perspecta 34

4
 The MIT Press and Yale University, School of Architecture are collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Perspecta. http://www.jstor.org Yale University School of Architecture Introduction Source: Perspecta, Vol. 34 (2003), pp. 5-6+8 Published by: on behalf of Perspecta. The MIT Press Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1567309 Accessed: 14-07-2015 23:54 UTC Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at http://www.jstor.org/page/  info/about/policies/terms.jsp JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. This content downloaded from 82.6.232.23 on Tue, 14 Jul 2015 23:54:13 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

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Page 1: Perspecta 34

7/23/2019 Perspecta 34

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/perspecta-34 1/4

 The MIT Press and Yale University, School of Architecture are collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend

access to Perspecta.

http://www.jstor.org

Yale University School of Architecture

IntroductionSource: Perspecta, Vol. 34 (2003), pp. 5-6+8Published by: on behalf of Perspecta.The MIT PressStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1567309Accessed: 14-07-2015 23:54 UTC

Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at http://www.jstor.org/page/  info/about/policies/terms.jsp

JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of contentin a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship.For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected].

This content downloaded from 82.6.232.23 on Tue, 14 Jul 2015 23:54:13 UTC

Page 2: Perspecta 34

7/23/2019 Perspecta 34

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/perspecta-34 2/4

Abebe

On

January

15, 1995,

the

Great

Hanshin-Awaji

earthquake

devastated

Kobe,

Japan.

The

homes,

businesses,

and

Catholic

church

of

the Takatori

Station

neighborhood

were

destroyed

in

the

resulting

fires. In one of

many

volunteer

efforts to

help

the

area

recover,

Tokyo

architect

Shigeru

Ban

designed

a

temporary

church for the

community.

The church

combines structural

paper

tubes,

aluminum sash

doors,

corrugated

fiberglass

walls,

and

a Teflon-coated

nylon

tent.

The crisis of the

earthquake

and

the need for an

immediate

central

location for

gathering

and

distributing

information

created a

programmatic

hierarchy

unlike that of

conventional

building.

The

precedence

of

immediacy

and

the

assumption

of a short life

span

allowed Ban

to

bypass

typical limiting

conditions of

architectural

production.

On

January

15, 1995,

the

Great

Hanshin-Awaji

earthquake

devastated

Kobe,

Japan.

The

homes,

businesses,

and

Catholic

church

of

the Takatori

Station

neighborhood

were

destroyed

in

the

resulting

fires. In one of

many

volunteer

efforts to

help

the

area

recover,

Tokyo

architect

Shigeru

Ban

designed

a

temporary

church for the

community.

The church

combines structural

paper

tubes,

aluminum sash

doors,

corrugated

fiberglass

walls,

and

a Teflon-coated

nylon

tent.

The crisis of the

earthquake

and

the need for an

immediate

central

location for

gathering

and

distributing

information

created a

programmatic

hierarchy

unlike that of

conventional

building.

The

precedence

of

immediacy

and

the

assumption

of a short life

span

allowed Ban

to

bypass

typical limiting

conditions of

architectural

production.

Designed

and built in

four

months,

the

temporary

structure is

still in

active use

eight years

later.

The

figures

of architecture

and urbanism

and the

surrounding landscapes

from which

they

are

constituted are

constantly

in

flux;

they

are

temporary. Perspecta

34

focuses

on

the

dynamic

relations of

people

and

economies-

transient bodies

(populations

crossing borders),

unstable

power

structures

(the

confluence of ethnic

violence and

uncertain forms of

tenure

in

cities),

fleeting

desires

(the

afternoon stock

trade)-that

characterize

the

contemporary

condition. The

essays

in

Perspecta

34

explore

emerging

conceptions

of

the

city

and

practices

of architecture

that are

born

from

conditions

of

growth,

movement,

and

change.

The

Designed

and built in

four

months,

the

temporary

structure is

still in

active use

eight years

later.

The

figures

of architecture

and urbanism

and the

surrounding landscapes

from which

they

are

constituted are

constantly

in

flux;

they

are

temporary. Perspecta

34

focuses

on

the

dynamic

relations of

people

and

economies-

transient bodies

(populations

crossing borders),

unstable

power

structures

(the

confluence of ethnic

violence and

uncertain forms of

tenure

in

cities),

fleeting

desires

(the

afternoon stock

trade)-that

characterize

the

contemporary

condition. The

essays

in

Perspecta

34

explore

emerging

conceptions

of

the

city

and

practices

of architecture

that are

born

from

conditions

of

growth,

movement,

and

change.

