MOTION & E-MOTION
WORDS & IMAGES Jannete Castillo
Bachelor of Architecture at La Salle University, Mexico City. Master of Landscape Architecture at RMIT (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology)Melbourne, Australia. CEO & Founder at Hatching Studio Architecture, located in Mexico City
When walking, visiting or experiencing a place, the only emotion we want to feel is a sense of release; a good sensation, a good vibration, sunny or cloudy day, but we want to belong to it, belong to the place, to the people, to the time.
When we experience a public space in a rural or urban environment, we are looking for a special, different or pleasant sensation, one that we cannot experience in our own house or work place. Most of the time we want to feel healthier, happier and free. We want to feel better, to feel some emotions and motion.
Big cities have their very own challenges, like the excessive use of cars. Instead of using public transportation or walking, their dependence on cars produces traffic congestion and pollution, and other problems such as scarcity of water, urban sprawl, unemployment, and in some cases homelessness. These challenges convey ‘motion’, but they are not the only problems cities face.
Most of the cities around the world, like Mexico City, have very successful public spaces, but in other cases some of these places fail. Why do they fail? Do they fail because of bad planning or design? Do they fail because the landscape is ugly or cold? Do they fail because the inhabitants of a community cannot behave well? These are interesting questions that we have to respond to.
I believe architects, landscape architects, urban designers and engineers do their best to try improve the quality of the communities, streets or cities. So, what is the key or formula to make a successful place?
Is it due to the quality or texture of the materials used to build a place? Or is it because of the nature of the space? Is it the people? Or is it down to the fact that living in a digital age has influenced our connections with nature and human beings? Technology is becoming more and more influential in our lives; children, teenagers, adults and seniors are engulfed by it. Cities, people and technology are fusing in one mass.
Although children, seniors, adults and teenagers still enjoy the simple things in life such as a kid kicking a ball around or teenagers hanging out at the mall, they are now beginning to engage in these everyday activities in a more enhanced environment, one where they experience a natural and a virtual space. It seems like they are living in another dimension. Now we can see people through ipods, trees through tablets, laptops and iphones, wi-fi activated spaces, electrical charging stations, big marketing adverts, multimedia and so on.
Surprisingly all these can occur in the same place. Is this the contemporary sense of place we are looking for? Is this the contemporary sense of place we want to live in? Do we really want to live in this dichotomy of nature and virtual life together? Do we prefer nature or do we prefer technology? Walking, biking or running whilst listening to music on an ipod, having lunch in a park whilst chatting with friends on facebook, tweeting or re-tweeting, texting, lying on the ground reading an e-book or just sitting on a parametric bench checking net sites. These installations are now apart of our lives and it is the way we perceive and experience public spaces.
While developers and planners are preoccupied with the idea of creating or developing newer and better public spaces for communities and cities, society is slightly detached from this idea, we engage in spaces from a social, physical, mental and cultural aspect.
The beautification of a landscape is meaningless when we are interacting with our technological devices, mobile phones, ipads and anything else the digital age can offer. We are effectively living in our own world, in our own experience. So contemporary placemaking has to focus on all these aspects as well. 30 years ago we didn´t have the level of interaction and communication that is available in the present, the beautification of the landscape was appreciated. I believe life was enriched. People were more engaging with each other, more physical and open and in a sense happier.
The beautification of a landscape is meaningless when we are interacting with our technological devices, mobile phones, ipads and anything else the digital age can offer. We are effectively living in our own world, in our own experience. So contemporary placemaking has to focus on all these aspects as well. 30 years ago we didn´t have the level of interaction and communication that is available in the present, the beautification of the landscape was appreciated. I believe life was enriched. People were more engaging with each other, more physical and open and in a sense happier.
Applications are deeply embedded within the technology age. Apps enrich life and society through the additional layer of information, information that educates and communicates. Apps can also impact how we design and perceive spaces. Architects, engineers and designers are brought together through applications to improve or propose designs that are more refined and are in fitting with the surrounding context; streets, neighborhoods, communities and cities. I believe this idea is beneficial to society and has great potential within the design world to motivate citizens and professionals to focus on the creation of places and the people who use them.
Advertising and marketing is using technology to provoke a response in citizens. Today we can see it in commercial centres, streets, parks, plazas and even bus stops- big electronic screens announcing big products. Sometimes they are creative and funny, but most of the time they are annoying. But that´s how advertising works, the more annoying and in your face it is, the more likely you are to remember what they are advertising to you, a cunning approach but its effective. Therefore, is advertising an issue that impacts the contemporary sense of place? Or do they just want to manipulate us? Is this really helping us form our places with a contemporary sense?
