Rascacielos: de Tokyo a Babilonia, la arquitectura como propaganda

Esta tesis doctoral, cuestiona el presente y futuro del poder comunicacional del edificio, acotado al rascacielos como tipo, y en su aspecto o condición propagandística. La hipótesis parte del supuesto de que, con el desarrollo del siglo XX y específicamente de las técnicas y medios de comunicación, el agente productor de la propaganda se ha vuelto indeterminado, convirtiendo la línea que separa la publicidad de la propaganda (i.e., al mercado /Estado) en una línea indistinguible. La tesis se divide en 5 capítulos, correspondientes cada uno de ellos, a períodos relevantes de la historia del siglo XX en que el rascacielos actúa como colonizador y en los cuales su construcción está cargada de los significantes políticos que dieron forma al siglo, estableciendo un número variable de casos que finalizan con el edificio del CCTV de Rem Koolhaas a modo síntesis de la historia de la arquitectura de rascacielos, cuyas influencias acotan un período definido cuyo comienzo se define en el Woolworth Building de 1913 como el primer caso efectivo, de un edificio privado con repercusiones públicas. Y plantea preguntas fundamentales para el momento en que nos encontramos sobre ¿Que es el gobierno? ¿Que gobierna, la política, o el mercado? Y dentro de esto, ¿a qué responde la obra arquitectura? específicamente, un rascacielos. El lenguaje visual publicitario, produce imágenes que convierten la experiencia urbana en un hecho universal. A través del rascacielos experimentamos lo que Edouard Glissant denomina como “Ciudad-Mundo”: la sensación de pertenecer a un sistema unificado de códigos, en que la única diferencia que continúa existiendo es la étnica. La publicidad ocupa el lugar de la propaganda, y la propaganda se vale de la publicidad. Convirtiendo a la ciudad vertical, en el escenario de la desaparición de las diferencias culturales, eliminando la sensación de diferencias en el grado de desarrollo. El efecto es único, directo y simple: la pertenencia a un mundo unificado que, al compartir valores comunes y modos de vida reduce sus amenazas, al desaparecer el rango de lo diferente. El rascacielos, se convierte con mayor eficacia que ninguna otra tipología arquitectónica en el reflejo de esa unidad, que culturalmente se convierte en una fuerza. Esta tesis explora las connotaciones que, a lo largo del siglo XX, convirtieron al rascacielos en el arma arquitectónica de la globalización y la occidentalización.

Architecture Global Aid - Origami Houses (after tsunami houses), Tokyo, Miyagi, Giappone, 2013

This publication approaches the element of the "refuge" by showing several built prototypes designed and built by the author of this Ph.D and Yuko Ono that were effectively used as temporary shelters in Japan by the refugees in 2013. They consist on seven small wooden houses that can float and can also be packed into boxes and used as shelters following natural disasters. This publication explains both in Italian, English, Japanese and through small drawn diagrams the construction of these prototypes thanks to the help group "Architecture Global Aid" created by the author of this Ph.D in Japan (www.facebook.com/architectureglobalaid). Finally, this refuges can be as well seen in pages 660-664 of the Ph.D text were several kinds of architectures for shelters are analyzed. Esta publicación analiza el elemento del ?refugio? a través de varios ejemplos diseñados y construidos por la autora de este doctorado y la arquitecta Yuko Ono que fueron utilizados en la recuperación de Japón en el año 2013. Consisten en siete refugios de madera que pueden flotar y doblarse e introducirse en cajas del mismo material y de este modo, ser extraídos y empleados tras un desastre natural. Esta publicación explica en italiano, inglés, japonés y mediante varios diagramas, la construcción de estos prototipos gracias al grupo de ayuda ?Architecture Global Aid? creado por la autora de este doctorado en Japón (www.facebook.com/architectureglobalaid). Por último, la referencia a la investigación acerca de estos prototipos se puede encontrar en las páginas 660-664 de la tesis doctoral, entre las que se investiga también acerca de otras arquitecturas del refugio.

Tokyo, Japan, 1732 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Plan de Jedo capitale du Japon et résidence du monarque seculier copie su l'original Japonnois de 4 1/2 pieds de long et d'autant de large qui est dan le cabinet du chevalier Hans Sloane = van vier en een halve Engelsche voet lang en zo veele breedt door J. G. Scheuchzer. It was published by Uytwerf in 1732. Scale [ca. 1:32,000]. Covers Tokyo, Japan. Map in French and Dutch. The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Tokyo UTM Zone 54N coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as roads, drainage, selected buildings, fortification, and more. Relief shown pictorially and by hachures. Includes illustrations. This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from The Harvard Map Collection as part of the Imaging the Urban Environment project. Maps selected for this project represent major urban areas and cities of the world, at various time periods. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features at a large scale. The selection represents a range of regions, originators, ground condition dates, scales, and purposes.

