Transforming architecture - a book review

In May 2008, a number of foreign architects were invited to Denmark by the Academic Architectural Association. Together with Danish colleagues, they were asked to analyze residential areas with a high degree of social problems. The book ‘Transforming Architecture’ is based on this common analysis. The overriding conclusion is that social and physical measures must be combined in order for residential areas to undergo change.

The book Transforming Architecture aims to inspire and encourage a holistic effort as well as supporting exchange of experience. The book is divided into two parts; problems and solutions. Both of these titles are misleading in relation to their content and especially in relation to the book's overarching theme – I will return to this point.

In part one - the problems - a number of researchers and planners reflect on the problems of ghettos in relations to crime, environmental degradation, poor building materials and rundown buildings. Also in part one, the lived life and its prerequisites and dreams are described. One might name this resources and not problems.In part two – the solutions - a number of European and American projects on transforming urban ghettos are described. Common themes of these projects are identity, image and form as important parameters in the creation of new types of cities with new types of demography.

Transforming Architecture is interesting and educative with the commendable and important goal to create a more holistic approach to the renewal of residential areas (ghettos). By illuminating the social processes taking place in and around the architecture and the significance of architecture to these processes, a better understanding of the importance of architecture is fostered.

But as I indicated earlier, the prerequisite for problems and their solutions undermines the holistic purpose of the book. This is prevalent in several authors’ one-sided view of socioeconomically advantaged people (rich people) as the resources able to change the character of an area. The goal of Transforming Architecture is to create a holistic view on the revitalization of urban areas. However, there is still some way to go before the various disciplines represented in this book fully realise how to integrate other perspectives in their work.