ReFoc

Architecture and Recession: A study of the fluctuating factors that affect architectural proposals throughout periods of drastic change.

Architectural proposals are born out of the analysis of context and content. These factors are inherently interdependent as well as constantly fluctuating, especially in times of recessions. Careful consideration must be given to both context and content throughout the project, in order to ensure that the relationships of a piece of architecture can withstand the effects of a looming recession. In the case of Xanadu, a 2 billion dollar commercial project, developers focused solely on content.

Xanadu was conceived of at a time when threats of a recession were looming. The proposal was a winning entry of a competition where projects were assessed based on bottom line numbers. Programs were developed with an emphasis on bringing people to Xanadu and keeping them there through the integration of hotels, business, shopping, entertainment, and recreation. Meanwhile, there was no consideration given to the larger elements of context. Neighboring downtowns, needs for transportation, requirements of affordable public housing, buildings on the immediate site, and environmental concerns were all ignored. Furthermore the public as well as government officials and other public figures were constantly kept in the dark. These injustices were not limited to this specific project, but rather symptoms of ideals that represent the general approach to building in the late 20th century. Ultimately this disregard of context in favor of content led to the collapse of projects like Xanadu. Currently, as we are pulling ourselves out of economic depression, a new emphasis has been placed on balancing the content and context. Now we must evaluate these failed projects and adapt already developed content so that it may respond to context as well.