Robert Buchetto - Case Study

Global Culture (or Global Collaboration) is the increased sense of unification through a “network” based on the active exchange of education, design, cultures, thoughts and experiences regardless of proximity or context. The instantaneity of global communications; television and the internet especially begin to weave a connection through the world’s cultures that allows an open and constant access to resources and information. With this notion of connectivity to the network I ask the following questions to be considered: What does an increase in connectivity do to our society? What does an increase in connectivity do to the architectural profession? What does an increase in connectivity do to the process of collaboration between your peers and design teams? With an increase in connectivity and the technology that follows, is architecture doomed to be overthrown by technology, e.g.; the space designed for a bank teller is replaced by space for the automated teller machine?

Retail is an example of an architectural typology slowly being replaced by technology. Today, an increased amount of shopping is conducted on the internet rather than spending hours in a Macy’s browsing merchandise and trying things on prior to making a purchase, as was common process twenty years ago. Since the internet boom in the early 90’s, websites like Amazon.com have become the new retail vehicle, no longer is one required to drive to a store to make a purchase or wait hours in line for the popular Christmas toy. With the internet, people can purchase their needs virtually without ever stepping foot outside. Automated kiosks such as Best Buy’s Express kiosk (see image below) is an example of architecture’s replacement by technology. No longer is designing a space to accommodate the processes of retail required, when all one needs to do is plug in a machine that dispenses the latest James Bond movie like it was a can of Coca-Cola. Only power is required to do all the tasks that required a building and dozens of people to do. Video rental stores like Blockbuster have closed all of their built retail locations in favor of internet services and kiosks similar to the Best Buy example to rent movies as consumers turned to internet services provided by companies like Redbox and Netflix who based their company models on technology since their inception.

 Combine the kiosk with the internet and now ask yourself this; what is architecture’s role in a digitally and technologically advanced culture? Consider the role of architecture when a library’s collections are digital. If doctors can perform surgery remotely on a soldier in the field without stepping foot on the front lines, what is the role of Hospital architecture? Advancements in technology are inevitable and so is its role in providing people services that are typically housed in a building designed by an architect. Architects of the digital age are faced with a potential issue; one which must be confronted to save architecture’s relevance.  

So, what is the role of the architect and architecture in a digital era?   

           

“By 2020, 50 billion network devices will roam the earth.”

–The Proliferation of Devices, Cisco Systems, Inc., 2011

Image Credit: Domo, Inc.

http://www.domo.com/blog/2012/06/how-much-data-is-created-every-minute

Architects should embrace technology, connectivity and the changes in architecture to stay ahead of the curve.

What is the use for architecture to house people, if technology rules social interaction (Facebook), research (Google), and or the marketplace (Amazon)?

The Architect