Discussion: Can Architecture Save the World?
5 Comments have been posted so far
As part of our extensive Open House Dublin 2009 programme, the popular Open Debate returns this year with the provocative title Can Architecture Save the World?
The title suggests that, on the one hand, architecture has a great power to transform and improve our lives, while an era of hyper production has had repercussions on the landscape and communities. The panel will explore current thinking about how we design and touch upon socially and environmentally conscious design. As Ireland`s economy and architecture finds itself in a crisis, this debate will think forward to the opportunities of the future.
We are deliberately taking a provocative title to discuss the current state of architecture and its effects on the environment and on communities. The debate will cover ethics, sustainable living, and reveal the influence of design on the well being of communities, on the health of our culture and on how it effects on our world
Chaired by John Bowman, the panel includes Shelley McNamara of Grafton Architects, Kaethe Burt O’Dea of Desireland, Professor Frank Convery, chairman of Comhar, Seán O’Laoire, President of the RIAI and Evelyn Hanlon of Dublin City Council.
Here’s your chance to have a say!
Join us on Thursday 8 October at 7pm in Liberty Hall, Dublin
Places limited and strictly on a first-come basis
Ian Huet Says:
September 24th, 2009 at 11:16 pm
Earlier today I voted no, without much consideration I thought it was an idea beyond realistic levels of impact. Sure, the world around us shapes us but save us!
I just saw this video of a Danish architect, Bjarke Ingels, and I have to be honest and state that he has really made me stop and think again about my vote.
http://www.ted.com/talks/bjarke_ingels_3_warp_speed_architecture_tales.html
City dweller Says:
September 25th, 2009 at 11:14 am
Isn’t this a bigger issue than just about architects themselves?
Architecture has a huge impact on our lives, so whinge abut the vanity of architects if you like, but - if you think architecture can have such a negative impact doesn’t it also have the power to have a huge positive impact? Its powerful stuff after all and a fact that better buildings improve lives.
AON Says:
October 2nd, 2009 at 10:14 am
Love the title - the question is can architecture (rather than architects) save the world. Its always interesting to flush out those very negative comments about architects - but surely the issue at stake is do we all influence our architecture - our cities, landscapes, interiors and exteriors? If not should we have more control and how do we begin to get that control? Only then can each of us as citizens consider whether or not architecture can save us.
Hugh Kavanagh Says:
June 15th, 2010 at 9:54 pm
Saving the world might be stretch. The very best an architect can do is to do no harm. If only we could be so humble.
Anonymous Says:
September 24th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
…or, more to the point, can the world be saved from architects?
I’m not sure which is more terrifying, the prospect of
- a generation of architects in work, building their self-referential fantasies, or
- a generation of architects out of work, playing out their sophomoric notions of the world in such ridiculous self-regarding debates.