ManTowNHuman: Toward a New Humanism in Architecture

Last night saw the launch of the radical architecture manifesto ManTowNHuman. In the words of Nico Macdonald, it’s “[...] more progressive than First Things First.”

Founded by Director of The Future Cities Project, Austin Williams, the ManTowNHuman Manifesto was co-written by Alastair Donald, Richard J Williams, Karl Sharro, Alan Farlie and Debby Kuypers.

Toward a New Humanism in Architecture:

The time has come to re-think architecture.

The time has come to re-imagine the city.

The time has to re-engage with society.

The time has come to break free from building identity, community, and stability… and get on with building.

The time has come to challenge ‘what is permitted’, with ‘what could be’.

The time has come to break free of the architecture of limits.

The time has come to prioritise the human and downplay – and exploit – the so-called natural world.

Austin Williams’ opinion on The Future Cities Project website states, “Sustainability is killing creativity” …really!!? As an advocate of creativity and sustainable design, I feel, this is a debatable argument. How can architecture and building be as imaginative as it is (required to be) ecologically sound? Saddened to have missed the launch event last night.

+ ManTowNHuman.
+ BBC Newsnight: Architects to Launch Manifesto.

Filed under: On Culture, On Research, On Sustainability , architecture, future, Manifesto, ManTowNHuman, sustainability