Architecture and design take some unusual paths in Knoxville
It can be hard to appreciate architecture in Knoxville.
For one thing, some of our largest edifices weren't built with aesthetics as a primary concern. The combination of squat Thompson-Boling Arena and functional but undistinguished Neyland Stadium on the riverfront isn't exactly awe-inspiring (except in seating capacity). And then there's the problem of our tendency to knock down nice buildings and houses to make room for parking lots. Nevertheless, the city has a diverse community of architects and designers, both on and off campus, and plenty of interesting things to look at. In this issue, we've tried to identify some of the trends that shape what planners like to call the "built environment" around us. From chain-store blueprints to, um, "manufactured homes," from the corridors of theory at UT to the hands-on application of Asian design philosophy, we found plenty of intriguing visual elements. Feast your eyes.
In Search of Postpostmodernism
Are you a sensual deconstructionist? Or a topological New Urbanist? Where does architecture go from here?
Feng Shui for the Masses
China has a very long history of architectural superstition
Architecture Straight from the Factory
Manufactured housing design can be a grassroots affair
Franchised Designs
Chains have nothing to lose but their sameness
October 26, 2000 * Vol. 10, No. 43
© 2000 Metro Pulse
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