Keep Growing

One of the most dramatic number of inhabitants in Mexico City is 27 millions of persons. According to that data, just the capital of Mexico has three times the population of the whole Czech Republic. Cuautitlan remains in the further part of the greater Mexico city, from there to the centrum there is no gap, city built over more city. Foreigners get surprised and Mexicans proud of this gigantic human settlement, but beyond the majestic colonization of the earth, rises a destruction of the life. The growing society is not excusably a topic on Mexico City, but a worldwide problem.

Prague also is growing in its own rhythm. Libeñ is a vividly example. Probably one of the last remains of the authentic Prague in held on this area. The construction of modern and fancy panelaks. Vltava is changing its route. A business centrum is being installed on a fake Island and the pollution won’t wait too much to affect the main city.

The way to build could be different. Instead of building magnificent and luxurious housing complexes, it would be more interesting to create parks with urban gardens. Bring the children to be part of the culture of growing life, instead of bringing them to see the Proud Czech Armed Forces. Stop the construction of megacenters and clean the river instead. There are many other paths to take in “modernization”. My personal opinion remains in the small part I can see. I don’t doubt that experts on the planning system of the city could and must develop much better ideas.

The project works also in a way of showing the modern city. How is the human civilization performing on the beginning of the XXI century, in a moment crucial for the health of the planet. The project gazes the modernity; massive machinery digging the earth with an uncanny movement, the enormous cranes proudly showing themselves over the building landscape, Vltava’s life feeding on the pollution of the city, among other ways of the growing city.

Moving photography is used in the 4k video format, going through them is a way to contemplate the construction and destruction of the area. The way I see that happening is

most likely not the same perception of the system which is also involved in the project: fancy residences come with a great visual advertisement, showing the public the awesomeness of the DOCK.

The main inspiration on this project was Godfrey Reggio’s trilogy named Qatsi. On these amazingly well shown movies Reggio exposes great problems of our society like industrialization of the life, destruction of the nature, or the conditions workers suffers on the non-developed-countries, besides different problems. The lack of dialogs also influenced my project focusing it on the visualization of a growing world.