Endangered Existence: An Architecture of Imminence
Open Access
- Author:
- Schlenk, Rosalie Elena
- Area of Honors:
- Architecture
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Architecture
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Darla V Lindberg, Thesis Supervisor
Christine Lee Gorby, Thesis Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- architecture
death
salt marsh restoration
industry
memorial
American Indians - Abstract:
- Despite being an inevitable fate for all living things, death incites fear in many people. Viewing existence through the lens of time limits the role of death to a singular moment indicating an end. The ability to rise above the local concerns of death provides the ability to participate in an eternal totality. Death becomes a transitory state that is part of an endless cycle of change. Recognizing the social and environmental challenges of the 21st century demands a sense of immediacy for transformation in the way we approach death. As a group, American Indians have suffered centuries of genocide, human rights violations, and social marginalization. In the 21st century, they are still in danger from ongoing threats to their survival. Even the health of their lands is at risk with the impacts of climate change. Here lies an opportunity for architecture to move beyond its traditional expectation of priority and permanence. By merging industry and mausoleum, factory and environment, the restoration of a historic salt marsh in Washington holds the potential to be a living memorial easing the transition to a new era. Architecture is expected to record the past, function in the present, and accommodate an uncertain future.