Notice of M.Arch. Thesis Defence (Fall 2016)

Carmen Voda

Of the thesis entitled:Continuing the Narrative of Silo No. 5

Abstract:

Every modern city faces the challenge of how to engage the remains of its industrial past. Consciously or unconsciously, post-industrial cities have experienced a type of identity crisis after the decline of industries. Sites that once played a significant role in shaping their urban character are no longer economically productive. Some say these sites are akin to ancient ruins; however, the question of establishing an authentic connection between the contemporary city and its industrial past remains a cultural and architectural challenge.

The Lachine Canal in Montreal is a significant relic of Canadian industry. In the 19th century, industries were drawn to its edges to access water for both production and transportation of goods. Today, these obsolete machine-like structures lie dormant. Among them is Silo No. 5, which is located at the mouth of the Lachine Canal flow as it spills into the St. Lawrence River. Monumental in scale, the once productive structure has the magnitude of a great cathedral.

Admired by European modernist architects and historians, grain elevators like Silo No. 5 were identified as iconic structures of 20th Century architecture. This thesis seeks to re-invent and re-integrate Silo No. 5 into the contemporary city by reconciling its multiple identities.

The intent of this thesis is to understand not only the Lachine historic site, but also to celebrate the sublime atmosphere and the architectonic qualities of Silo No. 5. Two questions guide this exploration: “is it possible to re-introduce something obsolete back into the city?” and “how can we maintain the sublime power of the iconic industrial strcture while at the same time allow it to become animated?”

The examining committee is as follows:

Supervisor:

Andrew Levitt, University of ݮƵ

Committee Members:

Marie-Paule Macdonald, University of ݮƵ

Rick Haldenby, University of ݮƵ

External Reader:

Jonathan Friedman, PARTISANS



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows:



The committee has been approved as authorized by the Graduate Studies Committee.

The Defence Examination will take place:

Wednesday September 7, 2016
9:30 AM

ARC 2026


A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Back to defences

Amanda Ghantous

Of the thesis entitled:Three Minutes toMidnight |Exploringthe Role of Dystopia in Architectural Representation

Abstract:

Inthe early 20thcentury, architects and planners, dissatisfied withthe overcrowded and deteriorating state of large cities and inspired by theseemingly infinite possibilities offered by new technologies, began to proposetheirown visions of the ideal city that they believed would cure all ofsociety’s troubles. Boldly described and drawn, many of these proposals wereconsidered breakthrough solutions and inspired generations of architects. Butliketraditional utopias, these idealistic planning schemes, though undeniablyinfluential, failed to acknowledge the realities of the contemporary city orits inhabitants, inspiring the creation of some of the most disastrous andwidely-criticized projects in architectural history.

In response to the widespread failure of these projects and believing thattheir implementation was responsible for the creation of static and lifelessarchitecture, a new generation of architects proposed provocative theoreticalprojects that challenged traditional architectural design methodologies andre-examined the relationship between architecture and society. Their goal wasnot to impose their visions for how the world should be but rather toexpressthe world as it is in order to foster new ways of thinking that could inform amore dynamic architecture in tune with the realities of its inhabitants.

Today,the disconnection between the idealized image of utopia and reality is mostcommonly found in the proliferation of hyper-realistic architecturalrenderings. Advanced digital manipulation technologies have givenarchitectsthe unprecedented power to “realistically depict the impossible,”[i]leading “clients and the public at large to expect from architecture andarchitects a degree of quality – perfection – that is impossible to deliver inthereal world”[ii]which is putting the profession of architecture at risk of becoming lessrelevant through its reduction to a purely aesthetic role that does little toaddress the more troubling aspects of contemporary life.

Thisthesis is an exploration of the disconnection between the idealisticpresentation of the world as depicted by utopian-fueled architecture and theeveryday reality of human behaviour. By combining the power of dystopianfiction with architectural representation, this thesis is an attempt to imaginethe world that architecture doesn’t want to represent but never the lesscreates.

The examining committee is as follows: