By Kayla Fuller
As
designers, we are taught to integrate all parts of the environment into a
design and understand the consequences that can occur. With technological
improvements occurring daily, we alter our approach to make better use of what
is available. Unfortunately our ancestors left us in distress and we are forced
to carry their destruction with us. What empowers us to change our attempt and
reverse the effects of our failing plant? Knowledge is the most powerful and
useful influence we have available.
“Knowledge is power, power comes with
responsible behavior[1]” –Szenasy
The
responsibility to conduct the proper action should be a moral established at a
young age. Daily, the media exposes unethical actions to those curious of their
surroundings. Children are no longer protected from this exposure, for many
this is a world that has become all too familiar for them. With such a negative
image of the world around them, their perception becomes overwhelmed by fear
and rage.
Growing up with a fear of not knowing what the future may
hold, can develop a behaviorally challenged and unethical generation that
struggles to survive. How do we react to a struggling generation? We create
more boundaries and disconnection with others, eventually isolating them
completely. Very few can overcome such boundaries and be successful. Our
society ensures power to those in control and suppresses others to ensure that
they cannot be touched.
Through creative design, we can overcome such boundaries.
No longer do we need to fear what we cannot see or understand, rather we should
use this fear to empower reintegration. We are an extremely competitive race
and we fuel our success through competition with others. Through interaction
with those we view as competitive, we can collaborate and improve our
achievements. Why have we allowed our ancestors failures to continue, when
there is evidence that through change, we can overcome unbelievable
limitations. Although many of these boundaries that have been established are
physical, there are also the mental challenges that overcome our logic of
success.
Through rehabilitation of urban design, we can
incorporate the needs of the community to encourage youth of their potentials.
The urban design on cities creates not only the horizontal boundary of where
someone originates, but the height of the city also provides a hierarchy
through separation. Those who can afford the penthouse kingdom with priceless
views away from the noise isolate themselves. As luxurious as this may seem,
they create a dreadfully toxic situation. Those fancy materials covering the
walls, floors and furniture release chemicals into the air and merge with the
pollution from the city below them. There are simple alternatives that can
reduce certain toxins but they only result in a small outcome in a large
situation. Another approach to reduce pollution and restore interaction between
individuals is urban gardens. This becomes not only a diverse gathering place
but and educational center to reintegrate youth with processes of nature and
their planet.
The major argument Szenasy makes against architecture is
about design and disconnect to the community. This contradicts what most
designers achieve. There is no success through a disconnected design for it
advances a disconnection throughout the community. The site and development of,
is one of the most valuable elements of a design. With improper use of the
natural elements provided a design instantly fails. Why not take advantage of
free resources that reconnect us with our one and only home. If more people
understood the effects they have on the survival of our home, there would be a
dramatic change. It takes one person to make a positive effect for others to
follow. Hopefully we can demonstrate for the younger generations what their
futures may hold and restore hope.
[1]
Susan S. Szenasy, “ What Do Ethics Have
to Do With Design?,”Metropolis 1969 (2004): 1, June 10, 2013, www.metropolismag.com/December-1969/What-Do-Ethics-Have-to-Do-with-Design/
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