Reflection
What is public life? A first glance public life can be the space or areas where people share their lives weather it be them broadcasting their interests or a space that brings people together. I think public life is much more than what we share with other people in societies and communities, it’s also something that brings society together. However through completing research, looking at artists and designers and putting together this blog I have discovered that there are many types of public life that explore well beyond the private, domestic domains of lives, and everyone has their own ideas and opinions on what public life should be and how it should function. For Thomas More the ideal and imaginary nation of utopia is his perfect world and More used his complete societies and perfect cities as a means of discussing contended issues with the society he lived in. More’s Utopia contrasts the disagreeable social life of Eastern Europe with the perfectly ordered and respected social arrangements of Utopia and this shows how he felt society and communities should be run. However others feel that the actual designs of the city have a major impact on how public life behaves and functions such as Colin Rowe who through his book College city, depicts a critical investigation in to the sources and cultural beliefs of modern city planning, as well as believing ‘Urban design must be considered through fragmentation’ to produce a working network of small utopias.
Social relationships affect the design of public spaces and how societies are built and how we classify ourselves into groups affects the layout and designs of buildings and communities. Rem Koolhaas expresses his ideas on this with his essay ‘junkspace’. Koolhaas is stating that much of the 20th centaury architecture can be seen as throw-away architecture, “according to new gospel of ugliness, there is already more junkspace under construction in the twenty first centaury than has survived from the twentieth…” buildings that are not meant to last, unlike the “pyramids” that have lasted for thousands of years, telling us that this is a quality that exists not only in designed architecture but undersigned as well and in society we mindlessly overlook theses actions. I think that he is also saying that as social relationships are changing so frequently in theses modern times we do not design our architecture to last either. According to Koolhaas we make ‘junkspace’ and is in some way implying that the significance of these places is not apparent to the designer or maker, as designers we should become more aware of this and start to create longer lasting buildings. Also the areas in which people gather in influences the ways in which buildings are designed such as Many cities, especially New York, are crowded with large companies and businesses forcing people to interact with their digital media, advertising their new products and services. With each advertisement blasting out bright colours and non-static images, this virtual space for media is rapidly developing in these areas of mass participation.
Over time we have adapted and transformed our understanding and use of these spaces and our ideal cities as relationships have changed. Through the book ‘Urban utopias in the 20th century’ Robert Fishman depicts the tale of three men’s ambitions for their ideal cities. Each ‘hated the cities of their time with an overwhelming passion. The metropolis was the counter-image of their ideal cities, the hell that inspired their heavens.’ Neither of the perfect described cities spoken about by Ebenezer Howard, Frank Lloyd Wright and Le Corbusier are alike as each man is talking about his own illogical illusion and each man has his own relationships that influence and drive his ideas. The group Archizoom developed the project ‘No-stop City’ which is a project composed of a city where each person is able to design his or her own housing space and areas freely and creatively. It is said to be a ‘critical utopia’ and example of ‘global urbanization’ and the project shows the city becoming domestic furniture such an arrangement of beds, tables and chairs. This project is clearly influenced and inspired through each persons own individual relationships and experiences and over time these idea will change as their relationships develop and change. Thomas More’s idea in his Utopian society also describes new ways in which communities should be more aware to nature surrounding. With the widening gap between the modern Western ways of living that destroys nature utopian society tells us to look at more traditional ways of living and to have more respect and be at harmony with nature. Mores ideas about society changed over time and this was stated as his ultimate battle, choosing between being a servant to the king and court and his beliefs and position as a humanist.
Through completing this blog and researching and reading articles and books on public and private spaces I have a much more thorough understanding of these places. I am also more aware of other artists and designers thoughts and ideas on public space and how theses ideas and beliefs have changed over time and through relationships and experiences people have had as well as being more conscious of the influences that we are bombarded with everyday in virtual space for digital media advertisement.
Immersive Nature of the Modern City
Times Square in New York is scarcely empty of it’s inhabitants and is a prime tourist attraction whatever the time of day or night, and therefore is an ideal space for advertisement. Many cities, especially New York, are crowded with large companies and businesses forcing people to interact with their digital media, advertising their new products and services. With each advertisement blasting out bright colours and non-static images, this virtual space for media is rapidly developing in these areas of mass participation. However there is an ever-growing demand for these virtual spaces as people’s need for materialistic objects increases with these loud, over powering spaces becoming popular and almost taking over the city.
Leisure time for me a time I can spend clearing my mind and relaxing. For many people it is going out with friends, shopping, visiting galleries or just chilling out. My favorite place to spend my leisure time is in Swinley Forest a public place where I horse ride. It’s so peaceful and a large open space where I feel completely free and I can relax not having to think about anything and just take in the beautiful scenery.
Urban Utopias in the twentieth century, 1982, Robert Fishman
‘Urban utopias in the 20th century’ depicts the tale of three men’s ambitions for their ideal cities. Each ‘hated the cities of their time with an overwhelming passion. The metropolis was the counter-image of their ideal cities, the hell that inspired their heavens.’ Neither of the perfect described cities spoken about by Ebenezer Howard, Frank Lloyd Wright and Le Corbusier are alike as each man is talking about his own illogical illusion. Fisherman gives a clear and concise portrayal their visions with ‘intelligence and sympathy ‘ talking about Howards ‘Garden city’, wright’s ‘Broadacre City’ and Corbusier ‘Ville Radieuse’.
Fishman, Robert (1982) Urban utopias in the twentieth century : Ebenezer Howard, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Le Corbusier. MIT Press