www.quondam.com/82/8159.htm

Re: Is it the end of theory?
2003.11.15 13:50

The 'theory' that I utilize most now-a-days in terms of guiding/informing my design actions centers on the notion that the virtual realm is an 'other' place to work within as an architect and/or artist. The virtual realm (whose infrastructure is now largely the Internet and the general wired-ness of out planet) is a place additional/optional to the real realm. Although many current theories (and realities) see the real and the virtual merging in our daily lives, I more enjoy investigating the virtual realm in its more extreme position (which exists regardless of whether or not there is concurrent merging of the real and virtual going on). For example, I see all the activity at/through design-l as an ongoing, global, and (yes) virtual symposium were the design of all kinds of "urban, architectural, furniture, intelligent object, painting, sculpture, installation" and political designs are presented and/or offered for discussion and review. It is always energetic whenever the symposium gets thick here.

Thanks for sharing your view of the present situation at Beirut; I had no idea. You say "everything is being commercialized," does this mean more and more of the public environment is becoming 'branded'? I remember F., when I went to architecture school with her at Temple University here in Philadelphia, said Beirut was (earlier in the 20th century) known as "the Paris of the Mediterranean." So the "beaux-arts and shit" branding is still going on? [Interestingly, Philadelphia too has it's share of beaux-arts branding--the Benjamin Franklin Parkway--but it also (thanks to ongoing design investigations at Quondam) has a heretofore largely unnoticed Piranesi branding that is even deeper.] What might be a better manifestation of Beirut today/tomorrow?

««««

»»»»