The

continuedo

look outof his windowas soonas

he woke

up

and

irst

hing

whenhecame

home. f

only

he

hadnot decided o

turn

n his

icebox,

n duecoursehe would

havebeen

cured f this

habit,

but ..

Thenew

refrigerator,quipped

witha

freezing ompartment,asnormal nough,

and t came n a

corrugated

ardboardox.

Furthermore,

t

was

ust

the

right

ize.As soon

as thecontentswere

outand t was

empty,

A

began

o thinkof the

box man.Heheard he

whipping

ound

again.

He felt as

if

the

air-rifle

bullethad

ricochetedrom wo weeksbefore.

Awas

confused nd

decided t once o

dispose

of thebox. But nstead

e washedhis

hands,

blew his

nose,

andwith

greatdiligence,

gargled epeatedly.

he

rebounding

ullet

flying

about nsidehis cranium

ould

doubtless et his brain

unctions skew.After

observing

he

neighborhood

or a

while,

he

THE MIT PRESS

continuedo

look outof his windowas soonas

he woke

up

and

irst

hing

whenhecame

home. f

only

he

hadnot decided o

turn

n his

icebox,

n duecoursehe would

havebeen

cured f this

habit,

but ..

Thenew

refrigerator,quipped

witha

freezing ompartment,asnormal nough,

and t came n a

corrugated

ardboardox.

Furthermore,

t

was

ust

the

right

ize.As soon

as thecontentswere

outand t was

empty,

A

began

o thinkof the

box man.Heheard he

whipping

ound

again.

He felt as

if

the

air-rifle

bullethad

ricochetedrom wo weeksbefore.

Awas

confused nd

decided t once o

dispose

of thebox. But nstead

e washedhis

hands,

blew his

nose,

andwith

greatdiligence,

gargled epeatedly.

he

rebounding

ullet

flying

about nsidehis cranium

ould

doubtless et his brain

unctions skew.After

observing

he

neighborhood

or a

while,

he

THE MIT PRESS

drew he curtains ver

he windowsand

gingerly

rawled nto hebox.

Inside twas

dark,

nd herewas

the sweet

smellof

waterproof

aint.

The

place

seemed

very

homelike.A

recollectionwas on the

verge

of

dawning,

uthe couldnot

grasp

t. He

wanted ostay ike thisforever, ut n less than

a

minute e came

o his sensesandcrawled

out.

Feeling

a little

uneasy,

e decided o

keep

thebox fora while.

The

ollowingday,

whenhe

returnedrom

work,

Acutan

observation

indow n thebox

with

a

knife,

smilingbitterly,

nd hen

ried

putting

t onover

his head ikethe box

man.

Buthe took t off

immediately-hemight

well

smile

bitterly

He

didn'tunderstand

hatwas

happening.

e

viciously

and

resolutely

icked

the box intoa comerof

the

room,

butnot

hard

enough

o

destroy

t.

CAMBRIDGE,

MASSACHL

drew he curtains ver

he windowsand

gingerly

rawled nto hebox.

Inside twas

dark,

nd herewas

the sweet

smellof

waterproof

aint.

The

place

seemed

very

homelike.A

recollectionwas on the

verge

of

dawning,

uthe couldnot

grasp

t. He

wanted ostay ike thisforever, ut n less than

a

minute e came

o his sensesandcrawled

out.

Feeling

a little

uneasy,

e decided o

keep

thebox fora while.

The

ollowingday,

whenhe

returnedrom

work,

Acutan

observation

indow n thebox

with

a

knife,

smilingbitterly,

nd hen

ried

putting

t onover

his head ikethe box

man.

Buthe took t off

immediately-hemight

well

smile

bitterly

He

didn'tunderstand

hatwas

happening.

e

viciously

and

resolutely

icked

the box intoa comerof

the

room,

butnot

hard

enough

o

destroy

t.

CAMBRIDGE,

MASSACHL

On

he third

day

he

more

or

ess

regained

his

composure

nd ried

ooking

outof the

observation

indow.Hecouldn't

ecallwhat

had

surprised

im

so the

evening

before.He

could

definitely

eel a

change,

butsucha

degree

of

change

was desirable.

rom he

wholescene, hornselland hingsappeared

smooth ndround.

tainson thewallwith

whichhe

was

completely

amiliar nd

which

were

utterly

armlesso

him .. old

magazines

piled

helter-skelter.. a

little elevision et

withbent

antennae..

empty

ins of

corned

beef

beginning

o overflow

with

cigarette

utts

... he was

again

made

orcibly

ware f the

unconsciousension n

himself

by everything

being

so

unexpectedly

illedwith

horns.

