Title, Problem, Hypothesis, Precis_Elizabeth Harvey

Title:

Locate, Evaluate, Establish, Respond - Through- Spontaneous, Disruption, Perception, and Contradiction

Problem:

            Cities create anonymity, lack of identity and social and cultural barriers within presumed public spaces.

Hypothesis:

Architecture as a social art has the potential, through a series of spontaneous, guerilla installations, to challenge the presumptions concerning the use of public spaces by reconceptualizing identity and personal expression, while giving a voice to those dispossessed by the cultural forces of the modern city, through spatial visions of the divested individuals.

Precis:

Social and economic disconnect is inherent in the modern cities, namely public spaces, established by the political and economic power structures that exist within them. These powers have a way of establishing order, control and social or cultural stratifications and therefore, one becomes associated with class, neighborhood, occupation and race, rather than purpose, association and identity within a city. Architecture as a social art has the potential, through a series of spontaneous, guerrilla installations, to challenge the presumptions concerning the use of public spaces by reconceptualizing identity and personal expression, while giving a voice to those dispossessed by the cultural forces of the modern city, through spatial visions of the divested individuals. Similarly to other spontaneous art forms such as, graffiti bombing, tagging, flash mobs, and performance arts, guerilla architecture will challenge the cultural barriers presented in the current social conflicts of modern cities. These barriers are based on presumption of rules as well as boundaries imposed by community identity and class and ethnic-based moral codes. Architecture, as a practice, can respond to this dilemma by creating a more democratic engagement, with the user. It can also respond over time to the influences of people through social adaptations, cultural flexibility and the multiplicity of interactions among a diverse group of occupants. Through this definition of architecture one can understand spaces as truly public, city spaces, and embrace the identity of those occupying them. A reestablishment of space and order of public spaces will allow for spontaneity, expression and repositioning of program in a way that questions the established spatial understanding. By translating the methodologies of art forms that have challenged repressive urban environments, new identities and new spaces can be established. With the implementation of unexpected, spontaneous architecture in a conventional environment, one will be able to see what was once invisible.