The generic as a symbol for modernity?

Not too go off on too much of a tangent, but seeing that I have been reading quite bit on China for last couple of weeks, Koolhaas’ “Generic City” made me think of the large urban developments now happening in most large and small cities in the country. In great part, due to globalization, cities have become a commodity, competing with each other to become a symbol of modernization, and thus attract foreign investment, etc. As a result, the “city image” has become predominant. Foreign celebrity architects are brought in as part of the market scheme in order to creating landmarks and an “identity” for the city, most of the time only thinking of the new and disregarding the old/history/culture. The problem is that, with this abundance of symbols (airports, and business centers have become a key factor), the exaggeration of variety, the increase of verticality and of ”mega projects” (with a lake or waterfront of some sort) has seemed to create the “same” city all over…a “theme park city”, a “generic city”. Has this obsession with the global image, technology, and the NEW (and thus the disregard for history and culture) become our symbol of modernity?


The kinetic public...

This article brings us back to the discussion of what is constitutes a public space and what exactly constitutes success for them. Basing my thoughts on it, a completely open space to the public does not mean that it will a place of “exchange”, or a part of the “public realm”. With the arrival and high integration of technology and mobility in society, and new factors such as the importance of security, etc., public spaces have to be redefined. With this said, a public space is not necessarily a static one. This makes me think of my experience of the metro and gondola (ski lift) systems in Medellin, Colombia. To quickly describe the latter, the metro reaches south to north (rich to poor), the gondola service connecting to the metro in a depressed area North of the city. I am not sure if it is the location of the system (allowing accessibility to all) or simply the novelty of it, which has permitted and thus created a non-exclusive space, where on finds a mix and exchange of social classes, thoughts, and ideologies. Depending on ones situation, the reasons for utilizing the system may vary (be it entertainment, an only means of transportation, etc), nevertheless the care and pride for the city is present throughout… I guess I consider this a highly successful public space.