Fake Estates, Superstudio, Cults of Transparency, The Rise of FA

 Cults of Transparency 

 

I find it interesting that in this grand and overbearing use of glass, architects, artists and city managers were all able to create a new way of thinking that is lasting. 

 Architecturally the use of glass in buildings as being a testament to accessibility and a salute to the transparency of business dealings. Creating invisible barries or non-barriers between the outside world and corporations clearly became a great way to gain trust and make them look approachable. It is fraud on a very deep level.  

“Emphasizing values of clarity and transparency, the glazed cupola is a new landmark for Berlin, and a symbol of the vigour of the German democratic process.” 

This architectural scam was helping officials make political statements and work agendas to gain trust.  

The shop window is another psychological trust fail. Another non-barrier creating the illusion of closeness, but this time with product. From the Casa del Fascio to the Apple Store, the use of glass to sway public reaction and interaction is still in use and successful today.  

 

Fake Estates  

The reckoning of one man’s; Gordon Matt-Clarks, vision. After purchasing fifteen irregular New York City lots, Matta-Clark hoped to revive the lots and make use of them with some sort of art. This idea not being fully realized by Matta-Clark before his death was reimagined by the Cabinet magazine who initially invited 3 artists to make proposals in 2003. What was shown were fifteen proposals coming from artists who spanned generations: one being Mierle Laderman Ukeles. Making use of space, commenting on world events, cultural norms and connection.  

Honestly a beautiful project. To find the use for that original idea by matta-Clarke and then bringing it to life. If the original idea for “Fake Estates” was to have these city lots redeemed by art from the existence and ownership of the State and into a realm of play and imagination, then I think they were successful.  

 

Superstudio 

This group of “architects” run into the dilemma where they find innovation begets inequality. They hold a stance against design because as design continues to stand today does not call to answer the basic needs of the many. They beg that if a system does not work for the good of the masses then we should reject it, yet they stayed active within the field without creating any buildings. They remained within the design world by making different sculptural objects, like their furniture designs. They critiqued the craft primarily with their collage work, reimagining cities with a Black Mirror style exaggeration 

The Rise of Forensic Architecture  

Forensic Architecture, a company founded by Eyal Weizman is a London based studio that specializes in reconstruction models. The article opens with Weizmann and a team of experts gathering to recreate an internet café where a murder and alleged terrorist attack occurred. They are reconstructing the sight, with an exact as possible layout, smell, and sound. The company's reconstructions have been used in court cases due to the accuracy of their work. Weizman’s goal with Forensic Architecture is justice and their team attempts to find the truth with their work. This is an amazing testament to the many uses of art and design throughout fields.