Week 1.2 Discussion: Walking Through Walls

"One topic I found both intriguing and disturbing in Forensic architecture was how the Israeli have translated certain environmental and architectural elements into a "Military Code". Specifically, the nation had reverted the "humanitarian" functions of these elements its primal and/or colonial concepts; adapting the olden 'signified' into modern-day military stratagem. This was most evident in the patterns of the Israeli settlements in Palestine, where these settlements are centralised on topographically high regions; an advantageous position in historical contexts for how it allows people to "best defend themselves, build up their forces, and then advance to the next objective."

To further reinforce this hold, the Israelis' urban design within these settlements solidify these ideas; the large window designs on the radially organised residents. An architecturally desirable element in the modern-day for views into the landscape, these windows are implemented into the living area, where most residents will most likely be whenever they are 'home'. In this respect, the residents become the human eyes of a watchtower; one of many in the "fortress" that are these Israeli settlements.

While it is arguable if these elements as military stratagem serve any effective military advantage in the modern-day (Links to an external site.), I feel that the primary aspect that the Israeli have manipulated is the subconscious concept of these elements. In the realm of the sign and the signified, the signified (eg: the windows of the houses as both a watchtower and a visually desirable element) of two different eras are superimposed upon one another to form a new signified; one that is expressed through the sign (the physical elements themselves) as a polemical statement on the Israeli perspective of their Palestinian occupation.

Note that I do not address the physical barriers and obstacles that result from these settlements. I feel that my aforementioned points on the image of environmental and architectural elements are complementary to the socio-cultural and political explications of the Israeli settlements; almost like a symbol to represent the actions of Israeli Occupation in Palestine; a 'new' conceptual expression formed from the repurposing of environmental and architectural elements.

Drawing upon this in tandem with Ethan's response in Djordje's comment - How we perceive the Albert Barracks Wall in the past and present - I wonder what may occur when these two images of the Barracks Wall interact with one another; why and how should this dialogue be articulated? What similarities and contradictions may spawn? What implications may this have on the architecture on both a theoretical and practical level?"

[Ethan's Response]

"Nice, I think you missed the most literal example of 'military code' - the red roofs distinguishing settlement and palestinian territory.

Actually I think the questions you asked at the end are questions that we might answer through the design process..."

Reflections

[YET TO BE WRITTEN]