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Draft by Opposite Office for a capitol converted into a fortress
Photo: Benedikt Hartl / Opposite Office
SPIEGEL:
Mr. Hartl, after the attack on the Capitol, you proposed that the building in Washington be erected with thick walls, and that it be turned into a terrifying fortress.
Do you want to provoke with your designs?
Hartl:
Yes, I wanted to show that we have to defend our democracy.
This is what this fortress, this "Capitol Castle" with its massive walls stands for.
Of course, people are more likely to be reached with nice promises, with utopias.
But here I wanted to create the opposite, a dystopia, a pessimistic vision.
These walls also symbolize the division between the camps, represent a division in societies that is dangerous.
Something goes fundamentally wrong when people position themselves against democracy.
SPIEGEL:
And that's where your surrealism helps?
Hartl:
The representations are not that surreal, in the meantime at least high fences have been erected in reality.
It is already developing in this direction.
And architecture goes beyond designing buildings.
For me, architectural speculation is even more important than ever.
SPIEGEL:
Why?
Hartl:
Architects used to take part in social debates, they wanted to help shape society.
Today's visionaries are people like Jeff Bezos or Marc Zuckerberg, unfortunately, because they are also classic entrepreneurs.
I think they shouldn't be left the field alone, especially since the narrative of the future has also been abolished in politics.
SPIEGEL:
To what extent?
Hartl:
There is a lack of fundamental ideas on how we can deal with the major transformation processes of our time such as climate change, digitization and migration.
Instead of actively shaping and drafting long-term strategies, people only react when it is almost too late.
This is not sustainable and also very expensive.
In addition, we have an abundance of buildings, which is another reason why we have to rethink architecture - post-functionalist, in fact speculative.
"Really innovative ideas cannot be implemented, the regulations do not allow that at all."
Benedikt Hartl
SPIEGEL:
You wanted to convert Berlin's BER Airport into a “Covid Superhospital” and Buckingham Palace into an “affordable” palace with social housing for a total of 50,000 residents.
Do you only design castles in the air?
Hartl:
With our new Buckingham Palace we wanted to revive the old discussion about the lack of cheap living space.
We also have real objects, but I just like to get involved.
And with real buildings, architects, especially in this country, can hardly make a real contribution to the discussion.
SPIEGEL:
Why not?
SPIEGEL:
Really innovative ideas cannot be implemented, the regulations do not allow that at all.
In this country, for example, you can't really build environmentally friendly, or implement any creative low-tech ideas.
Complex test certificates are required and insulation materials are used that will be hazardous waste in ten years.
So we always go other ways.
We also took part in a competition for a marine museum, so we suggested installing a recycling system for all the plastic from the sea.
I think the architects have to become more political again, they have to get involved again.
But politics must also become more architectural, i.e. think long-term, beyond the current legislative period.
SPIEGEL:
How do other architects react to your rather black humor?
Hartl:
I divide with my positions.
Some colleagues react in a friendly manner, others are more of the opinion that we architects should stick to building and not make political statements.
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