Press "Enter" to skip to content

How Architecture can Revive Identity, Community and Purpose | Louis Smith | TEDxBeaconStreet


it can be said that church choirs street

it can be said that church choirs street gangs and sports teams survive and

gangs and sports teams survive and

gangs and sports teams survive and thrive because they give their members

thrive because they give their members

thrive because they give their members and supporters the same three things

and supporters the same three things

and supporters the same three things identity community and purpose now I

identity community and purpose now I

identity community and purpose now I believe this because it relates to

believe this because it relates to

believe this because it relates to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs the esteem belonging and

the esteem belonging and

the esteem belonging and self-actualization are the top three of

self-actualization are the top three of

self-actualization are the top three of Maslow’s hierarchy identity is a long

Maslow’s hierarchy identity is a long

Maslow’s hierarchy identity is a long unrecognized aspect of architecture but

unrecognized aspect of architecture but

unrecognized aspect of architecture but let’s start with purpose and we’ll hit

let’s start with purpose and we’ll hit

let’s start with purpose and we’ll hit on community really lightly and then

on community really lightly and then

on community really lightly and then after that we’re going to spend most of

after that we’re going to spend most of

after that we’re going to spend most of our time on identity now purpose for the

our time on identity now purpose for the

our time on identity now purpose for the individual is their choice of where they

individual is their choice of where they

individual is their choice of where they want their life to go and what they want

want their life to go and what they want

want their life to go and what they want to do that’s fairly simple but purpose

to do that’s fairly simple but purpose

to do that’s fairly simple but purpose for a community is a little bit

for a community is a little bit

for a community is a little bit different it’s about creating a richer

different it’s about creating a richer

different it’s about creating a richer broader deeper experience of life

broader deeper experience of life

broader deeper experience of life together it is about having cultural

together it is about having cultural

together it is about having cultural experiences that enrich you and make you

experiences that enrich you and make you

experiences that enrich you and make you more of a person and perhaps even

more of a person and perhaps even

more of a person and perhaps even further your journey along in your

further your journey along in your

further your journey along in your personal purpose now community is simply

personal purpose now community is simply

personal purpose now community is simply any group of people who come together

any group of people who come together

any group of people who come together around a certain issue something some

around a certain issue something some

around a certain issue something some commonality they have it can be where

commonality they have it can be where

commonality they have it can be where they live what they do their political

they live what they do their political

they live what they do their political leanings the important thing about

leanings the important thing about

leanings the important thing about community from this perspective is that

community from this perspective is that

community from this perspective is that communities are malleable people come

communities are malleable people come

communities are malleable people come and they go they change they form

and they go they change they form

and they go they change they form different alignments but what is it what

different alignments but what is it what

different alignments but what is it what is it

is it

is it that

that

that has identity relate to architecture and

has identity relate to architecture and

has identity relate to architecture and sustainability well for that I got to

sustainability well for that I got to

sustainability well for that I got to tell you where I come from I grew up in

tell you where I come from I grew up in

tell you where I come from I grew up in the old North End of Detroit my parents

the old North End of Detroit my parents

the old North End of Detroit my parents moved into the neighborhood because it

moved into the neighborhood because it

moved into the neighborhood because it was a good neighborhood working-class

was a good neighborhood working-class

was a good neighborhood working-class people mostly white and Jewish my family

people mostly white and Jewish my family

people mostly white and Jewish my family was among the african-american dispersal