On the contrary, this technology can rescue public spaces, improve them and refurbish them through art installations. Artists, painters, sculptors, graffitist, street art, pavilions, festivals and outstanding architectural buildings are giving a new meaning and a new sense to place, creating spaces where people would want to interact in and around. I believe this has a positive influence on the perception of places and people, through the ability to mix public and private areas evokes culture. Culture is a great contributor in the improvement of Placemaking.
Another point to note on is the introduction of urban agriculture. As the digital age distracts us from the natural environment and has reduced the hands-on activities, urban agriculture (although it is not a new technique) is contributing to reclaim of joy, pleasure and knowledge in society, the revival of life in the streets, especially in big cities, has temperamental impacts.
Urban agriculture not only gives us the opportunity to produce food and to learn about it, but in the cities, to connect with people and nature and also to provide jobs in the communities, creates and enhances urban and peri-urban landscapes and strengthens environmental responsibility. And do not forget it could be a very fun and happy experience.
It would be interesting to think and consider what is going to be the future of placemaking; how new technologies will help improve or transform it. How new buildings are going to connect with streets and people. I believe it will be a radical change, a big motion- a new emotion. We will have to contain the urban growth and the decay. It will be thorough work and we have to be prepared to accept and manage it. Technology is useful, it can break limits.
The work of placemaking is never finished and the responsibility belongs to everyone, not just professionals. Society should influence decision-making about spaces; our creativity and uniqueness can enhance the qualities of spaces. Working together to build visions for the future, evoking optimism, respecting communities and the rights of the inhabitants, observing the good and bad, witnessing the community grow and strengthen, will all aid in building a healthy, strong spirited community, one where each individual is empowered with the choice to participate in creating the environment they live within.
The world is changing, every moment, every hour, every minute and every second. It’s all in motion. As professionals in these fields, we have to be aware of changes and be responsible for the best solutions, not just for the best designs. Personally, I feel that the most important aspect is to not lose the simple things, the connections with nature and people, but to enjoy each other and the space. Do not forget the mission of placemaking is to provoke motion and e[motion] in every human being. Technology is not the first notion in this, we are.
"EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO LIVE IN A GREAT PLACE. MORE IMPORTANTLY, EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO CONTRIBUTE TO MAKING THE PLACE WHERE THEY ALREADY LIVE GREAT"
~ Fred Kent
BEYOND MERE UTILITY
BEYOND MERE UTILITY
WORDS & IMAGES John Renowden
To speak of a contemporary sense of place, one must consider the primary issue that we face within the ever-modernizing world that we find ourselves a part of: utility. Hemmed in from every side, tighter and tighter, scarcity of varying forms inevitably becomes a driving force that consumes every area of modern life. Scarcity exalts utility, as a response, and all other concerns seem to fall by the wayside. This ensures that function within the contemporary place supersedes everything.
Is it any wonder, then, that we are here and now discussing the creation of a contemporary sense of place? In a modern world driven primarily by economic concerns, is it really all that surprising that there is a notion that we have lost our way in some regard, and we have lost the connection we perhaps once had with the places that we create to exist within?
If you will, allow me for a moment to reflect upon a potential opportunity that we have, as creators of place, to toy with the idea that perhaps there is more to place than function.
That is not to say that this suggestion is in any way unique or original, but in the face of the oppressive machine of modernity such a reflection can only serve as a timely reminder of our responsibilities.
That is not to say that this suggestion is in any way unique or original, but in the face of the oppressive machine of modernity such a reflection can only serve as a timely reminder of our responsibilities.
The creation of place beyond mere utility carries with it the opportunity to add to the human experience in a unique and profound way. That most pressing opportunity, in my opinion, is of the creation of a space that facilitates above all else the sense of belonging. This, I believe, is the responsibility that we have as creators of place, and a responsibility that can be forgotten all too easily when burdened by the pressures of scarcity that drive our modern lives. The human condition is characterized by the indifference of the world in which we live. The tree does not care if the leaves from her branches fall and we no longer can seek refuge in her shade. The sun does not care when our skin burns, nor does the wind care when it chills us to the bone. But in spite of this, the human being, in all of her grand absurdity seeks meaning in this indifferent world. She wants to belong; she wants to feel at home.
