In the article “Life in the Metropolis” or “the Culture of Congestion,” the author discusses three prominent examples of metropolitan architecture. Koolhaas (1977) created buildings that were a merge between commercial architecture and avant-garde, the latter being inspired by the so-called “culture of congestion” from Manhattan. In his article, the author discusses the phenomenon of a Metropolis, something that emerged as a result of humans living on a limited territory and the development of technologies. Koolhaas (1977) discusses how development such as electric bathing on Coney Island or the “inexhaustible cow” transformed the people’s experience by taking the natural attractions of this island and improving them with technology (p. 320). Additionally, the author mentioned the 1909 theorem, which is a reflection on how elevators can support the infrastructure within skyscrapers, allowing one to create spaces for different purposes at each level, such as commercial property or homes.
In terms of borderlines and permeabilities, this article helps understand how the Metropolis expands the architect’s abilities to accommodate people’s needs on a limited territory. Permeability itself refers to the restrictions imposed on people’s movements by the urban environment, and as Koolhaas (1977) shows in his publication, the technology allows to create the infrastructures within a city that support people’s movements. Naturally, these movements differ from those outside the Metropolis, but they are supported by development such as the elevator. Hence, the concept of a Metropolis allows to take the restricted area of land and use its borders to create skyscrapers and infrastructure, which inevitably results in congestion but provides the necessary infrastructure for people to live comfortably. In summary, Koolhaas (1997) uses the example of Manhattan to reflect the development of architecture and city planning.
Reference
Koolhaas, R. (1977). “Life in the metropolis” or “the culture of congestion.” Architectural Design, (5), 319-325.