Tokyo, Japan, 1893 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: New map of Tokio : divided into ninth ri sections for measuring distances. It was published by H. M. & Co. in 1893. Scale [ca. 1:18,000]. Covers Tokyo, Japan. Map in English and Japanese (including romanized Japanese). The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Tokyo UTM Zone 54N coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as roads, railroads and stations, drainage, selected buildings (post offices, police stations, churches), parks, and more. Relief is shown by hachures. Includes inset: Tsukiji Foreign Settlement. This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from The Harvard Map Collection as part of the Imaging the Urban Environment project. Maps selected for this project represent major urban areas and cities of the world, at various time periods. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features at a large scale. The selection represents a range of regions, originators, ground condition dates, scales, and purposes.

Tokyo, Japan, 1907 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: The revised map of Tokyo, S. Nishinomiya. It was published by S. Nishinomiya in 1907. Scale [ca. 1:17,000]. Covers Tokyo, Japan. The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Tokyo UTM Zone 54N coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as roads, railroad and street railway lines and stations, drainage, built-up areas and selected buildings, city and county boundaries, parks, cemeteries, and more. Relief is shown by hachures. Includes insets: [Tokyo and environs] -- Tsukiji Foreign Settlement. This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from The Harvard Map Collection as part of the Imaging the Urban Environment project. Maps selected for this project represent major urban areas and cities of the world, at various time periods. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features at a large scale. The selection represents a range of regions, originators, ground condition dates, scales, and purposes.

Tokyo, Japan, 1860 (Image 2 of 4) (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Man'en kaisei O-Edo oezu, Takai Ranzan zu. It was published by Okadaya Kashichi in Man'en gannen in 1860. Scale [ca. 1:10,700]. This layer is image 2 of 4 total images of the four sheet source map, representing the southeast portion of the map. Covers Tokyo, Japan. Map in Japanese.The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Tokyo Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) Zone 54N projected coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as roads, railroads and stations, drainage, built-up areas and selected buildings, names of landowners, parks, and more. Shows main temples, shrines, and points of interest pictorially.This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from the Harvard Map Collection. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features. The selection represents a range of originators, ground condition dates, scales, and map purposes.

Tokyo, Japan, 1860 (Image 1 of 4) (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Man'en kaisei O-Edo oezu, Takai Ranzan zu. It was published by Okadaya Kashichi in Man'en gannen in 1860. Scale [ca. 1:10,700]. This layer is image 1 of 4 total images of the four sheet source map, representing the northwest portion of the map. Covers Tokyo, Japan. Map in Japanese.The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Tokyo Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) Zone 54N projected coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as roads, railroads and stations, drainage, built-up areas and selected buildings, names of landowners, parks, and more. Shows main temples, shrines, and points of interest pictorially.This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from the Harvard Map Collection. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features. The selection represents a range of originators, ground condition dates, scales, and map purposes.

Tokyo, Japan, 1860 (Image 3 of 4) (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Man'en kaisei O-Edo oezu, Takai Ranzan zu. It was published by Okadaya Kashichi in Man'en gannen in 1860. Scale [ca. 1:10,700]. This layer is image 3 of 4 total images of the four sheet source map, representing the northeast portion of the map. Covers Tokyo, Japan. Map in Japanese.The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Tokyo Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) Zone 54N projected coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as roads, railroads and stations, drainage, built-up areas and selected buildings, names of landowners, parks, and more. Shows main temples, shrines, and points of interest pictorially.This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from the Harvard Map Collection. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features. The selection represents a range of originators, ground condition dates, scales, and map purposes.

Tokyo, Japan, 1860 (Image 4 of 4) (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Man'en kaisei O-Edo oezu, Takai Ranzan zu. It was published by Okadaya Kashichi in Man'en gannen in 1860. Scale [ca. 1:10,700]. This layer is image 4 of 4 total images of the four sheet source map, representing the southwest portion of the map. Covers Tokyo, Japan. Map in Japanese.The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Tokyo Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) Zone 54N projected coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as roads, railroads and stations, drainage, built-up areas and selected buildings, names of landowners, parks, and more. Shows main temples, shrines, and points of interest pictorially.This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from the Harvard Map Collection. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features. The selection represents a range of originators, ground condition dates, scales, and map purposes.

Tokyo, Japan, 1859 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: O-Edo ezu. It was published by Suharaya Mohe zohan in Ansei 6 [1859]. Scale [ca. 1:14,000]. Covers Tokyo, Japan. Map in Japanese.The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Tokyo Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) Zone 54N projected coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as roads, railroads and stations, drainage, built-up areas and selected buildings, names of landowners, parks, and more. Shows main shrines and temples pictorially. This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from the Harvard Map Collection. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features. The selection represents a range of originators, ground condition dates, scales, and map purposes.