Learning From Utopia Contemporary Architecture and the Quest for Political and Social Relevance

摘要

A few years ago, the subject of Utopia and its relation to architecture was solely of historical interest. The Utopian character of modern architecture has often been denounced, and is held responsible for the mistakes of modern urbanism. Modern architects, it was said, had jeopardized the quality of life in their attempts to change society. In his 1973 essay, Architecture and Utopia, the Italian historian Manfredo Tafuri was even more severe. He believed the Utopian streak of modern architecture was based on the fundamental delusion that capitalism needed architectural and urban order to function in an efficient manner.