was among the african-american dispersal

was among the african-american dispersal that caused Detroit’s white flight to

that caused Detroit’s white flight to

that caused Detroit’s white flight to the suburbs I remember after the 1967

the suburbs I remember after the 1967

the suburbs I remember after the 1967 riots riding around in the family van

riots riding around in the family van

riots riding around in the family van and watching building burn as I grew

and watching building burn as I grew

and watching building burn as I grew older the vacant lots and the burn

older the vacant lots and the burn

older the vacant lots and the burn buildings became more and more common

buildings became more and more common

buildings became more and more common the places I used to go the breakfast

the places I used to go the breakfast

the places I used to go the breakfast cafe the barber shop the candy store the

cafe the barber shop the candy store the

cafe the barber shop the candy store the movie theater even some fine homes and

movie theater even some fine homes and

movie theater even some fine homes and apartment buildings gradually

apartment buildings gradually

apartment buildings gradually disappeared

disappeared

disappeared it’s a shame it’s just a shame but that

it’s a shame it’s just a shame but that

it’s a shame it’s just a shame but that disappearance was really my first lesson

disappearance was really my first lesson

disappearance was really my first lesson in sustainability you see it wasn’t a

in sustainability you see it wasn’t a

in sustainability you see it wasn’t a problem of the building’s not being well

problem of the building’s not being well

problem of the building’s not being well built

built

built they were finally built buildings in

they were finally built buildings in

they were finally built buildings in fact included in that area were mansions

fact included in that area were mansions

fact included in that area were mansions for the Dodge family yes that Dodge

for the Dodge family yes that Dodge

for the Dodge family yes that Dodge family and other capitalists of the 20s

family and other capitalists of the 20s

family and other capitalists of the 20s and 30s but it failed it failed because

and 30s but it failed it failed because

and 30s but it failed it failed because the identity of the community failed the

the identity of the community failed the

the identity of the community failed the identity had been a working-class

identity had been a working-class

identity had been a working-class community free of african-americans

community free of african-americans

community free of african-americans african-americans move in that identity

african-americans move in that identity

african-americans move in that identity is broken people move out the community

is broken people move out the community

is broken people move out the community fails but wait it continued to fail

fails but wait it continued to fail

fails but wait it continued to fail because when the African Americans moved

because when the African Americans moved

because when the African Americans moved in the economic base was undermined it’s

in the economic base was undermined it’s

in the economic base was undermined it’s called redlining

called redlining

called redlining they couldn’t get money to do the things

they couldn’t get money to do the things

they couldn’t get money to do the things that need to be done to sustain a

that need to be done to sustain a

that need to be done to sustain a community well there is an answer for

community well there is an answer for

community well there is an answer for that

that

that and the answer is that we need to be

and the answer is that we need to be

and the answer is that we need to be sustainable and we need to broaden that

sustainable and we need to broaden that

sustainable and we need to broaden that definition of sustainability so wait

definition of sustainability so wait

definition of sustainability so wait wait wait wait what is sustainability in

wait wait wait what is sustainability in

wait wait wait what is sustainability in our society sustainability is contextual

