Can Local Architecture Help Cure the Ills of Globalism?

The global pause of the COVID pandemic has provided an opportunity to assess present-day globalism and the architecture that has emerged alongside it. Stemming back to the broad expansion of free trade in the 90s at the end of the Cold War, globalism’s cultural promise was simple and aspirational: integrating markets globally would increase the interaction between and learning of different cultures. By normalizing such experiences in our daily lives, we would become global citizens liberated from our previous prejudices–all well-intentioned objectives.

Lyon Part-Dieu Urban Shopping Center / MVRDV

MVRDV has completed the transformation of the La Part-Dieu urban shopping center in Lyon, France. The project has transformed the original building from the 1970s, “re-socializing” the shopping center and transforming Lyon’s city center. While sustainably reusing a significant amount of the existing building’s materials, the design rearranges internal programs, adds more space, replaces a redundant car park, inserts large windows, refreshes the characteristic old concrete façade, and adds an expansive rooftop park connected to the city by monumental stairs. With this extensive transformation, a building that was once an obstruction to Lyon’s vitality is poised to begin a new chapter as a vibrant city center attraction.

Marea Residential Complex / WORKac

Marea is a multi-family development on the Mediterranean just outside the city of Batroun, one of the oldest cities in the world. Our project investigates density by combining an approach towards shared circulation and infrastructure with the construction of private terraces featuring extraordinary views.

Time to B Café / NONE SPACE

‘Timeless Value’ The place is located near Mt. Gwanggyo on the outskirts of Yongin City. Locational conditions and the system of 'No Takeaway' and 'No Plug No Wi-fi' may be inconvenient for customers. Nevertheless, we encourage customers to enjoy the analog time, away from digital for a while, for complete ‘resting’ and ‘relaxing’ in nature.

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