We’re the plans for Philadelphia, and we were born with the aim of helping the urban renaissance process since post-World War II. We tried to solve the historic downtown traffic congestion problems; we tried to recreate the city’s identity by planning streets according to a functional hierarchy, and by designing highways’ girdles and parking towers - inspired by medieval cities.
Unfortunately, our approach was too theoretical and visionary, and this frightened the municipality.
I am the design for Chandigarh
city and I am the projection of the Renaissance urban dream of the “ideal city”
in the modern age. I have been designed when there was yet the belief of the
redeeming function of city planning to resolve one society’s issues.
Unfortunately, I have not been able to grow together with the Indian community,
nowadays you might see the development of the abusive city which insinuates
itself within the planned city.
Hi there, I am the Centre Pompidou, confidentially Beaubourg. Now everybody loves me, however I spent bad moments too with Parisians. Even before I was born I caused confusion because they destroyed a whole area to make space for me. For many years, people have believed that my appearance was too aggressive and inadequate for the surrounding context. On the other hand, nowadays everybody admires me for the modernity I represent.
I am Montparnasse Tower, I
have been designed in favor of a high-density sustainable city. I was supposed
to represent the city of the future that would be able to accommodate the
growing demographic flow while reducing soil consumption. Perhaps I am out of
place, sometimes I think that Parisians wouldn’t have hated me if I had grown
in the Défence.
Konnichiwa! I’m Nakagin Tower,
I am the result of studies for minimal housing units in Japan during the
recovery when it had to keep up with a society continuously changing. As time
passed, I have become obsolete due to lack of maintenance and this made me
appear as if I was in a state of abandon.
I introduce myself, my name is
Vele di Scampia, I was born as an area for popular constructions. I aimed at
representing the modernist idea of housing right. Unfortunately, due to
unmanageable circumstances, I have not been completely realized and for this
reason I have fostered the growth of malaise and criminal dynamics.
I’m Robin Hood Gardens, I have been designed to respond to the needs of postwar England, following studies on low cost collective buildings.
For this reason, I may look threatening but I was actually born to create places in which my inhabitants could continuously aggregate. Unfortunately, my intentions have been misunderstood and this has created malaise within the community.
My name is Unitè d’habitation, I was born with the aim to create an autonomous community surrounded by nature. I am the result of studies on people-oriented housing units.
My appearance could be not comforting due to my dimensions and my dark distribution spaces.
I am the result of an impossible theory that wanted to be applied to different spaces.