Reflections on WK 2 Lecture

I had no idea that I would feel so inspired about Architectural Fiction as I do after seeing the Wk 2 lecture.  Based on Future visions and scenarios it definitely lived up to its title.  The initial 1927 Metropolis clip by Fritz Lang dared to dream of an extreme futurist city, which no doubt at this era would have greatly dazzled the imagination of all.

However, it was the clip called Robots of Brixton by Factory Fifteen that took my breathe away.  This movie successfully designed a futuristic context where robots co-existed with humans and as such, adapted human like behaviour and problems. The lead up to this event depicts humans creating robots to fulfil menial tasks that humans no longer wanted to do. However, with the increase of the robot population the robots themselves were struggling to find work. History repeats on itself and shows that even with technology advancements, the population – whether human or robot, experience the same problems. As such, the movie mimics the events of the 1981 Brixton riots (Guardian News and Media Limited 2012). The animation and rendering in this movie are truly superb and enables the viewer to vividly enter the world of the Robots of Brixton.  The movie cleaver plays out the daily life of a robot, shows the streets they inhabit, built-forms they use and they emotions they evoke.  Also, the way the movie unfolds discretely shows the Architectural context into which this ‘alternate’ city exists. Perhaps this movie also tries to tell us that technology itself is not the answer to everything.  Perhaps as a species we are not learning from our mistakes and as such, are destined to repeat history?  Therefore, it does not matter what technology we have or how we implement it, if we don’t learn from our mistakes, we will never truly move forward.  In addition, how can we as future Architects, adequately design for the future when we can never be quite sure what the ripple effects can be? In this sense, perhaps advanced technology could actually create a more damaging risk?

 

I found this clip very inspiring and although an architectural entity was not the main point in its fictitious story, I admire the approach they took in developing a story from a context.  In relation on my upcoming assignment we need to think about a story and then think about what would become a good building in the context of the specific site.

The ‘What If’ Scenarios….

Four different sites with four different scenarios were discussed during the lecture and will be discussed in the form of charettes during studio time.

·         CBD / Urban – consider a congestion charge. How would this effect the built-environment?

·         PADDINTON CENTRAL / Suburban – what would happen if shopping wen digital and retail stores stopped selling good but stayed open to provided customers the opportunity to view/ try goods?

·         WOODFORD / Regional – what if the Woodford Folk Festival became a self-sufficient community?

·         Virtual – What if the QLD Gov. strategy was to resolve Urban, Suburban and Regional Issues Virtually?

 

Future Scenarios - A good place to start…..

·         Research the Statistics of the site’s suburb.

·         Research new Technology. See what is already available or what is almost available. New inventions actually have a dramatic cause and effect on the built environment.