Fantasy Architecture: Ideology and Response

"Inventing backdrops for spectacle, as well as designing spectacular buildings, has long been a preoccupation of architects." (Bingham et. al. 2004) The idea then that all the world's a stage, therefore encourages and allows Architecture as a means of not only facilitating but also simply being in itself, Theatre.

The following Ideas have been influenced my this underlying theme, as well as the works portrayed in Fantasy Architecture 1500-2036.

One: combining social functions in a single complex in an attempt to revive, promote and enhance social life and interaction. The creation of sanctuaries. Examples include: Zaha Hadid's Peak Club (Left) and Cedric Price's Fun Palace (Right)



   

Two: Mobile architecture- "the liberation of built form through technology." Examples include: Archigram's Plug-In City (Left) and Freedom Ship International Inc's Freedom Ship (Right)

Three: Vertical visions. Are they merely to make a statement? Or if executed well, have the potential to be a solution to increasing population density. Examples include: Constant's View of Babylon (Left) and William Cameron Menzies' Things to Come (Right)

Four: Construction - Destruction - Reconstruction. "Global population explosion, mass migration and environmental degradation mean that space to build in the REAL world is shrinking." I think Lego offers the best example of this idea.

Five: The possible to need to inhabit places of remoteness, desolation and hostility due to population growth. Examples include: Ora-Ito's 10,000 Hz Legend (for Air's album art)

Six: Large scale human settlements in space. This idea is a dear favourite of mine, as I am an avid reader of science fiction novels and rate Rendevous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke and subsequent sequels as my favourite book/s so far. Examples include: NASA's Toroidal Colonies (Left) and Arthur C. Clarke's Rama (Right)

The above six ideas came about before the lecture on Friday 27th July. My next post shall therefore outline two new ones that came to me as a result of the lecture and my ponderings on the train on my way home from uni. Below are the references of the above images (in order of appearance) and all quotes are from Fantasy Architecture 1500-2036 (Bingham et. al. 2004).

Zaha Hadid- http://outsidetheivorytower.blogspot.com.au/2006_09_01_archive.html

Cedric Price-http://archmoustafa.blogspot.com.au/

Archigram-http://waiarchitecture.blogspot.com.au/2010/06/what-about-last-urbanisms.html

Freedom Ship-http://www.gizmag.com/go/2089/

Babylon-http://bldgblog.blogspot.com.au/2007/07/wed-all-be-living-in-dams.html

Wells-http://www.photoree.com/photos/permalink/2500785-40143737@N02

Air-http://dkchan.dk/main.php?cat=mu&thr=74&pid=152

Nasa-http://londonist.com/2011/06/preview-sense-and-the-city-london-transport-museum.php/toroidal-colonies-1975-credit-nasa-ames-research-center

Rama-http://theinfiniterevolution.blogspot.com.au/2010/12/happy-new-year-but.html