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Thoughts on Japan: design, politics, environment during times of disaster

  • 1.  Thoughts on Japan: design, politics, environment during times of disaster

    Posted 03-22-2011 02:38 PM
    This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Young Architects Forum and Committee on the Environment .
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    One of the really heartening facts of late is how many young architects are willing, ready, and eager to help when disasters happen. We saw this in full effect after the Katrina Hurricane, and then again after the earthquake in Haiti.

    With the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan, something else has become really evident to me: the complicity of architecture and planning, in addition to political and institutional systems, in how countries fare during times of natural disaster.

    There is a very real connection between the "disaster" quotient of natural events and the kinds of spaces we plan and build. We need critical responses to current environmental issues and to rethink how we balance the threats to human life and culture against ever larger appetites for energy and resources.

    I recently wrote a post about this, on MVMTBLDG, my blog on architecture and social justice: http://mvmtbldg.wordpress.com/2011/03/15/japan-earthquake/

    I would love comments and feedback.

    Thanks,
    Kian

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    Kian Goh, AIA, LEED AP
    Partner
    SUPER-INTERESTING! architecture.design.strategies
    Brooklyn NY
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