Makhnevich 1Arthur Makhnevich Professor Keslacy ARC 5623 9 October 2011 Embracing Junkspace in the Age of Globalization "Junkspace is what remains after modernization has run its course or, more precisely, what coagulates while modernization is taking place, its fall-out."1 In his published article Junkspace, Rem Koolhaas, argues that today in the age of globalization architecture has become infested with unusable space, or wasted space, due to constant innovation and the pursuit of instant gratification instead of the goals for future use. This phenomenon is evident in places such as airports, malls, chain shops, movie theaters, and supermarkets, or as Hans Ibelings calls them, the "Non-Places"2 (Ibelings), in his book titled Supermodernism. There seems to be a lot of similarities between the non-place and junkspace, for instance, they are both regarded as negative spaces within built form, places that are not totally necessary, but somehow they exist there for either commercial profit, or bad-thought process. There seems to be no escape from this negativity in the age of globalization, because more and more structures are constructed everyday that follow the same thought process and formula that leads to those non-places. However, what if we started to embracing those junkplaces, and think in advanced about them, incorporating them into new architecture? Will that create a more positive outcome? 1 Koolhaas, Rem. "Junkspace." A + U Special Issue: OMA (May 2000): 136 Ibelings, Hans. Supermodernism: Architecture in the Age of Globalization. Rotterdam: Simon Franke (2002): 65. 2 like a bubble. then this building without a doubt would be the Seattle Public Library (Figure 1-2). "Junkspace. therefore. But what is a "Non-Place" and how is it possible that a newly built Seattle Public Library should even have such a space? Some might argue that it is a new building. Then those platforms were elevated. From early on in the design process. but by skin." A + U Special Issue: OMA (May 2000): 138 . the staff areas and parking lot.a growing proportion of space lacks meaning in the 3 Koolhaas.. OMA decided to create platforms for stable (fixed) and unstable (junkspace) areas. creating voids and incorporating junkspaces / non-spaces sandwiched between the stable areas (Figure 3-4). all the spaces are used by the participants and the staff. that will someday awaken to find its purpose. Rem. designed by Rem Koolhaas.. the bookshelf spiral. those areas are the headquarters. To unite the stable and unstable areas."3 Therefore create a perfect symbiotic relationship between stable and unstable areas. "Junkspace is sealed. stable areas can be described as spaces that will most likely not change in the future. In order to accommodate those non-places. allowing for the potential future re-use of non-place. without even knowing what their future use will be. As it is written in Supermodernism. a skin was added that wraps them into one entity. so it will be a bit difficult to explain why such a space might exist and already exists in that very library. held together not by structure. the meeting rooms. The fixed. OMA dissected the program in such a way that they were able to incorporate spaces for future use by the library.Makhnevich 2 If there was such a building that takes into consideration junkspace and incorporates it into the design program. ". Seattle Public Library was built with junkspace in mind. OMA. allowing for junkspace to exist in the building as a dormant being. and there is no possibility of junkspace in the future of such an innovative structure. so is the library of the future. and once you form an attachment to a place. the junkspace takes over and the only way to live in the future is to embrace that non-place. The previous attachments they had with the space. Those very changes in the unstable areas will eventually create a discontinuity or the collapse of attachment the participants and the staff had with that space. are due to constant change and re-arrangement as needed by the library for future events and exhibitions. . but it's impossible. Supermodernism: Architecture in the Age of Globalization. therefore.Makhnevich 3 classical anthropological sense because nobody feels any attachment to it. all that will remain is the memory of previous arrangement. because that space will now look different to them. for instance. the view from a window in that particular spot. to meet new technologies. all this buildings are spaces that are subject to constant rearrangement due to economical and social factors. Rotterdam: Simon Franke (2002): 65. will be gone. to satisfy new economical formula. that is exactly what describes the non-place. Just like an airport. to meet new profits. fast-food chain. you might lose that attachment the second time you come to a place that was rearranged to meet new demands. those voids created in between stable areas in the library. the change will make you want to go back to the way it was before."4 No attachment. shopping mall. 4 Ibelings. Hans. and to think in advanced of incorporating it into the future designs. Figure 3 Seattle Public Library . Figure 4 Seattle Public Library .Junkspace. Figure 2 Seattle Public Library .Exterior. .Makhnevich 4 Figure 1 Seattle Public Library .Fixed / Stable spaces.Unstable / Junkspaces. Hans.Makhnevich 5 Works Cited Ibelings." A + U Special Issue: OMA (May 2000): 16-24. Koolhaas. Supermodernism: Architecture in the Age of Globalization. Rem. . 2002. Rotterdam: Simon Franke. "Junkspace.
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