The Collective Dream: Boundaries and the City

And The City, Essay, Hagar Abiri, No Density, Politics and economics, Urban Paradigms

Alternative Domesticity, Architecture, Architecture&nature, Berlin, Boundaries, Building, Citizens, City, City evolution, City of walls, City Planning, Collective city, Collective identity, Controlled demolition, Cultural identity, Decision makers, Democratic architecture, Essay, Germany, Housing, Iconic architecture, Infrastructure, Political implications, Politics, Power, Sustainable Development, Urban planning, Urbanism, Violence

Listen to the related podcast: The Collective Dream Boundaries and the City by And the City.

Paul Rabinow interviews Michel Foucault about his interview for the Herodotus[1]. In reply to Rabinow’s question about the political nature of architecture at the end of the 18th century, Foucault says that in the 18th century we start seeing political literature about techniques for governance in society where architecture and urbanism play an important role. Authors begin reflecting deeper on the social order, asking “What is a city?”, discussing the need to eradicate epidemics, prevent coups and promote family life (according to accepted morality of the 18th century), addressing representation of the collective, infrastructure and how to build houses.