| Title |
Architecture as Image-abilities: Analyzing The Shed (2019) by Diller, Scofidio + Renfro |
| DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5659/JAIK.2024.40.4.175 |
| Keywords |
The politics of seeing; the democratization of space; Diller; Scofidio + Renfro; the post-critical; publicness; image-abilities |
| Abstract |
This paper provides an overview of the work of Diller, Scofidio + Renfro, often abbreviated as ds+r. It aims to explore the intricate relationship between ‘the politics of seeing’ and ‘the democratization of space’, which are two fundamental concepts embodying the firm's design philosophy. The politics of seeing reflects its focus on activating architecture by assembling various elements such as materials, ideas, images, and experiential dimensions. This approach challenges existing criteria and promotes institutional critique. On the other hand, the democratization of space, as articulated by Elizabeth Diller, addresses the architect's role in the neoliberal context. The firm's projects, characterized by their public engagement, including parks, lobbies, and squares, demonstrate their ongoing commitments to making architecture accessible to the public. While these two agendas may seem interconnected, this paper argues that this is not always the case. Some recent projects, such as The MoMA Renovation and The Shed, aim to achieve both dimensions but tend to lean towards conservatism or practicality. As a result, the criticality that was prevalent in their earlier works before 2000 is sometimes compromised in ways that are not fully able to release their intricate capacities of mediating the neoliberal world. |