The Pruitt-Igoe Myth by Katharine Bristol - Book Report/Review Example

The Pruitt-Igoe myth Thesis ment The thesis can be elaborated in a thesis ment which is; to demystify various link of the collapse of the Pruitt-Igoe to architectural failure and in particular High Modernism. The writer strongly wants the link to be termed a “mystification” and has cited several factors in various disciplines outside architecture that led to the collapse and in the least bit would not blame the demise entirely on architectural failure. This comes out strongly in the conclusion.

Evidences against blame on architectureThere are lots of evidences cited, and to begin with, he cites that the Pruitt-igoe was a public housing initiative and the desired plan was to accommodate up to 15000persons denser population than the already existing in the slums. The size and the location was also a cause to worry. It can be noted that there was political opposition due to exceeded allowable allocation on public housing per unit. This by its own self credits the architects for amicably availing a solution to the federal government through their endeavors.

It is also evident that the initial plan was subject to reduction till it affected final design. The actual plan was actually altered and the final plan had emissions of children play areas, ground floor bathrooms and even undersized elevators. These alterations clearly show that shortcomings cannot be hang on the architectures neck but has more attributes with respect to other factors. Despite these emissions, these houses were occupied and moreover creativity of the skip elevators and the glazed galleries was highly appreciated at the time.

Is this not an evolution rather than death of the modernism?The situation after the 2nd World War subjected to inflation and a majority in the slums demanded for low-rent housing. They could not afford high cost public housing and a majority vacated, among them were the houses at Pruitt-Igoe. Many of them who remained were families with female heads. Crime rates and vandalism was also in the increase. That translates to low earnings that incapacitated maintenance of the units. A 9 month strike worsened and eventually paralyzed the whole exercise.

The deterioration was consequently subjective to socio-economic conditions than the architecture designs.Another piece of evidence can be cited when one of the involved architects namely George Kassabaum, in his own words stated that they designed houses for a different group; to be specific a social class lower than his. This to me offers strong evidence in the sense that the aspect of human behavior and social character steps in and further drifts away any blame on modernism. This is because it gives a reasonable ground for us to base an argument, that in the event that blacks who are the low class and have least concern for the environment, were not the inhabitants of the Pruitt-Igoe, there would have been a greater possibility that the demise could not have occurred.

This project was set on the outside locations and not in the central business district. Nonetheless the management seemed to expect more from “unwanted” areas yet they expected more from it, which is financial gain.ConclusionThe demise of Pruitt-Igoe is not an entire fault on the architects, but also to political and socio-economic factors. These are the United States Housing Act and the Second World War aftermath respectively. Stated above are evidences and various reasons why it should not be fully blamed on modernism.

The architects’ major fault, in my view is attributed to passivity by adopting a different plan to conform with the authorities endeavors. Failing to examine the socio-economic effects and situations that could lead to demise of the Pruitt-Igoe can also be another fault. I would agree with the writer that the Pruitt-Igoe myth is a mystification.ReferenceElvin, G.(2007) Integrated practices in architecture; mastering design build, fast track, and building information and modeling. New York: John Wiley and Sons.