Architecture as Power, Triumvirate

ARCHITECTURE AS

P O W E R T R I U M V I R A T E

steven

j

carlson

Syracuse University School

of

Architecture

SUPPRESSION,

REPRESSION, and REVOLUTION

THROUGH EXPLOITATION of ARCHITECTURE

Architecture ement and

of a

is

a

exp¬ression,

cultural

potent

manifestation

cultural identity. attracts wardens

the of

the

valuable

asset

ed

and

world:

efit.

to

the

for

the con-

as

their

history,

regimes,

it

a

manipulat-

be

Throughout

thoritarian

of

dictators,

altered

of

Therefore,

attention

the

querors,

el-

powerful

benau-

conquerors,

and dictators have exploited architecture

as

a

tool

in

their

quest to control and subdue their subjects.

This

architectural ex-

ploitation has occurred over many levels; from planometric innovations

on

a

small

scale,

inter-

ventions upon existing constructs to demonstrate new ownership of a culture’s identity, and the construction of monumental buildings as

an

extension

and

symbol

authority lation;

of over

a a

manifestation ruling

group’s

servant

Architecture

has

popu-

often

been exploited by those in power, as

a

means

of

subduing

Conversely, architecture has often been exploited by recalcitrant populations, as a means of throwing off the yoke of authoritarianism. trant

populations.

recalci-

The 'triumvirate'

of

power

through

architecture:

1 2 3

PRISON ARCHITECTURE

ALTERATION

of

[pg.11]

EXISTING CONSTRUCTS

AUTHORITARIAN MONUMENTALITY

[pg.27]

[pg.19]

1

PRISON ARCHITECTURE

2

ALTERATION

of

EXISTING CONSTRUCTS

3

AUTHORITARIAN MONUMENTALITY

Architecture has a ed, complex, and

multifacetintertwined

relationship with power struggles,

hierarchies,

social

control in society. arguable a

that

small

control

scale

It

and

is in-

architecture

at

can

to

be

used

individuals,

and

the

intentions of the designers of prisons

are

ble

the

in

clear plans

sive

domains

on

the

prison.

and

considered

oppres-

of

the

The

pre-existing

legi-

and

scale

of

deliberate

neutering

of

architecture

in

recalcitrant regions was and is still used alongside invasion, forced

assimilation.

and of

conversion,

religious

architectural

tent

becomes

less

clear

The

in-

control

more as

reading

complex

the

and

discussion

is shifted from this pragmatic scale,

to

the

domain

monumental

and

the

ly

significant;

clear, is that

but

of

the

culturalwhat

is

Architecture's

role in society and its symbolic nature

carries

significance, exploited

to

with which

great

it has

great been

effect

by

groups and people throughout the world

and

throughout

history.

steven carlson Syracuse University School of Architecture ARC134[Architecture's Global History]

12.09.2013

This work was created as a supplement to a semester-long investigation of architecture's roll in a global historical context.

Initial work investigated architecture's role in the potential creation of a moon colony in the wake of newt gingrich's speculations during the 2012 presidential election. This led to an investigation of architecture's role in colonization throughout history, which was used as a springboard into this investigation of architecture's role in control mechanisms.

NEWT GINGRICH <> COLONIZATION <> POWER&CONTROL

THANK YOU

image references: [12]

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m64kxxkKid1r13gsho1_500.png

[13]

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/21/books/review/the-panopticon-by-jenni-fagan.html

[14]

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[15]

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3181/2356362208_c8461c4a90_o.jpg https://globalhistory.expressions.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/2f57a11b50a77dafc8812c5e098db969.jpg

[16]

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[17]

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[20]

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[21]

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[22]

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[24]

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[25]

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ce-8AMQlo6E/T0aikSWQILI/AAAAAAAAByY/Z69t1TUrdIc/s1600/Bastille+Day.jpg http://mexfiles.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/a-la-bastille1.jpg

[28]

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[29]

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[30]

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[32]

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ORIGINAL DIAGRAMS: pgs. 20,21, 28, 29 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: https://globalhistory.expressions.syr.edu/architecture-as-power-triumvirate/ ALSO BY THE AUTHOR, IN COLLABORATION WITH ANGELA COPES: “Goodnight Moon, Goodnight Gingrich” https://globalhistory.expressions.syr.edu/goodnight-moon-goodnight-gingrich/ “Colonial Hybridization in Architecture” https://globalhistory.expressions.syr.edu/colonial-hybridization-in-architecture/