Perhaps

e should

put

asidehis

useless

prejudice

bout

boxes.

Thenext

day

A

watched elevisionwith

the box over

his head.

JSETTS

LONDON,

ENGLAND

On

he third

day

he

more

or

ess

regained

his

composure

nd ried

ooking

outof the

observation

indow.Hecouldn't

ecallwhat

had

surprised

im

so the

evening

before.He

could

definitely

eel a

change,

butsucha

degree

of

change

was desirable.

rom he

wholescene, hornselland hingsappeared

smooth ndround.

tainson thewallwith

whichhe

was

completely

amiliar nd

which

were

utterly

armlesso

him .. old

magazines

piled

helter-skelter.. a

little elevision et

withbent

antennae..

empty

ins of

corned

beef

beginning

o overflow

with

cigarette

utts

... he was

again

made

orcibly

ware f the

unconsciousension n

himself

by everything

being

so

unexpectedly

illedwith

horns.

Perhaps

e should

put

asidehis

useless

prejudice

bout

boxes.

Thenext

day

A

watched elevisionwith

the box over

his head.

JSETTS

LONDON,

ENGLAND

5

ntroduction~~~~~troduction~~~~~

This content downloaded from 82.6.232.23 on Tue, 14 Jul 2015 23:54:13 UTCAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

Page 3: Perspecta 34

7/23/2019 Perspecta 34

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/perspecta-34 3/4

lens of the

temporary

often

reveals

patterns

of

operations

through

which architecture

might participate

in social and

cultural

change.

Makingtemporary

architecture is a historical

practice-

festivals

temporarily

redraw

the

space

and

politics

of

cities,

pilgrimages

demand accommodation for

people

crossing

political

borders-but

it is also a

particularly

modern one.

While

calling

for

an

architecture to

represent

a new

era,

the

project

of

modernity

reconstituted

our

understandings

of

history

and

of

the

present;

it

suddenly

seemed

possible

to

create a

utopian space.

For

many

architects and

planners

temporary objects

were the mechanism for this dream. In the

1960s

groups

like

Archigram

and

Utopie

created

a

climate

of

rebellion

using

temporary

architecture as a means of

questioning

the

politics

of

the

present.

In

the

spirit

of the

lens of the

temporary

often

reveals

patterns

of

operations

through

which architecture

might participate

in social and

cultural

change.

Makingtemporary

architecture is a historical

practice-

festivals

temporarily

redraw

the

space

and

politics

of

cities,

pilgrimages

demand accommodation for

people

crossing

political

borders-but

it is also a

particularly

modern one.

While

calling

for

an

architecture to

represent

a new

era,

the

project

of

modernity

reconstituted

our

understandings

of

history

and

of

the

present;

it

suddenly

seemed

possible

to

create a

utopian space.

For

many

architects and

planners

temporary objects

were the mechanism for this dream. In the

1960s

groups

like

Archigram

and

Utopie

created

a

climate

of

rebellion

using

temporary

architecture as a means of

questioning

the

politics

of

the

present.

In

the

spirit

of the

temporary,

architects

simultaneously

find new

buildable

forms and

places

for

envisioning

new

ideas about

architecture and

society.

The

processes

of

globalization

that

define the

contemporary

condition inform much of the content of this

journal. Analyses

of

these

processes

focus on moments of

crisis and war and

also

on the

effects of

globalization

on

the

city.

In

a crisis

temporary

projects, beyond

fulfilling

he need for

immediate

function,

cut

straight

to the

performative

aspects

of

architecture.

Essays

that

focus

on

temporary

architecture

and the

city

formulate models

for

understanding dynamic

urban

processes.

In

part,

these models construct

an

understanding

of architecture as a reflection

of

shifting

urban

dynamics.

Altogether,

Perspecta

34 views the

contemporary

as a

fluid

practice

in

which

games,

intuition,

collective

temporary,

architects

simultaneously

find new

buildable

forms and

places

for

envisioning

new

ideas about

architecture and

society.

The

processes

of

globalization

that

define the

contemporary

condition inform much of the content of this

journal. Analyses

of

these

processes

focus on moments of

crisis and war and

also

on the

effects of

globalization

on

the

city.