our society sustainability is contextual

our society sustainability is contextual over here we have organizational

over here we have organizational

over here we have organizational sustainability over there we have

sustainability over there we have

sustainability over there we have industrial sustainability product

industrial sustainability product

industrial sustainability product sustainability and in architectural

sustainability and in architectural

sustainability and in architectural sustainability we have an evolving

sustainability we have an evolving

sustainability we have an evolving definition back in the 70s when I was

definition back in the 70s when I was

definition back in the 70s when I was studying architecture initially the

studying architecture initially the

studying architecture initially the concern of the day was the Arab oil

concern of the day was the Arab oil

concern of the day was the Arab oil embargo or multiple Arab oil embargos

embargo or multiple Arab oil embargos

embargo or multiple Arab oil embargos and the price of fuel was skyrocketing

and the price of fuel was skyrocketing

and the price of fuel was skyrocketing and everybody was concerned with energy

and everybody was concerned with energy

and everybody was concerned with energy conservation as we went along through

conservation as we went along through

conservation as we went along through the 90s the definition broadened and we

the 90s the definition broadened and we

the 90s the definition broadened and we took insight sustainability stormwater

took insight sustainability stormwater

took insight sustainability stormwater management access to transit and other

management access to transit and other

management access to transit and other things on the block scale and larger in

things on the block scale and larger in

things on the block scale and larger in the urban environment and then all the

the urban environment and then all the

the urban environment and then all the other things that are listed on the

other things that are listed on the

other things that are listed on the screen gradually got included in the

screen gradually got included in the

screen gradually got included in the definition of sustainability and

definition of sustainability and

definition of sustainability and although it’s last it’s really

although it’s last it’s really

although it’s last it’s really consistent throughout is economic

consistent throughout is economic

consistent throughout is economic sustainability if you can’t pay for it

sustainability if you can’t pay for it

sustainability if you can’t pay for it it can’t stay now to those things I want

it can’t stay now to those things I want

it can’t stay now to those things I want to add one more I want to add cultural

to add one more I want to add cultural

to add one more I want to add cultural identity now wait wait wait wait don’t

identity now wait wait wait wait don’t

identity now wait wait wait wait don’t be narrow I’m not talking about

be narrow I’m not talking about

be narrow I’m not talking about ethnicity if you are building a building

ethnicity if you are building a building

ethnicity if you are building a building for firefighters firefighters have a

for firefighters firefighters have a

for firefighters firefighters have a culture it’s not the same as the culture

culture it’s not the same as the culture

culture it’s not the same as the culture for nurses so what makes this identity

on September 7th of this year there was

on September 7th of this year there was an earthquake in Oaxaca Mexico that was

an earthquake in Oaxaca Mexico that was

an earthquake in Oaxaca Mexico that was over 8 points on the Richter scale

over 8 points on the Richter scale

over 8 points on the Richter scale many historic and traditional buildings

many historic and traditional buildings

many historic and traditional buildings collapsed the Mexican architect

collapsed the Mexican architect

collapsed the Mexican architect claudinha de Eva’s when interviewed by

claudinha de Eva’s when interviewed by

claudinha de Eva’s when interviewed by Public Radio internationals the world

Public Radio internationals the world

Public Radio internationals the world stated that she was shocked by the loss

stated that she was shocked by the loss

stated that she was shocked by the loss of these buildings because it

of these buildings because it

of these buildings because it constituted a loss of identity she said

constituted a loss of identity she said

constituted a loss of identity she said many things constitute identity it’s not

many things constitute identity it’s not

many things constitute identity it’s not just language clothing and food it’s

just language clothing and food it’s

just language clothing and food it’s also the built environment the urban

also the built environment the urban

also the built environment the urban surroundings I’m sure she said it in

surroundings I’m sure she said it in

surroundings I’m sure she said it in Spanish so what makes a building

Spanish so what makes a building

Spanish so what makes a building culturally relevant what gives it this

culturally relevant what gives it this

culturally relevant what gives it this identity now Architects have a tendency

identity now Architects have a tendency

identity now Architects have a tendency to design things for other architects

to design things for other architects

to design things for other architects they have a tendency to consider

they have a tendency to consider

they have a tendency to consider themselves great artists and many of

themselves great artists and many of

themselves great artists and many of them are and they create works of art

them are and they create works of art

them are and they create works of art that are twisty steel or towering glass

that are twisty steel or towering glass

that are twisty steel or towering glass or whatever it is as a testament to

or whatever it is as a testament to

or whatever it is as a testament to their ability as a visual artist some

their ability as a visual artist some

their ability as a visual artist some architects take the other approach of

architects take the other approach of

architects take the other approach of saying I want this building to be a

saying I want this building to be a

saying I want this building to be a testament to my technological skill I am

testament to my technological skill I am

testament to my technological skill I am going to program this computer to design

