The Department of Architecture and Allied Arts concluded its Savage Lecture Series Tuesday with a discussion panel to highlight the key issues that pervaded the series.
The six-week lecture series, “Cities in War, Struggle, and Peace: The Architecture of Memory and Life – Rebuilding Cities after War and Disaster,” featured educators and professionals specializing in fields and regions all over the world. The talks focused on issues surrounding reconstruction of cities and other settlements in a variety of regions, cultures and political situations.
The six lectures focused on Berlin; Tokyo; the Balkans; the Iraqi Marshes; Bhuj, India and Dresden.
The Discussion Panel comprised the Frances Bronet, dean of the architecture school, architecture Department Head Christine Theodoropoulos, professor emeritus Gary Moye, assistant professor Mark Gillem, and professor Howard Davis, the series organizer.
Each panel member spent five minutes presenting what he or she thought was the underlying (or most important) theme to draw from the lecture series. Then the floor was opened for the audience to ask the panel questions or discuss their observations about the issues.
Theodoropoulos began by listing what she determined to be the four main types of reconstruction that are used after war or disaster. These are reverse or anti-reconstruction, where new buildings represents new beginning; historical reconstructions with a focus on memory; critical culture reconstruction, where new designs incorporate old; and finally preventative reconstruction, which prevents future disasters. The dilemma, Theodoropoulos said, is what happens to these plans in an unstable situation?
Bronet also described that there are many dimensions to both relief and reconstruction in the aftermath of destruction. Where, she asked, do architects come in? How big of a role do they play? And how should architects be educated so they can be as effective as possible in these situations?
Gillem took the discussion in a slightly different direction by addressing an issue that he felt should have been addressed in the series.
“What happens when the victorious military comes in and rebuilds in the place they defeated?” he asked.
This creates a huge dilemma, Gillem said, when forced rebuilding does not give enough consideration to local needs.
Moye finished the panel’s presentation by bringing up the different stages of reconstruction and rebuilding. There is the immediate aftermath where the focus is mainly on relief work, then the intermediate stage where there is a push for stability, and finally the move into long-term planning.
The audience actively participated after members of the Discussion Panel had spoken.
Commentary followed on the role of architects in deciding what type of reconstruction is necessary. It was largely agreed that it depended on the situation and what is most important at the time.
The panel was highly opinionated about what sort of education was necessary for architects to have in order to be most effective in the world today. Both Davis and Gillem said it is important to simply give architects a broader education in cultural awareness and world issues so they will serve the local people’s needs.
“It is important to educate architects to learn to listen and understand the culture,” Gillem said.
The Savage Series was a two-part series which began last year with a series of five lectures on the designing of memorials and dedications.