architecture in a celebration society

Recently, a prominent architect informed me that he is an ally of ours. I expect that he will in future help to guide us as we organize teams of people to build the first Celebration Society, either in simulation (as I have proposed) or in physical form. I also expect that he will eventually blog in this space. I look forward to his participation and leadership, along with other thought leaders who have informed me that they are also allies.

Meanwhile, here are some of my thoughts on architecture. The architecture of a Celebration Society extends far beyond common conceptions of the subject. It includes the integration of natural features of the environment, and possibly even the design of such features. It includes the design of not only buildings but also roads, canals, and the placement, functionality and appearance of infrastructure such as trains and conduits for moving information, resources, products, and waste. (I have envisioned the latter being large, automated underground tubes, containing necessary cables and possibly pneumatics.)

All of my thinking about the design of a city-state such as Dogun is preliminary, for at least two reasons. First, I am not expert in any of the disciplines that will, together, enable us to create optimally functioning living conditions. Such experts will not direct the consensus of would-be residents, but will advise us to we can avoid as many mistakes as possible. Second, it will be the consensus of would-be residents that makes all decisions about a city-state. I have provided a scaffolding; one upon which many varying designs may be constructed. Mine will be one voice among many.

I also need to emphasize that this thinking is limited to construction on uninhabited or sparsely inhabited lands. The question of how to retrofit existing societies as Celebration Societies is beyond my capabilities, and I am hopeful that experts such as our architect ally will have the insights and wisdom to develop viable solutions.

Architecture should combine functionality with strong aesthetics. Aesthetics are often given short shrift, yet they can elevate the quality of life for everyone who comes in contact with them–and even evoke that most precious of experiences, awe. Architecture should also reflect the fact that the needs of society will be continuously evolving, as we are committed to continuous process improvement. Legacy systems, clearly appropriate to a given time, may be hopelessly antiquated and even defective in future. (For example, in Venice, the roads between buildings are too narrow for many of today’s needs. Likewise, the bridges over canals are too low as waters rise. Because of how Venetian structures were built, modernization will not come easily.)

In designing our buildings and other structures (and hopefully, eventually, our Wonders), we need to keep in mind that technology is not only advancing but advancing exponentially. We already know some important things that can guide our structural creations. For example, just as 3D printing can quickly generate a building, road or other structure, so too will robots soon be able to disassemble such a structure into its components. The components can then be used for other construction or fed into a plasma converter, and reduced to their elemental constituents and some slag for construction.

Likewise, by favoring renewable, fast-growing materials such as hemp and guadua bamboo, we can build many structures (or substantial portions of them) in a manner that is both lasting and amenable to rapid, non-toxic disassembly.

By building in a manner that includes ample open space between structures, we can not only avoid the subjective experience of crowding but also leave room for different structures–both buildings and others–to take their place as systems evolve.

In my view, we need to both acknowledge the emerging capabilities of technologies and also wisdom from the past. For example, the Golden Ratio is a number commonly expressed in the architectural creations of antiquity, and there is evidence that structures incorporating it have a soothing effect on people. I would advocate that it be reflected in designs whenever feasible.

Conversely, there may be particular ratios and relationships of surfaces that have a jarring or otherwise dysfunctional effect on those who observe them. (I am unaware of relevant research, if any.) Such should be avoided if at all possible.

One of the great challenges will be finding a balance between individual/family preferences and societal norms. I believe that structuring a Celebration Society as a great condominium association will go far towards resolving these issues, since that is part and parcel of Association Bylaws. (Except, in this case, the city-state as a whole would have a Charter. Villages within it might have individual Bylaws that extend but do not otherwise modify the Charter.)

I expect that villages within a Celebration Society will have differing architectural themes. For example, one village might favor Hobbiton-style dwellings (such are now available on a modular basis). Another might favor Victorian, or Tudor, or, Elvish, or … Given that 3D printing can generate sturdy, stable structures that serve almost any imagined form, the only questions are architectural soundness and livability.

I expect that each village will restrict the external appearance of all structures within that village to conform with its own architectural guidelines, expressed in its own Bylaws. Persons not desiring to live that way will find or found other villages more to their liking.

As the city-state will be comprised of hundreds of such villages, there will be some common features shared by all. I imagine that an underground conveyance system, probably a network of huge, linked tubes, will transport freshly harvested food, products and–in the other direction–wastes, sorted into types of wastewater and fertilizer. It is also possible that this system will convey fresh water, electricity and cables for communications/internet. On the other hand, communications may be wireless and water and electricity may be generated locally, within the village. (Redundancy would seem prudent.)

I do not favor a rigid order of perpendicular roads radiating outward from the city center, since aesthetics could be better with some variation. This could include curves in roads, parks, and beautiful alcoves scattered throughout, where people might rest or gather to enjoy flowers and wind chimes or street musicians, and listen to birds.

Roads would serve primarily as walkways, bike paths, and places for slower electric vehicles; probably golf-cart like. Those needing faster transportation would use the trains, which would radiate outward from the city center like dual bicycle spokes. I would favor a set of beautiful, winding canals replete with eddy pools, concentric from the city center, to supplement the trains and add great beauty as well as humidification, ionization and soothing sounds. In this manner, one could reach any area of the city-state by transferring from one canal ride to one train ride, or vice versa. (There could alternately be a second network of trains, radiating outward from the city center as concentric circles. In this manner, with just a single change of train, one could reach any area of the city-state.) Public bikes, electric carts and mini-Segways or hoverboards would be available at points of debarkation, and would automatically return to their stations after use.

I envision a set of publicly owned blimps that are used to silently hoist large construction pieces into location, and also to move home furnishings that are too large or heavy for transportation in the tube system.

Obviously, there is far more to consider than the above. The architecture of the city-state alone will be a massive undertaking; both physically and conceptually. It will need to serve not only the intended residents but also as a model system, duplicable far and wide as needed in the decades ahead.