Reconstruct
Our role as architects during unexpected impacts
Society and humans. Such an interesting moving machine, constantly changing and morphing into something new and not known. This machine has been transforming at different speeds throughout history. There have been different demands and different flows caused by natural trembles or forced shifts. But what happens to our ideas when sudden massive and unexpected impacts are thrown at us? How do we rearrange our views and ourselves?
As an architect I see the need to be open to these changes in a daring way. I want to be able to listen and react. To use the tools I have for creating something meaningful rather than pleasing. In other words; when catastrophes hits us let’s drop the shallow designs and rest securely in a more holistic approach while shaping our cities and lives.
Scandinavia has a long history of design, but sometimes with an approach that is too fast and too simple. The shiny surface of an idea seems to often be given a greater influence than the deeper thought about how design and humans interact. And when our world is shivering it is that specific correlation I believe is of utmost importance; design and humans. Stories and humans. Lives and humans.
Architects are taught to build for life. We are meant to create the spaces where we’re born, where we sleep, play, cry, argue, run, visit, learn, have sex, eat, laugh, share, inspire etc etc. We are the ones constructing the spaces where we live. That is not a task you should take on hastily. And it’s most definitely not a task where you should let your ego take over. Because in the end you’re not designing for yourself at all. You are giving away a space to someone else to use and live fully.
