In the past, Architizer has gone back to the history books to examine five highly influential architectural visions that, because of their inherently utopian idealism, could never be built. Falling under a modernist mindset of idealized planning with relatively new materials like steel, concrete, and glass, these visions strived for progressive cities that improved the lives of their citizens. Unfortunately, this often led to grandiose plans that placed the genius of the master architect above all else.
Now, we revisit utopian architecture with three more plans that never left the drafting table. Unlike those that came before, the following ideas are largely a reaction to modernist grand visions. And while earlier modernist plans felt rigid and utilitarian, the following proposals take on a particularly playful, retro-future aesthetic.
Whether through a more seamless integration of city and nature, challenging rationalism, or experimenting with fantastical abstraction, these three visions of utopia are imbued with a post-war sentiment to critique and confront the modern heroic architect.