The Architecture of Parallel Societies

How we build is how we live.

Great architecture is the mark of a great civilization. Its way of life is expressed therein. Monumental architecture characterizes the water empires of the world, it matters not whether we consider China, Mesopotamia or Peru. This architecture serves to glorify the despot and to impress the subservient populace. The classical architecture of the West as we know it was first developed in Greece and Rome, representing a clear break with the massive megaliths of Egypt and Sumer. Its emphasis on proportion and moderation reflects the nature of the free society that created it. This architecture is also a testament to the nascent schools of mathematics created there. In this way, classical architecture is Euclidean geometry made flesh. As America adopted a Roman form of democracy, it adopted its main form of architecture as well, and developed it further into the Federal Style.

Modern architecture accomplishes none of these goals, and is therefore uniquely abysmal for several different reasons. However, we must first dispel a common misconception. The banality of modern architecture is not a result of its affordability. Indeed, it is often constructed with the finest materials available. Its fundamental defect is the degenerate philosophy it was founded upon. This is well characterized in the Tom Wolfe classic From Bauhaus to Our House and need not be delineated here. One key aspect of this way of thought is a predilection for asymmetry. Buildings are seen as isolated elements, rather than as components of the cities in which they are built. There is an odd dissonance between its claims of originality, and the uniform shapes its architects create. It is likely that future historians will view modern architecture as the most visible and lasting artifacts of our global monoculture.

At this point in time, some are making a quiet return to classical architecture. It is largely, but not exclusively correlated with traditionalist communities, with Catholics being the most notable example. This architecture is so far mainly historicist, seeking to revive such forms as the Federal style. As network states develop, and begin to require physical infrastructure, the question of architecture and design becomes paramount. Such architecture should reflect the values and purpose of the state. As society begins slowly but surely to move towards decentralization, the past fifty years of massive urban development and uniform suburbs will be wholly inadequate for the emerging economic order. The new class of remote workers will associate based on cultural values, rather than economic necessity. Therefore, they will be able to design their communities accordingly. In light of this, a Great American Library should be designed in the Federal style. I have long envisioned a Catholic city named Aquinia after St Thomas Aquinas, designed in the Gothic or Romanesque styles of architecture. Its Southwestern cousin could be designed with Spanish Colonial buildings. The possibilities are limitless. Classical forms of architecture are also suited to a world with unsteady energy grids and doubtful supply chains, as they were developed at times when neither existed. Classical buildings typically have lower energy costs for similar reasons. Using the principles of classical architecture, it is advantageous design towns rather than individual cities, and to make architectural decisions from this perspective. In doing so, it is quite valuable to design hubs of activity, in which schools, libraries and movie theaters are placed in close proximity, as one of our readers has noticed.

In order to develop these new settlements, there are several potential strategies. One is to occupy moribund towns, and build from there, adopting the settlements original style of construction. To lower building costs and reduce design time, it would be advantageous to use artificial intelligence and 3-D printing. In time, classical architecture may begin to take advantage of modern mathematics. It is not hard to imagine that there will be schools of architecture based on the Riemann or Lobachevsky geometries. Perhaps a great building of the future will use the Mandelbrot Set as its underlying order. The revival of classical architecture with modern means of construction and design will be the great architectural endeavor of our time. In this way shall our methods of building determine the way we live.

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