No. #NoBorderWall!
According to Wikipedia:
"ArchDaily is one of the most visited architecture websites worldwide,[7][8][9] with over 300,000 daily readers and about 70 million page views per month as of 2014.[10] Founded in March 2008 by David Basulto and David Assael, ArchDaily includes three regional websites in Spanish (Plataforma Arquitectura, ArchDaily México, ArchDaily Colombia and ArchDaily Perú) and Portuguese (ArchDaily Brasil).[10] It has a partnership with the Pritzker Architecture Prize[10] and was one of five finalists for the Best Online Magazine prize on Mashable's 2009 Open Web Awards.[11]"
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| 2016 - Archdaily - Call for ideas to BUILD a WALL. |
It is that simple.
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| 2011 - Domus - Call for ideas to IMAGINE a BRIDGE. |
Many thanks to FIG & Fabrizio Gallanti for having initiated this important awareness/movement.
React on Twitter and Facebook via #BoycottArchdaily or #NoBorderWall
Papers on the subject:
- US/Mexico border wall competition provokes controversy by @NicholasKorody
- Can Architects Come Up With a Better Border? by @kristoncapps
- DESIGNING THE BORDER WALL? by Ronald Rael
- Can We Please Get Beyond the "Building the Border Wall?" Boycott? by @vmquirk
- Lo que la arquitectura debe (y no debe) hacer by @laperiferia
- Stop building the border wall: why designers should reject the border industry. by @_worlding
Papers on the subject:
- US/Mexico border wall competition provokes controversy by @NicholasKorody
- Can Architects Come Up With a Better Border? by @kristoncapps
- DESIGNING THE BORDER WALL? by Ronald Rael
- Can We Please Get Beyond the "Building the Border Wall?" Boycott? by @vmquirk
- Lo que la arquitectura debe (y no debe) hacer by @laperiferia
- Stop building the border wall: why designers should reject the border industry. by @_worlding
Illustrations:
"Times are changing, so fast."
2011 - Domus - Call for ideas to IMAGINE a BRIDGE.
2016 - Archdaily - Call for ideas to BUILD a WALL.
That being said, things must be clear. The primary objective of this approach is to raise awareness, not to take action against a particular person or a particular website. In the other hand, we architects, especially in this kind of sensitive context, we have a high responsability. We have to be more vigilant and more relevant to avoid (any possible) confusion.
"Times are changing, so fast."
2011 - Domus - Call for ideas to IMAGINE a BRIDGE.
2016 - Archdaily - Call for ideas to BUILD a WALL.
That being said, things must be clear. The primary objective of this approach is to raise awareness, not to take action against a particular person or a particular website. In the other hand, we architects, especially in this kind of sensitive context, we have a high responsability. We have to be more vigilant and more relevant to avoid (any possible) confusion.
Radical, Yes. Provocative, Yes. Doubtful, No.
Excerpts of some comments from social media:
Q: (N.A.)
Excerpts of some comments from social media:
Q: (N.A.)
Let's do a thought experiment.
Take these two competitions:
1. Building the Border Wall (Third Mind Foundation):
http://buildingtheborderwall.com/
2. Refugee Challenge (What Design Can Do in collaboration with UNHCR and Ikea Foundation):
http://www.whatdesigncando.com/challenge/
Think of architecture's metaphysical violence. What does architecture do? Architecture includes, and architecture excludes.
Can we not see these two design objects, a border wall and refugee shelters, as two sides of the same coin?
Can our theoretical insight into the question of designing a border wall not be deepened by reflecting upon the politics of building refugee shelters?
A: (Me)
Take these two competitions:
1. Building the Border Wall (Third Mind Foundation):
http://buildingtheborderwall.com/
2. Refugee Challenge (What Design Can Do in collaboration with UNHCR and Ikea Foundation):
http://www.whatdesigncando.com/challenge/
Think of architecture's metaphysical violence. What does architecture do? Architecture includes, and architecture excludes.
Can we not see these two design objects, a border wall and refugee shelters, as two sides of the same coin?
Can our theoretical insight into the question of designing a border wall not be deepened by reflecting upon the politics of building refugee shelters?
A: (Me)
As you said, the first excludes while the second includes. But of course, it's more complex and I'd be the first to debate (and be critical) on this sensitive issue. But actually the problem lies elsewhere. It is the amateurism of Third Mind Foundation and the "légèreté" of ArchDaily. So, yes from this point of view, this affair is (for me) a whole fiasco. As I already said: Provocative/Radical, yes. Doubtful/Amateur, no.
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