Frozenmuzik

Branko Mitrovic, the author of Learning from Palladio, said about two parallel movements in architectural history: the first one dealing with how architecture is designed and built, these are technical and visual aspects; the other dealing with the role of architecture in our society.
I think there are two serious questions we need to answer relating to the issue: Architecture- Society Problems.
1. How do we think about society when we create buildings?
2. What is the public judgment to contribution of architecture?
These questions are absolutely relating to everybody who thinks of him/her as an architect, or a designer. When we take a look at architectural history, architecture has been playing in important role to solve social problems. But over a period of times, until now, we, architect or want to be an architect, have difficulties to find a language to address our concerns to society problems. Incredibly, other people like economists, who are dealing with statistics and data, are in better positions to deal with society.
So, what we should do is to communicate public and let them know architecture is a solution.
Not an opportunity cost!
What is an opportunity cost? It is an economic term; choosing something means that you have to let go the other. Most of the people in our society are trying to equate architecture with an opportunity cost. Bringing the word__ architecture will make them lost something in solving problem. It is a misconception which is widely spread in public.
There are a lot of problems that architecture can help or come up with solutions such as; building a house that can reduce the risk of mosquito in the areas where mosquito related health problems are very high, helping to build to create a place, which is fit for human habitation, in the area where Hurricane Katrina left consequences and problems,
or we could help to build a place where social problems are deeply rooted in racial, poverty, educational, or health related issues.
"architecture will not be a magic touch"
One thing that we need to remember is architecture will not be a magic touch to solve all of these problems in our society. Architecture is not a way to wipe out social issues, even though it is a solution; however architecture is a way to alleviate social problems.

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Midtown market, Midtown Exchange, has been an important place of Minneapolis since it was built. It is the place of transportation hub. It is the place of economic hub. And it is the place of other public services hub.
Accordingly with the name it bares, Midtown exchange reflects the surrounding environment. It will not be the bristling place like downtown, or quieter place like suburban. Midtown exchange plays significant parts in daily life of Minneapolis. Every morning, a lot of people come to Midtown Exchange with full of energy to start a day in their life. People who use Midtown exchange as transportation hub come with the energy for their life, go with energy.

What is the message that Midtown Exchange really delivers?
Which role does Midtown Exchange play for Minneapolis- St. Paul?
When we get there, we would feel the impact of style of Midtown exchange. Midtown Exchange Art Deco style brings a sort of feeling_ solid, firmness, and heavy. These properties are different form the buildings with shining stainless steel, glasses, and lighting. So, for me Midtown exchange resembles evening sun, which already passed the brilliant moment!
Midtown Exchange is eventually not a very warm environment to its visitors. It fails to create, by integrating the building and people together, harmonious atmosphere with a form of warm energy to society. Instead of that, Midtown Exchange carried different form of energy which separate people form the building itself. People go to Midtown Market only if they have something to do such as; shopping at global market, taking test for driving license, or to take a ride from transit center.
Whenever I get to Midtown Exchange, it reminds me how it is similar with Rockefeller Center in New York. I feel pretty much similar impact on me. But there are a lot of differences too. First of all, Rockefeller is still running with full of energy, and play more significant life of New York. New York is till running on Rockefeller! Rockefeller Center serve a lot of similar functionality, but a lot of things make itself different from other buildings like Midtown Exchange.
Sadly, Mid Exchange is not as dynamic as it should be or Twin cities are not running on Midtown Exchange!
Why not?
How could we make Midtown Exchange a more useful or public friendly atmosphere?

1. Midtown Exchange should give a form of knowledge_ as an important building how it passed the history of transforming Twin cities area into current status. Public have nothing to lose from it.
2. While we throwing millions of dollars into different places without having very large impact on our society, we will be able to change something without wasting multimillions dollars. By adding some more features such as tiny park or fountains will make a lot of transformations.
3. By adding some features like a recreation place with some sorts of natural environment where people can get relax to gather energy to revitalize their tedious life. Midtown exchange could be the place for a blast moment of our life.
When we talk about New York City remarkable history, Rockefeller Center is part of it. For Twin cities area history, Midtown Exchange should be part of it.
We need to promote this idea with the dynamic contribution of knowledge. I believe Midtown Market could be, to say exactly should be, more energetic atmosphere by combining public and building.

I HOPE YOU CAN COMPARE BY VEWING PHOTOS OF THESE TWO BUILDINGS!

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