Throughout history, structures of magnitude and distinction reflected the power centers in specific communities.
Throughout history, structures of towns and cities included an elite body that held a majority of the resources and influence in a community. This ownership of communal resources was reflected through the use of built structures that reinforced the ruling bodies’ concentration of power. By comparing the architecture of distinction from the middle ages to the modern day, specific conclusions can be drawn about shifts in centers of power in various communities.
Architecture of the Middle Ages
In many medieval cities, the prominence of religious architecture reflects the church’s former role as the governmental and economic center of the community. The magnitude and craftsmanship of churches demonstrates a concentration of wealth and resources that overshadowed any surrounding structures. Even today, some medieval churches command the city's skyline.
Built in 1017, Canterbury Cathedral reflects how Catholicism was the center of power in the community. With its tall central tower and detailed ornament, the structure achieves an intimidating presence that would have legitimized the church as Canterbury’s societal authority. While the structure's magnitude projects its visibility from a distance, the exterior details further solidify the church as the moral center of the community.
The outside of the building includes statuettes of saints, kings and bishops. This immortalization of religious leaders and monarchs reflects how association with the church projects one’s holiness and moral existence, as seen by Queen
Elizabeth II who continues this tradition by placing her image onto the cathedral in 2015. This long tradition of England’s figureheads associating themselves with the church proves the role the Canterbury clergy held as the central institution of the city.
The financial superiority of the Canterbury clergy provided the necessary resources to build a structure that in turn allows for a visual representation of their authority. The same idea is reflected in Catholicism's most distinguished church built in the 16th century.
St. Peters Basilica
The best artists, architects, and sculptors of Renaissance Italy including Michelangelo, Bramante, and Raphael were commissioned to materialize Roman Catholicism's most grand vision. The magnitude and visual splendor of St. Peter’s reflects the church’s unrivaled spending power in the city of Rome. While the church’s entrance projects the infinite might of the institution, the interior decoration separates St. Peter’s as Catholicism's figurehead.
Michelangelo spent four years decorating the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling which brings biblical teachings to life. The visual power of the room envelopes the viewer and almost teeters on the unreal. This artistic accomplishment persuades the viewer to contemplate what exists beyond an earthly life, thus justifying the church as heaven’s representative.
The Catholic Church has proven to boast many of the western world's architectural accomplishments reflecting religion’s former concentration of resources and influence. Utilizing the same method, one can identify the power centers of the 21st century which reflect the vast changes in societal structure led by the emergence of capitalistic enterprise.
The Empire State Building
From the time of its construction in 1931, to the end of 1970 - the Empire State Building was the tallest structure in the world. In the early 20th century, New York was developing into the world’s modern city. The Empire State Building exemplifies this early growth along with the emergence of corporations that were expanding into massive conglomerates.
In the pursuit of generating profits, companies ballooned into massive public entities requiring hundreds of employees. This expansion, supported by free enterprise and population growth, allowed for companies to achieve unprecedented prowess and wealth accumulation. By viewing the structure at the time of its completion, one can observe this initial emergence of capitalistic drive that would shape the modern world.
Corporations required a new form of architecture that suited a growing workforce, and at the same time reflected an imposing presence in the competitive world of capitalism. These requirements resulted in massive structures that consumed the city’s skyline.
The Empire State Building set this standard with its regular pattern and high reaching steeple. With construction technology quickly advancing, corporate architecture achieves a robotic and geometrical shape that has replaced the need for handmade nuance. Machine construction materialized an impersonal, yet impressive architectural appearance that reflects the eternal ambition of capitalistic enterprise.
Since The Empire State Building’s construction in 1931, the capitalistic landscape has changed dramatically, led by the world’s most valuable technology companies.
Corporate Architecture of the 21st century
Today, the most influential companies in the world are leading the way in developing the digital landscape of iphones, computers and internet services. This digital industry is controlled by a handful of companies including, Amazon, Apple and Google whose market capitalization is over 1 trillion each. While these companies have developed cutting edge consumer products, their success has led to concern over their ability to control information and monitor people’s lives.
The architecture of these modern companies reflects this unique issue of the useful services they provide, balanced with the unknown regarding their power and influence into the future.
Apple
Apple’s headquarters in California reflect the company's capability to develop the future coupled with an intellectual prestige. The structure’s circular shape capped by solar panels brands Apple as a cerebral yet fashionable technology company that competes in the consumer market. Iphones and Ear Pods are technological accomplishments but more importantly, consumer products that feed materialistic addiction.
Amazon
The architecture of America's emerging superpower reflects similar themes of futuristic development. With modern construction technology, Amazon’s headquarters has achieved unique architectural forms. The layers of black panels etched with white streaks show a creative design including three orbs at the bottom of the building that enhance the structure’s sci- fi look.
While the building consumes the skyline and projects its visibility to the public, the inner workings and sensitive data of the company feel guarded and concealed. The tinted windows and layers of black mass separate the outside world from any notion of what the company is planning. Amazon has already solidified itself as a world brand, yet its plans for the future can only be guessed.
The future will largely be dictated by these digital giants that continue to drive technological advancement. The architecture of these companies reflects a combination of corporate mass and futuristic development that epitomize 21st century capitalism. By comparing these modern structures with those of the past, power centers prove to have a fluid existence that morph with the passing of time, and these gradual shifts are materialized through built structures.
Very clearly presented and interesting . We think of iconic architecture as something that captures the imagination of the times. While 'power' is often reflected in the architectural expression of these buildings, it is also interesting to imagine who the 'audience' was/is. Who is the architect trying to impress? Is the work more a reflection of the owner/patron? an artistic 'breakthrough?
Thought provoking!
Forrest, great article. I especially agree about Amazon and Apple. What is really happening inside those structures?