Blog 1 _Context & Building 1 - A Study on Reyner Banham, Ecology IV : Autopia (Dinnesh Shaun)

   On this subject matter, we studied Reyner Banham’s influential yet controversial book Los Angeles : The Architecture of Four Ecologies. The particular chapter from the book was studied in which he mentions Los Angeles and it’s freeways, he dubs it Ecology IV : Autopia. In the chapter mentioned, he expresses his amazement of Los Angeles’ freeways which has its unique features and the cultural assets behind it as well as a vast history that are hidden within the city of Los Angeles. In his words “ this is a comment on the sheer vastness of the movement pattern of Los Angeles, but more than that is an acknowledgement that the freeway system in its totality is now a single comprehensible place, a coherent state of mind, a complete way of life, the fourth ecology of the Angeleno.” he explains about the lifestyles of the Angelenos, how they go about their day and the very thing they would spend their time on.

  The freeways of Los Angeles are known throughout the world to be hectic, overbearing but surprisingly majestic till the point where the postcards of Los Angeles are aerial views of their systematic freeways. In conjunction to the freeways, Banham himself experiences the unforgiving nature of the freeways which to the world’s dismay, proven wrong. Yes, a part of the rumours circulating the freeways of Los Angeles were correct especially the notion where Angelenos would spend most of their time on the freeways. As the lifeline for travelling throughout the city, the freeways are the only roadways that connects every part of the city from the slums of the outer city right to downtown Los Angeles. Various destinations could be unfold as one were to travel through the freeway. Hidden gems of architectural beauties and cultural assimilations of the Angelenos slyly shelter themselves to the open world but through the ever connecting freeway could be discovered.

As he travelled via a car alongside a radio companion which guides him towards places unknown to the discriminating visitors, accessible through the freeway, he divulged himself with the rich cultural background of the areas all the while exploring the ecology of the city. A bustling metropolitan that is about to transcend itself to the future, the city of Los Angeles owes its name to the masterful plans of the freeways which shaped the city’s districts and ingeniously connects the city as a single entity. Not only does this freeway connect, it also preserves the view of the city by being the very essence of travelling where a person journeying through these freeways, would be exploring parts of the city unfamiliar to them.

In comparison to the journey Reyner Banham had in Los Angeles, the same ideas could be found on our journey to the rural area in Tanjung Sabtu where a traditional palace hidden at the edge of the cape lies. Much to our concern, unlike the mighty freeways of Los Angeles, the road to Pura Tanjung Sabtu is a rather rural one. Opposite of the bustling city life, the location of Pura Tanjung Sabtu offers a more simpler approach with small lanes and country side roadways. However the condition it may be, it still provides a scenic view of the natural topology of the riverside and the cape. Much like the Angelenos stated by Rener Banham the local villagers around Tanjung Pura Sabtu have their distinct cultures around every corner of the street. Unlike the Angelenos, the villagers live in open harmony as to say that they have an air of openness to one another due to the fact that they all live under one village. Opposite of the bustling city life, the location of Pura Tanjung Sabtu offers a more simpler approach with small lanes and country side roadways. However the condition it may be, it still provides a scenic view of the natural topology of the riverside and the cape. Much like the Angelenos stated by Rener Banham the local villagers around Tanjung Pura Sabtu have their distinct cultures around every corner of the street. Unlike the Angelenos, the villagers live in open harmony as to say that they have an air of openness to one another due to the fact that they all live under one village.