from the fact that in the early days of the protests following the death of George Floyd the Philadelphia Inquirer published a cover story written by Inga Saffron whose headline made the infamous claim that “Buildings Matter, Too”. Responding to the article, our editors Bassem Saad and Kevin Rogan discuss the value of looting and destruction of private property, with special reference to recent uprisings in the US and Lebanon.

Breezeblock #9 departs from the fact that in the early days of the protests following the death of George Floyd the Philadelphia Inquirer published a cover story written by Inga Saffron whose headline made the infamous claim that “Buildings Matter, Too”. Responding to the article, our editors Bassem Saad and Kevin Rogan discuss the value of looting and destruction of private property, with special reference to recent uprisings in the US and Lebanon.

For Breezeblock #8, FA editor María Mazzanti spoke with Arielle Assouline-Lichten about the invisibility of women architects, Denise Scott Brown and the Pritzker Prize, and Wikipedia editing activism.