Social conscience architecture

Abstract

Part One: The Setting Part One aims to establish the importance of a social conscience in architecture through examination at both micro and macro scales. "Architecture's Social Autonomy?" Scrutinises the debate for autonomy in architecture, examining the underlying motivations of its principle proponents, concluding that architecture is constituted amongst social relations that cast doubts on the autonomy of architecture. "Utopian Ideologies" investigates the value and purpose of utopia and utopian visions as implicit objects for contemplation and explicit instruments for social change, deducing that utopia is a vision to be pursued. Part Two: The Dilemma Part Two suggests two possible reasons for the relative absence of a contemporary socially conscientious architecture as a definitive doctrine. "The Diminishing Social Role of the Architect" considers the role of the architect through history, inferring that the current fragmentation amongst the architectural profession and the increasing impact of other professionals is attributable to the loss of aspirations and social concerns experienced. "Societal Eclecticism" scrutinises through architecture the current fragmentation and eclecticism of society, ultimately re-represented in architecture. Part Three: The Case Study Having established a theoretical framework in Parts One and Two, Part Three examines the Parc de la Villette project by Bernard Tschumi as a contemporary architecture with inherent social, cultural and political agendas. Parc de la Villette is utilised here to test and explore the relationship of architecture to social concerns, grounding the research in a well-documented and renowned project.