going to program this computer to design

going to program this computer to design a facade and it’ll have 10,000 little

a facade and it’ll have 10,000 little

a facade and it’ll have 10,000 little holes and precisely placed locations and

holes and precisely placed locations and

holes and precisely placed locations and everything will be beautiful I want to

everything will be beautiful I want to

everything will be beautiful I want to suggest to you that what architects

suggest to you that what architects

suggest to you that what architects should do is that they should design a

should do is that they should design a

should do is that they should design a building that reflects the identity of

building that reflects the identity of

building that reflects the identity of the community they should design a

the community they should design a

the community they should design a building that means something it’s about

building that means something it’s about

building that means something it’s about culture this is my nomination as the

culture this is my nomination as the

culture this is my nomination as the most culturally relevant building in the

most culturally relevant building in the

most culturally relevant building in the US in the last 40 years this is the

US in the last 40 years this is the

US in the last 40 years this is the Vietnam veterans memorial on the Capitol

Vietnam veterans memorial on the Capitol

Vietnam veterans memorial on the Capitol Mall in Washington DC

Mall in Washington DC

Mall in Washington DC it was designed by Milan an

it was designed by Milan an

it was designed by Milan an asian-american I believe she was a

asian-american I believe she was a

asian-american I believe she was a student at the time and it has become a

student at the time and it has become a

student at the time and it has become a symbol an icon of our national grief but

symbol an icon of our national grief but

symbol an icon of our national grief but why can we not have buildings that

why can we not have buildings that

why can we not have buildings that express more than grief why can’t we

express more than grief why can’t we

express more than grief why can’t we express joy celebration other emotions

express joy celebration other emotions

express joy celebration other emotions this is my nomination for the second

this is my nomination for the second

this is my nomination for the second most culturally relevant building this

most culturally relevant building this

most culturally relevant building this building sits on the shore of Lake

building sits on the shore of Lake

building sits on the shore of Lake Michigan it was designed by a Latino but

Michigan it was designed by a Latino but

Michigan it was designed by a Latino but actually a Spaniard and his name is

actually a Spaniard and his name is

actually a Spaniard and his name is Santiago Calatrava

Santiago Calatrava

Santiago Calatrava and this building has a roof that is

and this building has a roof that is

and this building has a roof that is designed to open and close and they do

designed to open and close and they do

designed to open and close and they do this four times a day the roof emulates

this four times a day the roof emulates

this four times a day the roof emulates the spread of a Gold’s wings on the

the spread of a Gold’s wings on the

the spread of a Gold’s wings on the seashore which as it’s on the shore of

seashore which as it’s on the shore of

seashore which as it’s on the shore of Lake Michigan there’s actually gulls in

Lake Michigan there’s actually gulls in

Lake Michigan there’s actually gulls in the picture if you look really hard the

the picture if you look really hard the

the picture if you look really hard the building is so evocative that they had

building is so evocative that they had

building is so evocative that they had to publish the schedule for opening and

to publish the schedule for opening and

to publish the schedule for opening and closing on the internet they made this

closing on the internet they made this

closing on the internet they made this image of the building part of the city

image of the building part of the city

image of the building part of the city of Milwaukee’s City logo well that’s

of Milwaukee’s City logo well that’s

of Milwaukee’s City logo well that’s great for Milwaukee and that’s great for

great for Milwaukee and that’s great for

great for Milwaukee and that’s great for Washington but but what’s the way that

Washington but but what’s the way that

Washington but but what’s the way that we can get to having buildings with

we can get to having buildings with

we can get to having buildings with meaning in our communities well the

meaning in our communities well the

meaning in our communities well the first thing we have to do is that all of

first thing we have to do is that all of

first thing we have to do is that all of us especially architects but all of us

us especially architects but all of us

us especially architects but all of us must learn to see culture it’s starting

must learn to see culture it’s starting

must learn to see culture it’s starting with our own now you probably say well

with our own now you probably say well

with our own now you probably say well you know of course I see my own culture

you know of course I see my own culture

you know of course I see my own culture and most people think that until they

and most people think that until they

and most people think that until they get in contact with another culture and

get in contact with another culture and

get in contact with another culture and they find out oh I never realized that

they find out oh I never realized that

they find out oh I never realized that the way I do this doesn’t have to be

the way I do this doesn’t have to be

the way I do this doesn’t have to be that way the second thing we have to do

that way the second thing we have to do

that way the second thing we have to do is you have to take all the the relevant

is you have to take all the the relevant

is you have to take all the the relevant cultural groups that this building is

cultural groups that this building is

cultural groups that this building is supposed to represent and have them

supposed to represent and have them

supposed to represent and have them participate from the design through the

participate from the design through the

participate from the design through the construction so that the building is not

construction so that the building is not

construction so that the building is not just some building somebody did it’s

just some building somebody did it’s

