Preserving the uniqueness of local cultures in their modern design interpretations.

As time progresses, the modern day society and cultures are slowly integrating into "a world that is increasingly becoming one global economically and technologically interdependent whole, where universal mobility is taking architects and architecture across borders and through continents at an unprecedented speed." (Tzonis and Lefaivre, 484) The universalizing of culture is in some ways an advancement for humanity, however global integration is threatening to subtly disintegrate the stylistic innovation in architecture as the universal styles and cultures takes over. In order to address the threat of globalization in architecture, it is a imperative to focus on the use of critical regionalism throughout the world. By the integration of buildings into the site and usage of local materials and style, the architect can revitalize and preserve the uniqueness of the local cultures in their modern design interpretations.

When designing, a critical regionalist must stress site specific factors. These range from the topographic elements, to the climatic conditions and solar orientation of the site. The universal style tends to remove the topographic elements by leveling the entire site and placing the building onto it. The removal of the topography results in the disconnection from the location. As such, the building can be built in any flattened location and uniqueness is lost. The integration of the topography into the design is crucial. Mario Botta coins the phrase, "building the site." (Frampton, 478) What he implies by this is not only how the buildings rest on or into the site but how it reconstructs and builds up the site. Rather than the building becoming a freestanding object, it becomes one with the location and culture. ...

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... the vernacular of the area, along with the timber which evoke the heavy forested setting of the town of Säynätsalo. His design considerations ultimately lead to the design of a building that successfully interacts with the environment and locale, preserving the uniqueness of the cultures nearby.

The universalizing of culture, although an advancement in the communications and interaction of humanity, ultimately is threatening to disintegrate the styles in architecture as the universal styles continues to progressively overtake the locale. However, by focusing on the use of critical regionalism throughout the world, the uniqueness of cultures can be preserved. By the integration of buildings into the site and usage of local materials and style, the architect will revitalize and preserve the uniqueness of the local cultures in their modern design interpretations.