Infrastructural Urbanism

In this article, Allen focuses on the impact that modern and post-modern architecture has had on urbanism. He explains that over the the course of thirty years, architects have slowly taken the responsibility of urban design away from themselves. It is more than likely, however, that this was not at all the intention, but through the development of new architectures they reduced the importance of urbanism. Architects have placed more importance on surface and sign, that is information and appearance, than infrastructure. This is evidenced by the massive reduction in funding for civic projects including rail, mass transit, and water supply and control.

Another of his points I the unique opportunity our profession has to “express the human condition.” He compares architecture to literature, art, and theatre as more than just a critique of reality, but transforming force. He says, ”Architecture is understood as a discursive system that expresses, critiques, or makes apparent the hard realities of a world that is held safely at arm's length.”

He finishes this piece by discussing his seven propositions for urban infrastructure.

1. The first one is the ability of infrastructure to construct the site as opposed to constructing the building. The building makes a connection to the urban fabric through the infrastructure.

2. The second point refers to the necessity for infrastructure to be flexible and anticipatory. That is to say, the urban infrastructure must recognize the changing city and be prepared to accommodate it. Anything else would be a failure.

3. The infrastructure should be aware of the city as a collective and responsively allow for th input of multiple groups. The city is not a uniform entity, but rather a massive collection of individual constructs longing to be linked to one another.

4. Local contingency vs. overall continuity. This builds on the previous point I believe, in that the urban infrastructure should respond to the individual buildings and at the same time relate them all together.

5. Infrastructure is static itself, but manages a complex system of flow, movement, and exchange. It is not necessary for it to be kinetic to manage the kinetic.

6. Artificial Ecology. Natural ecological systems work for a reason, and urban infrastructures can take a lesson from their organization.

7. Allows for detailed design of typical, repetitive elements. The infrastructure of the city should not be overbearing that it dictates the design of everything around it. It should create an environment in which individualization can thrive.