Approximately half of the world’s population now lives in urban areas. Globalization has initiated mass migrations from rural to urban areas. As a result, major cities are faced with challenges of diminishing resources, poverty, housing shortages and a host of other issues on an immense scale. At the same time, each city has developed individual responses to these issues. Inevitably, these circumstances are a framework of the city’s identity. These idiosyncrasies, as they are manifest through architecture, are the focus of this study.
This study will focus on architectural conditions specific to several megacities, metropolitan areas with a population exceeding 10 million that are often associated with mass migration. Specifically, Sao Paulo, Brazil and Shanghai, China present two very different environments for an analysis of megacity phenomena. The study will attempt to identify the immense, yet distinctive situations these cities possess. In addition, the study will identify how global integration has affected each city in terms of its architecture including its adaptation or assimilation of international ideologies, as well as its response to global forces and how these forces contribute to a new or different architectural environment.
Research will include observation, analysis and reaction to these cultural idiosyncrasies through the lens of proposed architectural/artistic interventions. These interventions are not an attempt to solve socio-cultural issues with architecture, but rather to use the medium as an interpretative tool for understanding the unique environments these megacities possess. The act of design is intended to serve as an act of mediation.
Additional cities will be visited throughout South America and Asia, and by contrast these explorations will be less intensive with regard the overall study. Instead they will complete a comprehensive exposure to major globalizing cities and thus a broader context with which to understand Sao Paulo and Shanghai.
At this time, I would like to officially extend my gratitude to the Rotch Committee for this wonderful opportunity to study architecture abroad. I am very fortunate and honored to have received such an award. It is my hope that I can return with new insight and experiences to share with the architectural community back home. Thank you.