just some building somebody did it’s their building the third thing we have

their building the third thing we have

their building the third thing we have to do and all of us need to do this

to do and all of us need to do this

to do and all of us need to do this is that we have to stop and learn and

is that we have to stop and learn and

is that we have to stop and learn and look at the culture of the people it’s

look at the culture of the people it’s

look at the culture of the people it’s being billed for we have to learn to see

being billed for we have to learn to see

being billed for we have to learn to see their culture culture is very in very

their culture culture is very in very

their culture culture is very in very basic ways it can be as simple as what’s

basic ways it can be as simple as what’s

basic ways it can be as simple as what’s a good color or good colors and how do

a good color or good colors and how do

a good color or good colors and how do you put them together what’s important

you put them together what’s important

you put them together what’s important about anything is it more important that

about anything is it more important that

about anything is it more important that a building Express privacy or community

a building Express privacy or community

a building Express privacy or community is it more important that a building

is it more important that a building

is it more important that a building express story or silence or is it more

express story or silence or is it more

express story or silence or is it more important that it it conformed to a

important that it it conformed to a

important that it it conformed to a style like modernism or Victorianism is

style like modernism or Victorianism is

style like modernism or Victorianism is it important that it express a

it important that it express a

it important that it express a technological miracle if you will there

technological miracle if you will there

technological miracle if you will there is something about a living culture that

is something about a living culture that

is something about a living culture that resists being crushed down to a set of

resists being crushed down to a set of

resists being crushed down to a set of rules that one can program into an AI

rules that one can program into an AI

rules that one can program into an AI and turn out meaningful buildings and

and turn out meaningful buildings and

and turn out meaningful buildings and the problem with that is that real

the problem with that is that real

the problem with that is that real culture is alive real culture grows it

culture is alive real culture grows it

culture is alive real culture grows it evolves so whether you live work in play

evolves so whether you live work in play

evolves so whether you live work in play whatever building that is ask yourself

whatever building that is ask yourself

whatever building that is ask yourself these three questions does this building

take my past into account honor my

take my past into account honor my ancestors does this building take my

ancestors does this building take my

ancestors does this building take my present into account does it have my

present into account does it have my

present into account does it have my spirit now in my perspective on life

spirit now in my perspective on life

spirit now in my perspective on life does it take my future into account does

does it take my future into account does

does it take my future into account does it contain my aspirations and where I

it contain my aspirations and where I

it contain my aspirations and where I want to go if you have a building that

want to go if you have a building that

want to go if you have a building that cannot you cannot answer yes to at least

cannot you cannot answer yes to at least

cannot you cannot answer yes to at least one of those things then will you love

one of those things then will you love

one of those things then will you love that building is there is there going to

that building is there is there going to

that building is there is there going to be a reason for that building to stand

if there is it doesn’t matter how

if there is it doesn’t matter how well-built technically a building is if

well-built technically a building is if

well-built technically a building is if there is no love for it that building

there is no love for it that building

there is no love for it that building will fall so

will fall so

will fall so let’s finish up with a little refresher

let’s finish up with a little refresher

let’s finish up with a little refresher on Detroit all of these things that I’ve

on Detroit all of these things that I’ve

on Detroit all of these things that I’ve said should be part of sustainability

said should be part of sustainability

said should be part of sustainability are in fact necessary you have to go

are in fact necessary you have to go

are in fact necessary you have to go beyond the technological you have to

beyond the technological you have to

beyond the technological you have to include the social the economic and the

include the social the economic and the

include the social the economic and the cultural and it’s only when you do that

cultural and it’s only when you do that

cultural and it’s only when you do that that you create enough value that that

that you create enough value that that

that you create enough value that that building can stand for the ages

building can stand for the ages

building can stand for the ages now Detroit is on its way back its

now Detroit is on its way back its

now Detroit is on its way back its resurgent and many cities across the

resurgent and many cities across the

resurgent and many cities across the country have had the same experience

country have had the same experience

country have had the same experience from the disinvestment to the resurgence

from the disinvestment to the resurgence

from the disinvestment to the resurgence new economic basis new people even

new economic basis new people even

new economic basis new people even refugees coming in making a difference

refugees coming in making a difference

refugees coming in making a difference Detroit is on the way to forging a new

Detroit is on the way to forging a new

Detroit is on the way to forging a new identity a sustainable identity one that

identity a sustainable identity one that

identity a sustainable identity one that includes identity community and purpose

includes identity community and purpose

includes identity community and purpose thank you

thank you

thank you [Applause]

”

Be First to Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *