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DESIGN STATEMENT

Design Position

“The city is for citizens”

The position stands with the idea that cities should essentially be designed for citizens. Hence,the architectural solutions at present should essentially be contemporary in order to transcend our time. This would eventually guarantee a continuation and evolution of the city’s’ heritage and culture, than allowing it to die away. In other words, contemporary solutions are vital to bridge the past, present and future. In order for the architectural solutions to be contemporary, the primary focus of the architectural decision-making process should be on “citizens” living in this time of history. This includes their aspirations, needs, links and connections and values. The solutions are not to be of juxtaposition, yet still needs be distinct from the previous. Cities are always in layers.

The present era is a time in which every inch and every person is rapidly undergoing the process of globalization in different ways. The advancement in technology has accelerated this process and that we are naturally or effortlessly (whether we like or not) are exposed to this process, which is cultural. In fact, this is an era where there is no clear distinction between global and local.

Therefore, this discourse is highly relevant in this period of time, especially in terms of an historical city with a strong cultural heritage. The position embraces the idea that a heritage city should actively engage with these trends in a positive way rather than being exclusive. If not the city and its’ citizens will die away in time. In other words, natural process of evolution should not merely be allowed rather accommodated. A positive engagement with these global trends will create a fusion between past and present leading to a better continuation of tradition, values systems with reformation. The fusion between the architectural spaces and programs that we architects (technocrats) will introduce and the spaces and programs that the citizens will eventually introduce will create the much needed social space. Therefore, in the case of a historical city, an architectural design requires a multi-faceted, vibrant and a flexible architectural program. Such architectural interventions will contribute to make better cities for citizens.

Design Intent

The design intent is to explore the role of contemporary architecture in a historical city/ urban environment, which is in fact an ongoing long discourse all over the world. It seems that this subject area can be viewed and described in many angles. Different architects have tried out different solutions based on their cultural positions and world views. Therefore, the Design Thesis intends not to find a universal response or a solution, rather to find a context specific solution. This will result in number of facts to be considered when responding to a living historical city, which are not deterministic after-all. Therefore, the Design Thesis is an attempt to derive means of responding to a historical context where the city and its’ citizens are valued.