For whom does architecture exist

For whom does architecture exist. July. 19, 2016 07:00. by 손택균기자 sohn@donga.com. For whom does architecture exist? The answer could be found by looking back to history. Pyramids and the Great Wall of China not even shared a piece of their credit to the workers who died while moving the rocks. History has moved in a direction to only further segment the social class to whom the benefits of architecture are concentrated.

The two exhibitions to be held until August 7, at the Arko Art Center located in central Seoul, “New Shelters” and “The City of Homeless” remind us of this bitter idea regarding beneficiaries of architecture. As manifested in the titles, the artists suggested the possibility of "architecture for those who cannot afford a shelter."

The displays on the first floor show cooperative works among architects and human rights activists, animal protection groups, landscape designers, and anthropologists. Despite the diverse scope of discussions, the result seems to lack a precise message compared to the exhibitions on the second floor, which seems more plausible.

A video on the Tower of David featuring stories of illegal residents of the unfinished building in Venezuela’s capital Caracas, and a documentary tracing the lives of young immigrants to Beijing, living in an underground military bunker are some of the most notable.

As usual, the question “for whom does architecture exist?” itself is highly unlikely to bring about any practical changes. Still, the exhibitions reaffirm that it is at least worth questioning than not.