Phantom Limbs: Urban history and the generation of built form

Abstract

Throughout the process of trying to manage decisions and objects coming together in a designated area of the city, questions are faced that are generated by more than one set of circumstances, the many histories of a place, its geology and typology and topology, the balance of pragmatism and idealism — the issue of whether or not to even engage in these dialogues... In the end the project must be for and about the citizenry — in all their many shapes and sizes — here are more issues and less clarity! It seems to me now that such a project must be run through a succession of cycles of construction and destruction, and I say this having watched this project settle a bit more with each rewrite and rehearsal. It also became painstakingly clear that the architectural idea that is to undergo this many washings needs to be a solid one. The overarching question engaged in the project and the one that remains is, simply, what does it mean to build in this city? I look forward to be able to try to answer it again and again.