Being-in-Common: Interview with David Leatherbarrow by Nicolai Bo Andersen

Architecture may be understood as a physical manifestation of the lived involvement in a specific landscape. Historically, humans have gathered around a common activity. To protect themselves they have constructed enclosures, and, in the process, expressed their values and beliefs. The structure itself may be understood as a condensation of its landscape, inseparable from the praxis as well as from the physical environment.

According to David Leatherbarrow, contemporary architecture may be described as “unhesitatingly self-centered”, neglecting the opportunity as well as the responsibility of being involved with the public realm. As an alternative to architecture defined only by visual appearance or technical performance David calls for an architecture characterized by “engaged autonomy” deeply interdependent upon human praxis as well as the physical environment.