In

a crisis

temporary

projects, beyond

fulfilling

he need for

immediate

function,

cut

straight

to the

performative

aspects

of

architecture.

Essays

that

focus

on

temporary

architecture

and the

city

formulate models

for

understanding dynamic

urban

processes.

In

part,

these models construct

an

understanding

of architecture as a reflection

of

shifting

urban

dynamics.

Altogether,

Perspecta

34 views the

contemporary

as a

fluid

practice

in

which

games,

intuition,

collective

From he fifth

day

on,

except

or

sleeping,

eating,defecating,

nd

urinating,

e lived

n

the box as

long

as

he

was

in his

room.

Other

thana

twinge

of

conscience,

e

was not

especially

ware f

doing

anything

bnormal.

To he

contrary,

e

felt

that hiswas much

more

natural,

e was muchmoreat home.

Even n the

bachelor's

ife he had

reluctantly

led until

now,

misfortune ad urned nto

blessing.

Sixth

day.

At

length

he first

Sunday

ame

around.He

expected

o visitorsandhadno

place

o

go.

From

morning

n,

he stuck o the

box. He was calmandrelaxed, ut

something

was

missing.

At noonhe

finally

ealizedwhat

he

required.

He went nto ownandbustled

around

making

urchases:

hamber

ot,

flashlight,

hermos,

icnic

set,

tape,

wire,

hand

mirror,

even

poster

olors,

plus

various

foodstuffshatcouldbeeatenwithout

preparation.

henhe

got

homehe reinforced

the boxwith he

tape

and he

wire,

and

hen,

storing

way

heother

tems,

heshuthimself

up

n

it.

A

hung

he handmirror n the nner

wall of the box-left side

toward he

window-and then

by

the

radiance f the

flashlight

e

painted

is

lips

green

with

one of

From he fifth

day

on,

except

or

sleeping,

eating,defecating,

nd

urinating,

e lived

n

the box as

long

as

he

was

in his

room.

Other

thana

twinge

of

conscience,

e

was not

especially

ware f

doing

anything

bnormal.

To he

contrary,

e

felt

that hiswas much

more

natural,

e was muchmoreat home.

Even n the

bachelor's

ife he had

reluctantly

led until

now,

misfortune ad urned nto

blessing.

Sixth

day.

At

length

he first

Sunday

ame

around.He

expected

o visitorsandhadno

place

o

go.

From

morning

n,

he stuck o the

box. He was calmandrelaxed, ut

something

was

missing.

At noonhe

finally

ealizedwhat

he

required.

He went nto ownandbustled

around

making

urchases:

hamber

ot,

flashlight,

hermos,

icnic

set,

tape,

wire,

hand

mirror,

even

poster

olors,

plus

various

foodstuffshatcouldbeeatenwithout

preparation.

henhe

got

homehe reinforced

the boxwith he

tape

and he

wire,

and

hen,

storing

way

heother

tems,

heshuthimself

up

n

it.

A

hung

he handmirror n the nner

wall of the box-left side

toward he

window-and then

by

the

radiance f the

flashlight

e

painted

is

lips

green

with

one of

the

poster

olors.After hathe

traced,

n

gradually xpanding

ircles,

he

sevencolors

of the

rainbow,

eginning

with

red,

around

is

eyes.

His face

resembled

hatof a

birdor a fish

ratherhan hatof aman. tlooked ike the

sceneof an amusement

ark

iewed roma

helicopter.

Hecould ee his small

retreating

figure

campering

ff in it.Therewas no

makeup

o suitable o a box.

Ultimately,

e

thought,

e

wouldbecome he contents hat

was

right

or

he

container. or he first imehe

casually

masturbatedn the

box. For

he first

time

he

slept, eaning gainst

he wall with he

box overhis head.

Then he

followingmorning-just

a week

had

goneby-A

went

stealthily

ut

nto he

streetswith he box overhis head.And

didn't

comeback.

If

A made

any

error t was

only

thathe was

a littlemore

overly

aware fboxmen han

otherswere.Youcannot

augh

atA. If

you

are

one of thosewho havedreamed

f,

described

in their

houghts

ven

once,

he

anonymous

city

thatexists or ts nameless

nhabitants,

you

shouldnotbe

indifferent,

ecause

ou

are

always

xposed

o the same

dangers

s

A-that

city

wheredoorsare

opened

or

anyone;

where

the

poster

olors.After hathe

traced,

n

gradually xpanding

ircles,

he

sevencolors

of the

rainbow,

eginning

with

red,

around

is

eyes.

