Oculus Launch Pad — Week 8 — Art & Architecture

While we are busy building the backend “architecture” of this 3D world, I hadn’t put a lot of thought into the concept of architecture when it comes to gentrification. I regularly think about the types of people involved around gentrification — the residents, real estate developers, business owners, but what about the architects? I hadn’t thought deeply about what role they play in the changing design of our cities until I came across this TED talk by Justin Davidson. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48x_00Iy0ac

Diversity in a city is important to me in terms of people and point of view. Diversity gives us an experience. I believe it’s why we actually have the “feeling” that we are in a city; because all backgrounds and sounds and energies are colliding into each other around us. It’s why I first began documenting the plight of artists being displaced and why I’ve continued to explore this topic. Davidson, an architecture critic discusses the lack of diversity in our buildings and points out why our cities are beginning to look monotonous. He suggests that it comes down to the materials we are using and he’s especially critical of the use of glass.

So while we craft our buildings to replicate this old style of 1800s architecture in Gowanus, I think about the new styles of buildings, heavily designed with large glass windows which the players will bring in. We have been fortunate to add a 3D modeler (Leigh) who happens to be an architect. She brings great insight to our team about buildings and New York. I’ve learned from her that zoning laws were originally created in NYC to establish light and air requirements. The zoning law for NYC was in fact the very first zoning law passed in the US, and it dates back to 1916, making sure that light and air reached the sidewalk.

Tradition and history are important, but change is inevitable. I’m curious to explore the balance between these ideas. Is it even possible to make way for change while preserving history? It will be interesting to see what choices the player will make.