The Image Makers

Abstract

One of the main questions that arose in the field of architecture in the 60’s was how to face the charges coming from developing countries without looking like an exportation products catalogue. The article goes over this problematic situation using the thoughts of Alison and Peter Smithson in their article “The function of architecture in the upcoming cultures”, understanding the culturally compromised role from these architects. To do so there will be three possible cases used: — On the one hand, Alison and Peter Smithson, as western architects, that live in their country and dream with exotic figures. — On the other, an architect such as Bruno Taut, deeply involved in the culture of an oriental country, Japan, where he spent a long time. — Lastly, Kiyonori Kikutake, the kind of architect born and working in the far country, once again Japan. Though these architects work independently one from each other, there are certain influences between them. The thoughts from the Japanese writer Junichiro Tanizaki in the 1930’s about the loss of cultural identity allows the initial question back.