His face

resembled

hatof a

birdor a fish

ratherhan hatof aman. tlooked ike the

sceneof an amusement

ark

iewed roma

helicopter.

Hecould ee his small

retreating

figure

campering

ff in it.Therewas no

makeup

o suitable o a box.

Ultimately,

e

thought,

e

wouldbecome he contents hat

was

right

or

he

container. or he first imehe

casually

masturbatedn the

box. For

he first

time

he

slept, eaning gainst

he wall with he

box overhis head.

Then he

followingmorning-just

a week

had

goneby-A

went

stealthily

ut

nto he

streetswith he box overhis head.And

didn't

comeback.

If

A made

any

error t was

only

thathe was

a littlemore

overly

aware fboxmen han

otherswere.Youcannot

augh

atA. If

you

are

one of thosewho havedreamed

f,

described

in their

houghts

ven

once,

he

anonymous

city

thatexists or ts nameless

nhabitants,

you

shouldnotbe

indifferent,

ecause

ou

are

always

xposed

o the same

dangers

s

A-that

city

wheredoorsare

opened

or

anyone;

where

even

among

trangers

ou

neednotbe on

the

defensive;

where

you

canwalkon

your

heador

sleepby

the roadsidewithout

eing

blamed;

where

you

are ree o

sing

f

you'reproud

f

yourability;

nd

where,

having

doneall

that,

you

can

mix

with henameless rowds

whenever

ou

wish.

Thus

t

will seldom

do

to

point

a

gun

ata

box man.

even

among

trangers

ou

neednotbe on

the

defensive;

where

you

canwalkon

your

heador

sleepby

the roadsidewithout

eing

blamed;

where

you

are ree o

sing

f

you'reproud

f

yourability;

nd

where,

having

doneall

that,

you

can

mix

with henameless rowds

whenever

ou

wish.

Thus

t

will seldom

do

to

point

a

gun

ata

box man.

6

PersDecta

34

PersDecta

34

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20 The

Packaged

House

System

KonradWachsmann/Walter

Gropius

curation:MichaelTower

40

Hajj

Tents

Frei

Otto

53 Mumbai IMAXTheater

CarolA.

Breckenridge

91

Clearing

Brasilia

Various

108 hOH

Cero9

126 Kosovo

Housing

Competition

DeborahGans/MattJelacic

66

Hejduk:

136 Glass Vid<

Berlin

Masque Projects

BernardTschumiAI

Martin inio/KevinFischer

and Raoul Bunschotenet al. 148 Houston

Sze

Tsung

Leong

74 Vehicle

Krzysztof

Wodiczko 154

Paper-Tut

Shigeru

Ban/Kartik

84 Newark 1980-2003

CamiloJose

Vergara

imagination,

and

style

emerge

alongside

conventional

architectural

approaches

as

ways

to

comprehend

and

shape

the

temporary

landscape.

The

design

of this

journal

respects

traces of the near

past

embedded in each letter and pixel, whether it is the chosen

typeface

of the

author,

the tactile

qualities

of

imaging

and

printingprocesses,

or the

marginal

residue

of a chain of

electronic,

optical,

and mechanical transformations. Inter-

spersed

throughout

the

essays

is a

portfolio

of

architectural

propositions

and

recordings

of transient urban conditions.

The

projects

were chosen and curated as

photographic

and

textual

supplements

to the

essays,

and

designed

as

open-

ended vectors of

potential

connection with architectures and

ideas that extend

beyond

the

registers

of

Perspecta

34. The

temporary

buildings,

events,

and

occupations

reveal issues

of

siting,

fabrication,

and

deployment

as the

projects

navigate

social and

political

domains.

eo

Gallery

rchitects

be

Housing

;eya

Shodhan

The

irony

of the

temporary

architectural

figure

is that it lasts.

Conditions that describe a

temporary,

shifting ground

persist,

evolve,

and

repeat

in various forms.

Though

buildings,

urban

formations,

and

landscapes

might

disappear,

residual effects remain:

physical

traces,

economic ripples, social relationships. Inthe moments when

the

relationship

between the

figure

of architecture and its

larger ground

is

temporary,

Perspecta

34 finds an

ecology

of

shifting

conditions and

practices

from which to draw new

tools for the

practice

of architecture.

8

Perspecta

34

Po rtfol io~~~

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