Housing, Politics, and Architecture

Abstract

This thesis provides a synthesis of the course work and research that I pursued as a studentin the Master of Science, Advanced Architectural Design program (M.S. AAD) at Cornell University. The thesis includes my design projects, works from elective courses, and architectural theories that were discussed during classes. At the beginning of my study, I asked questions about politics of architecture, ownership, housing, and inequality. To think about these questions, I chose seven case studies and examined how architects addressed these issues through space and technology. After exploring the examples from the lens of my questions, I revisited my design projects to see how the case studies might have influenced my design thinking. Finally, I concluded with my research on the spatial strategies that might construct a new social agenda for our time. For my thesis, I focused especially on Atelier3. I used Langdon Winner's argument as the framework to see how architecture creates a new relationship between technology and politics. Beyond the scale of a building system, I also look at other innovative approaches for address these issues, such as the use of crowdfunding platforms and efforts made by architectural theorists. In conclusion, I think architecture of our time should focus on designing the protocols that guide the interplay of things. It should be flexible, adaptable, open source, and open for discussion. Architecture should create opportunities for the others to weigh in.