Chapter 7 ~ Post Urbanism



Guggenheim in Bilbao


Post urbanism is provocative, inventive, unpredictable architecture that is not limited in form. It is not planned it just happens. There is a lack of coherence and unity along with a lack of any authenticity.

Post urbanism is the 'Generic' city, the city without history except for the possible district of concentrated history. It welcomes disconnected, hypermodern buildings and shopping mall urbanism; signature buildings that are self-referential rather than contextual; internally consistent but lack continuity in the urban plan over space or time; sensational trophy buildings.


Las Vegas


Shared values are no longer possible in a world that is increasingly fragmented and composed of isolated zones of the "other" (homeless, poor, criminals, minorities) as well as mainstream zones of consumers, internet surfers, and free-range tourists.


Atlanta


Visit Atlanta, Houston, or Las Vegas and you will see the 'generic' city, the Post Urban city.

Back | Contents | Next


mgoodwin@mgoodwinDESIGN.com