LFA (2) DO WE NEED WALLS?

Definition of a wall : continuous vertical brick or stone structure that encloses or divides an area of land

protective or restrictive barrier

Stonewall purposes

--> Agricultural, artform, borders, structure

Walls in suburban area

People employ different kids of 'walls' to mark the boundaries of their properties. These 'walls' ranges from different materials, porosity and height.

Some walls sit at the max allowance (1.8m) but are porous through its picket fencing construction.

Each wall serves a particular fuction/purpose

Without walls

Boundaries between spaces becomes blurred, land ownership becomes questioned.

disadvantages: people intruding on your property/privacy

advantages: possibly a closer community

Walls for protection

Gated communities. Eg. Apartheid movement in south africa. Racial segregation leading to closed and gated communities. In these places, liked minded people gather and unite under the same belief or reasons. (Reasons vary from racial segregation or wealth divide)

Gated communities create a rift between a city's overall connectiveness

Merriam-Webster defines walls as 1) a high thick masonry structure that encloses, for defence; 2) fence around a garden, park or estate; 3) a structure that serves to retain pressure. Walls (stonewall in particular) were initially built for agricultural purposes during the late 18th century, serving to hold non-biodegradable waste or subdivide property and fields.  Additionally, walls also function as a livestock enclosure and can express an art form influenced by culture.  Presently, the usage of walls ranges from our houses, fences, borders, retention structures and historical archaeological element; each with a unique intention. 

Walls in architectural expressions can provide the built environment with an aggressive touch, serving to control the movement of people by obstructing them. Depending on the intent or usage, walls would do more harm than good. Political cases such as the Mexican border where the purpose lies specifically to keep Mexican immigrants out of the US would do more harm than good. The expenditure of mass resources to prevent a particular race from entering and possibly contribute to the US market seems more of a waste than a progressive action. For cases like these, which is a result of conflict, walls serve to divide and segregate people. The intent of it is ill, and the tools which ensue would also be ill. The function of a wall does not provide harm, but the intent and actions of the people that follow might do. If the role of a wall is to divide and mark as a border for two parties in agreement, then the wall is an aggressive tool to segregate the people physically. 

However, not all cases for building walls are bad as some can create an experience by controlling the way we approach something such as an architectural promenade.  As such, the creation of such walls would add value to the people. Additionally, walls can be used as a decorative feature in the form of sculptures. Ricard Serra uses large metal sheets that are folded in asymmetry to offset a person's perception of space. The result creates a disorienting experience for the people walking through the installation. Serra's other large scale works also serve as a decorative feature which creates an opportunity for us to look at a wall differently. Walls have been built as an artefact historically to express culture and interest of its time. With that mind, the walls we build today could also be used in the same method to express the culture and interests of our time presently. 

2)Do we need walls?

Yes, walls are something that will follow our built environment even as we progress as a unifying society.  Walls provide privacy and privacy is something each of us value to an extent and need. The role of a wall also provides us with protection and shelter. However, if we do continue to progress as a society (removing racial boundaries etc.) some walls are able to be left in the past; perhaps the walls we do build would be a remembrance of the past to signify our progression as a society.