Such a desire is not tragic; no, this is the highest and most beautiful aspect of human dignity, that in an indifferent world we still seek to find a place within it that we feel we belong. And part of the human condition that we cannot escape is that we, at all times, exist within time and space, and as such, we must exist in place. There is never a time in which we can say that we are nowhere. We are always somewhere and, in this ever-modernizing world, the place that we inhabit is more and more a created place. Naturally created spaces are diminishing, being replaced, day-by-day, by places created by the hands and minds of people. And yet, the places created are as indifferent as the nature of those that they had replaced.
A courtyard cares as little as the sun. But we cannot escape our desire to seek meaning, for better or worse, and the relevance of meaning to us in this regard is the sense of belonging that people have with the place that they inhabit. Only this sense of belonging can give, however ephemeral, the notion that the individual has meaning within an indifferent place.
Such a desire is not tragic; no, this is the highest and most beautiful aspect of human dignity, that in an indifferent world we still seek to find a place within it that we feel we belong. And part of the human condition that we cannot escape is that we, at all times, exist within time and space, and as such, we must exist in place. There is never a time in which we can say that we are nowhere. We are always somewhere and, in this ever-modernizing world, the place that we inhabit is more and more a created place. Naturally created spaces are diminishing, being replaced, day-by-day, by places created by the hands and minds of people. And yet, the places created are as indifferent as the nature of those that they had replaced.
A courtyard cares as little as the sun. But we cannot escape our desire to seek meaning, for better or worse, and the relevance of meaning to us in this regard is the sense of belonging that people have with the place that they inhabit. Only this sense of belonging can give, however ephemeral, the notion that the individual has meaning within an indifferent place.
An architect can only create a house. An architect cannot create a home. Only people can make a home from the delicate arrangement of indifferent elements of construction.
Such a task is beyond the reach of the architect. And yet, it is not beyond the limits of her imagination, and the skilled architect who believes in her craft can create from the delicate arrangement of mere bricks and mortar the conditions in which the people who inhabit the space have the environment that can facilitate such a transformation from house to home. The creation of a place in which people can truly flourish, to lead happier, more fulfilled lives - this is the task of the architect, and so too must it be ours, if we are to create a contemporary sense of place that has a meaning beyond mere utility.
Such a task is beyond the reach of the architect. And yet, it is not beyond the limits of her imagination, and the skilled architect who believes in her craft can create from the delicate arrangement of mere bricks and mortar the conditions in which the people who inhabit the space have the environment that can facilitate such a transformation from house to home. The creation of a place in which people can truly flourish, to lead happier, more fulfilled lives - this is the task of the architect, and so too must it be ours, if we are to create a contemporary sense of place that has a meaning beyond mere utility.
While a skilled architect can facilitate towards the creation of a home, the architect does not have the same issues that we have in the creation of place - there is often the chance that many more people engage in the place than the house. Therefore, given the vast array of unique individuals who will all engage in the place that is created, with all their myriad of differences, who will all be hungry for this same sense of belonging. That is not to say that our task is harder; no, it is merely that our task is different. We must acknowledge, and, if we are brave, relish, the fact that people from all walks of life will engage with the place we create, and as such, we have an ethical duty to make all those who inhabit our place feel at home within it.
Every human being is unique, and every human being is the same. This is what must drive us. A sense of place can, if only we attempt it, be created in which both of these ideas are able to flourish; where the primary concern is not only whether or not we have utilized the space appropriately in the eyes of function, but also whether or not every human being that engages with the place in some manner feels as though they belong.
Our task, then, is to create a sense of place in which all of those who inhabit and engage within it are facilitated by the place itself to feel as though they belong not only in the place that we have created, but, to stretch out our arms farther, to feel as though they belong in the world itself. This facilitation must occur through acceptance - and, indeed, the embracing - of all the differences we have, celebrating above all else the human individual as both absolutely unique and absolutely just one small part of all of humanity combined.
The place that we create must allow the individual within it to feel both comfortable with their uniqueness, but also one among many, and through both of these ideas the sense of belonging can and must be achieved.
The place that we create must allow the individual within it to feel both comfortable with their uniqueness, but also one among many, and through both of these ideas the sense of belonging can and must be achieved.
Perhaps such a task is impossible. Perhaps it is too difficult to create a place in which all the different people who engage with it all feel at home. Perhaps this is too much to ask from mere constructed indifferent elements. But if such a sense of belonging can transform a house into a home, surely it could be possible, and is it not our duty at least to attempt to achieve this?
