Over the last decade I’ve ridden in pursuit of an interest in socialist architecture and the complex, wonderful ways that it expresses the 20th century. These heroic constructions, a lunge toward utopia, an expression of an optimism toward reason through materials that are attainable at communal scales.
Dream that we might live in an angular, ordered space with width like the transparency of thought itself. With meeting places in the middle, a unity of purpose of connection of frank confrontation. Of the knowledge that we’ll have to meet there again tomorrow.
Inexpensive, but more importantly encouraging cast forms that say they’re not concealing some inegalitarianism. That offer geometries easily segmented into measurably equitable homes.
It’s triumph that gets confused for failure. It’s my favorite kind of architecture.