2: Reading Reflection

Martin Fackler's article on Tsunami Warnings, Written in Stone poses the interesting idea of 'future warnings' - using architecture or infrastructure to advice future generations. By leaving some of the destroyed architectural monuments in the tsunami-stricken areas, their 'carcasses' can form a warning to future generations that such a horrific event has occurred and to be mindful of future events.

http://versoilsogno.blogspot.com.au/2011_02_01_archive.html

Fackler gives the example of the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima, a harrowing image I have seen, and one which truly does speak of the horrors that occurred there during World War Two. This is an interesting interpretation of architecture's purpose and gives another layering to the concept of life-cycle design. Something to think about in how our architectural proposals may influence future generations, as well as attempting to 'solve' their future's issues.


I'm not sure if Jim Motavalli's A History of Greenwashing: How Dirty Towels Impacted the Green Movement was meant to act as a detterant or inspiration for our current project; on one hand you have the strong message that you can't just stick a bandaid over the earth, and have everything work out. There is no quick superficial fix (like washing fewer towels), but rather a shift in lifestyle and attitudes to truly become 'green', a message that is definately important when considering how to solve future issues. However, there is also the underlying inspiration that, with such superficial changes you can change people's perceptions - by using recycled materials, or applying the simplist 'sustainable' actions, consumers and the general public are appeased and are 'fooled' into thinking they are being 'green', at least on a superficial level. Maybe in addressing future issues, it may be a case of 'rebranding' rather than actually 'solving' the problem. Or is that just a cop out?

Hugh Barton's Urban Form and Locality outlines some strong ideas as to how cities and neighbourhoods should be shaped. Barton's exploration into the notion of Urban Density, and that higher concentrations can be more sustainable due to their reduced materials usage and physical footprint, reminded me of Irina Vinnitskaya's article The Limits of Density. In this article, Vinnitskaya agrees with Barton's statement that mixed-use neighbourhoods are what drives a successful district. Barton commends mixed-use due to its ability to reduce transportation in providing "multi-purpose journeys", where people travel to one area and walk around it (like to shopping districts, etc). However Vinnitskaya, referencing Richard Florida, states that mixed-use developments provides the "man power and diversity that inspires innovation and creative force in the industry." Florida and Vinnitskaya also warn though that we should not be then drawn to higher densities in "vertical suburbs", as "the spontaneous interactopms that occur along a busy street" are destroyed through the isolated functions produced in taller buildings.

At the larger city scale, Barton's analysis of a city structure got me thinking about Brisbane, and how (in keeping with the Urban theme), a congestion charge could impact our city's structure. In reading The ABCD of Facilities Locality, I realised that although Brisbane's city centre is compliant with the guide's accessibility requirements, in that Queen Street Mall is 400m from Central Station, but it does not provide fast and regular services. It also neglects to provided "easy, safe and convenient movement by foot and bike", but which would change dramatically should cars be removed from the CBD.

In eliminated cars from the CBD, Brisbane would need to focus more on alternative transport, and again Barton provides a strong answer through ring roads; in creating a surrounded transport 'ring', access into the outlying areas of the city is easy, requiring commuters to use light tram ways, walking or cycling within the CBD, which would reduce emissions and congestion. It may even result in a healthier population!