Beschreibung
The global spread of uniform modes of production and cultural values has
been accompanied by a dissemination of stereotypes of “modern”
architecture styles almost everywhere around the globe. Paradoxically, the
reverse process has also emerged: In some countries, the elites feel the
necessity to counterbalance the “loss of identity” and defend their own
cultures against the “intruding” forces of globalization. What started as
a defensive notion has developed into a more progressive attempt to
re-create what has allegedly been lost. This trend is being strongly
expressed in discourses about architecture in countries of the
South.
Who are the actors feeling compelled to “construct” new identities? How
are these new identities in architecture created in various parts of the
world? And, which are the ingredients borrowed from various historical and
ethnic traditions and other sources? These and other questions are
discussed in five case studies from different parts of the world, written
by renowned scholars from Brazil (Ruth Verde Zein), Mexico (Susanne
Dussel), Egypt (Khaled Asfour), India (Rahul Mehrotra) and Singapore
(William Lim).
Peter Herrle is professor for architecture and
international urbanism at Berlin University of Technology (TU Berlin) and head of the Habitat Unit.
Stephanus Schmitz was research assistant at the Habitat Unit and is
currently working as an architect for GTZ in Ethiopia.