Greater minds than mine are required to tell the tale of just how this is to be done. I do not know the way, nor do I have the ability to envision how we ensure the process to overcome the problem of the exaltation of utility. These are questions still yet to be answered- perhaps, by you. But if we take the opportunity that exists in front of us, to create contemporary places that allow the individuals within the space to flourish, to allow such a woman or man to feel a sense of belonging, however fleeting, then - and only then - can we consider our work to have a value beyond mere utility and function, for the benefit of not only the world in which we live but, if I may be so bold, to the meaning of life itself.
CONTEMPORARY PLACEMAKING IN THE
WORLDS MOST LIVEABLE CITY
WORDS & IMAGES Rebecca Cray
The design-based world has
been quick to adopt placemaking as the trend for 2013 and the foreseeable
future. But what does it mean for us as landscape architects and urban
designers, and why is it suddenly so important?
Places are areas within our
urban environments and other landscapes where people are enabled a connection
or interaction of some description, which is brought about by the sense of
comfort, familiarity, quirkiness or 'human touch' that such a 'place' exudes.
In tackling the concept of
‘placemaking,’ it is useful to take reference to the 'world's most liveable
city,' currently being Melbourne, Australia. Provision and sense of ‘place’
form crucial parts of the survey, which measures stability, health care,
environment, education and infrastructure. At least half of these categories
are influenced and shaped by our roles as landscape architects and designers.
Melbourne’s culture and
subsequent urban aesthetic exude a grittiness in architecture, artistic flair
and character that is of captivating blend. Their environments and public
spaces are places that are invariably an important part of their communities in
that they provide for both passive and active recreation across a multitude of
codes. A sense of urban community is attained through these centres, which
through careful planning and design provide for social interactions made
realistically accessible by public transport.
Areas of public interest, such
as Federation Square, the Melbourne Botanic Gardens, the pedestrian-friendly
Swanston Street, the quirky cafes and decorated laneways all combine to create
a picture of a diverse, but ultimately engaging city that people love to live
in. The cities buildings of various architectural merits such as the Melbourne
Museum, when contrasted with the Victorian State Library further provide
examples of assets that make the city both vibrant, interesting and also a
great place to live.
The Melbourne Museum itself
provided valuable insights into place through its exhibition of Bunjilaka:
'First People's. It was here that thought the lives, actions and stories of the
profiled Aboriginals, that the key parts of what is 'place' were identified.
Importance was placed on connection, family, community and resilience. In the
Aboriginal mindset and way of life, it was conveyed that a balance and
connection with land that enhanced life and spirit was essential to their
culture and personal self. An understanding of what creates a place and gives it
social or personal importance is something Aboriginals have comprehended for
generations in its purest forms.
Interestingly Bunjilaka
ignites a strong contrast in the societies of today. Like the Aboriginal way,
which is based on a need to feel connected and aware the environment one lives
in and belongs to, it seems that placemaking is the urbanites answer to
something which is seemingly ingrained for Australia’s first people. The
success of placemaking can be attributed to a need to find peace, connection
and belonging in a society where technology is fast becoming the way to
stimulate a grounded connection in a world that is becoming functionally
virtual. We can shop from home, see and communicate with friends and loved ones
through our mobile phones and computers, to the point where we have become our
own socially sustained entities without ever needing to step foot outside.
Placemaking represents the opposite. Creating and identifying with a ‘place’
enables the engagement of the ‘personable’ side of an individual and a
commonality in our human nature to build real-time connections with other
‘place users.’ It is stimulating, homely and resounds with us on a level that one-dimensional
internet and social networking cannot. It is undeniably tactile and human, made
of real stuff and solidified thoughts. Such is the celebration of life, land
and the human spirit when we successfully create places.
So in the essence of
Melbourne's achievement, successful understanding, interpretation and
installment of placemaking, according to the needs and cultures of its
communities is a key component in its 'liveability'. It seems that creating a
sense of place requires carefully measured and referenced layers, which exude a
certain combination of features we call character. A certain homeliness or accommodated
comfort that is executed through layout, materials, colour, texture and scale. Melbourne
is essentially a patchwork of these places, which when woven together create an
overriding sense of fusion, integration and vibrancy. A celebration
of people and culture is so seemingly ingrained or adopted that it becomes in
itself like any successful brand: iconic and world-recognised.
Whether considered through the
Aboriginal or contemporary Melbourne perspective quintessentially the
importance of placemaking lies in its ability to create a sense of ownership, identity
and connection. The importance of this to our relationships, sense of self and
peace of mind is an invaluable asset. As landscape architects and urban designers
placemaking is crucial to the modern human spirit and should always be a
priority in our landscapes and urban environments.
