Move It, Or Lose It
A majority of Americans say that the city of New Orleans should not be rebuilt in the areas below sea level. The latest findings from AP-Ipsos shows that Americans question the feasibility of rebuilding a city that is so vulnerable.
Anyone who has been to New Orleans knows what character it had. The architecture, the music, the food all culminated to create, arguably, America's most unique city. Is it possible to recreate this character? In a time when Americans build cheap, temporary architecture lacking historical significance, can this be done? And can it be done without being killed by committee which has threatened the new World Trade Center so many times?
The New New Orleans that I envision would be a Disney version of itself, built of cheap plywood and prefabbed walls. This is the architecture that America builds today. I believe that rebuilding would be a little like cloning a pet or child that you had lost. Certainly it would look the same, but it wouldn't be the same.
If we do decide to rebuild, as I'm sure we will, we should first design a levee system like those in use in Europe. It should adapt to the height of the water and be designed to go beyond any worst case scenario.
It also seems to me, that we could assemble America's greatest architects to donate their time to plan a vision for a 21st century American city. We have gathered great minds before-to build the atomic bomb, to run the space race. Instead of recreating a city that is lost, we have the opportunity to present the world with an architecturally stunning American city that will be an example of what we can be, not what we were.
posted by Daniel Vickers at 9:29 AM
2 Comments:
I have the same fear as you. It won't be the same. They'll want it done fast and cheap. I can't only hope they (they being the local government) put a little effort into the systems that protect their city.
11:01 AM EDT
I do share you concerns and hope that the residents of New Orleans will find a voice to fight for a new city that will reflect the aura/energy of the old and represnt "what we can be" ( I change that to WHAT WE ARE). A city that reflect the spirit.
I the era of THE BUSH, however, our hopes may be crushed and as THE WIFE confirms fast and cheap is what will be.
Every country in teh world tries to preserve their history/culture/traditions the best they can. In our unfortunate need/desire to be the best and the biggest, we forget what was and forget waht brought us where we are. How many towns/cities have to be changed/covered up before we lose what little culture we have.
If we have nothing to represent out past, it's only a matter fo time before we forget it all together. "out of sight, out of mind"
1:19 PM EDT
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