Photo credit: author — A corner view at the sidewalk on L street NW. Washington DC.

Our ideology of the quality of life

In this article, we talk about why people want a recognizable building in their town is the same reason they want to purchase a recognizable bag.

For an extended period, this mentality of desiring a particular brand labeled as “quality of life” is also reflected in many American cities. Those American dreams include: a “good” and car-friendly neighborhood, a single house, an ample backyard, etc. Therefore, in those neighborhoods, their cul-de-sac looks like every other cul-de-sac, their shopping mall looks like every shopping mall, and their park looks like every other park.

Interestingly and excitingly, this ideology seems to shift…

Who is the City for?

Since 1960, Jane Jacob has introduced this concept of designing a city for people, not just cars or shopping centers. After observing the many city rebuilt projects after the Great Depression, she was against large-scale urban renewal programs.

At the beginning of her book “The Death and Life of Great American Cities”, she was not shy about her intent, “this book is an attack on current city planning and rebuilding.” “ My attack is not based on quibbles about rebuilding methods or hair-splitting about fashion in design. It is an attack, rather, on the principles and aims that have shaped modern, orthodox city planning and rebuilding.”

Jane Jacob. Frank Gehry. and Placemaking.

This “relatively new” perspective on city planning later influenced planners not to be hired to replicate or formulate the same spaces as elsewhere. Instead, tailor residents’ day-to-day life into overall planning.

During a similar time, while Jane Jacob spent three years conducting her research and publishing her most influential work; Frank Gehry quietly founded his practice in Los Angeles in 1962.

Gehry completed his Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain in 1997. It gained an overwhelming international reputation and was “the greatest building in our time.” It was not only great because of its distinctive architectural look but also of its economic ripple effect.

Jacob once said in her book, “… because this is the only way to learn what principles of planning and what practice in rebuilding can promote social and economic vitality in cities…” There’s no doubt Jane Jacob’s eyes are on the sidewalks, the locals, the small blocks, and aged buildings. She also aimed for economic vitality in the cities. But why, when we talk about placemaking, our view toward these two authors is so different?

Our stereotype of “design” and many more in our places

So why did after Jane Jacob and others advocated for local neighborhoods, people continue to commission architect like Gehry for his striking styles and provocative looks, which had nothing to do with the local culture or history?

Well, I have not figured it out.

However, when discussing “designing” a place, I firmly believe that we should not separate it from observation, analyzing, programming, planning, calculation, and other environment-related issues.

Re-think what “design” is

Danish Architect Jan Gehl’ famous quote, “First life, then spaces, then buildings — the other way around never works”. His design manifesto echoes Jane Jacob’s urban principles and attracted many “placemaking” followers.

“So, does that mean we ignore ‘life’, if we talk about ‘design’ first?” if you have such a question.

When people think about “design,” they immediately link it with a particular fashion or look. In my opinion, design is a refined form of culture. The culture summarizes a specific era’s zoning and regulations (combination of relevant policy), people’s preference (such as lifestyles and human behavior), market and land value (for example, material availability or market demand), and space constraints (what happen at specific location and site).

I will use a case during my volunteer as an example to explain “design as a culture summary” in a future chapter. You could also check out this article and see how “design” works in Balboa Park and Guggenheim Museum Bilbao.

Notes and Reference:

Why so many suburbs looks the same, Vox/Youtube
From the iconic Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Architectural Digest.
Gehry is not the only one. Many other star-architects were hired to have their distinctive style during this period as well. Such as:
- Richard Meier (1934- ), found his practice in 1963. Notable work: Getty Center, 1997
- Michael Graves (1934-2015), found his practice in 1964. Notable work: Portland Building 1982.
- Peter Eisenman (1932-), found his practice in 1967. Notable work: Greater Columbus Convention Center, 1993
- Thom Mayne (1944-), found SCI-arc in 1972. Notable work: Diamond Ranch Highschool, 1999.
- Steven Holl (1947-), found his practice in 1967. Notable work: Chapel of St. Ignatius, 1997.
Jan Gehl, Life Between Buildings: Using public space. (Washington DC: Island Press, 2011) accessed via Academia.