CITY PLANNING ARTICLES

Gabriele Tagliaventi

DIE WIEDERGEBURT DER STADT

in response to the article from Nikolaus Bernau:
"Ausstellung im Berliner Stadthaus zeigt Kleinstadbild der Kulturpessimisten"
published in Der Tagesspiegel vom 16. September 1999

Despite the 40 Millions of victims of 2nd World War, despite the 100 Millions of victims of Communism, despite all the hate and sufferance caused during the 20th century by violent ideological struggles, it seems that the nostalgia for the last ideaoligical totalitarism is still alive.

Nikolaus Bernau's article on the exhibition that the "A Vision of Europe" Committee has organized in Berlin under the patronage of Senator Klemann clearly shows how it is difficult to accept the presence of an alternative to what was believed to be only architecture of the 20th century.

In the spirit of the widespread "Politically correctness" Nikolaus Bernau seems to be chocked by the revelation that hundreds of contemporary architects are now working in a innovative way towards the rediscovery of European architectural traditions instead of repeating the same mistakes that have led to the destruction of our cities during the past century.

This position deserves a better explanation in order to let readers and citizens to understand the importance of the contemporary debate on the future of the city. And Berlin can really be the focus of the entire continent if the right choice will be made concerning the development of the new city.

In fact, the 20th century is finally ending by leaving behind us the huge failures of the great totalitarian ideologies born in the 20s: Communism, Fascism and National-Socialism. The great conquest that we are bringing together towards the New Millennium is the idea of democracy and tolerance. Democracy might not be the best for of ruling the city - as Aristotle stated 2,000 years ago - but we have not been able to develop a better one. All the terrible ideologies that arose in the 20s and so much influenced the life of the century have gone. Inevitably defeated by the results of their experiences. There only one ideology left: Modernism.

It still resist despite the evident failures of its experiments.

As prominent American Architectural Historian Vincent Scully has recently stated: "we have now to initiate a new liberation movement: the one from the Modernist dictatorship in architecture".

While citizens have been able to set themselves free from all the other totalitarian positions, Modernism is still keeping influence the life of the majority of Western citizens despite the evident failure of the application of its principles. While Modernist architects are constantly repeating the same abstract schemes invented in the 20s, their totalitarian ideology pretends that is not possible to imitate, for example, the beautiful architectural examples later developed by the architects that built the greatest Classical city of the 20th century: the capital of the US, Washington D.C.

In addition, Modernism pretends to be only possible way in the architectural field. No other view is accepted. And this is a huge contradiction to all the democratic principles that inspire the EU partners.

Not only is an architectural issue but mainly a civic one. Or, if you prefer, a political issue. The destiny of our future urban environment depends on our decisions.

The international exhibition dedicated to the URBAN RENAISSANCE represents the evidence that a true alternative to the destruction of historic centers and the sprawl of suburban ghettos is now finally available. The new movement for the Urban Renaissance is now spreading all over the world offering new solutions for contemporary cities. Solutions that are inspired by the beauty of Historic cities while aiming at matching all the challenges of the contemporary society.

An alternative is therefore available to citizens and politicians. However, the New Urban Renaissance movement does not want to establish a new dictatorship in architecture as Modernism has done so badly in the Past. The new attitude that inspires the Urban Renaissance cultural position is oriented towards the proposition of an alternative. And to have an alternative means for citizens to have the possibility to choose between different solutions. Openly, under a complete democratic process.

If they want to live in a Modernist suburban area they can do it. If they want to inhabitate the huge concrete boxes that have devastated the beautiful skylines of most our cities, they can do. No objection. This is the democratic game.

But if they prefer to live in a new Traditional city -with pedestrian streets and squares, surrounded by cafès and small retail, with underground parking garages, fax, internet and all the contemporary technological facilities-they simply must have the possibility to choose it.

You find the article here:  http://www.tagesspiegel.de/archiv/1999/10/12/ak-ku-de-37315.html

A Vision of Europe
Viale Risorgimento 2 - 40136 Bologna Italy - Tel: 0039-051-656 9392  Fax: 0039-051-656 8778
www.avoe.org         gabriele.tagliaventi@mail.ing.unibo.it          Back to  first page