Arquitectura No. 389 - by Javier García-Germán & Alejandro Valdivieso Paperback

Book Synopsis

For the United Nations, social inclusion ensures that all people, regardless
of background, can fully participate in society by accessing services and
removing exclusionary barriers. Architecture, however, spent decades in
postmodern formalism, prioritizing theory over social engagement. As
Manfredo Tafuri noted in Progetto e utopia (1973), it abandoned political
critique, favoring spatial autonomy over inclusion. From the 1970s to the
1990s, movements like neo-avant-garde, deconstructivism, and the star
system reinforced this detachment.
The 2008 financial crisis marked a turning point, reviving interest in
sustainability and social justice. Architecture is now understood as socially
embedded, evolving with society. The challenge lies in maintaining quality
while integrating social constructivism and activism to address complex
issues like climate change and neoliberalism. The most powerful examples
of social architecture often arise not from inflated discourse but from built
works that critically and tangibly confront reality, reaffirming the discipline's
social responsibility