Architecture is a luxury a broken society does not care for Seven Essays on: Current Architecture & The Human Experience

Abstract

This work consists of seven essays, with each concerning a specific subject that is related to architecture. There is additional text, which pertains to this work's examination requirements for graduating the architecture-program at Lund Technical University.
This work is a creative explorations through writing as a tool; through text; becoming able to formulate, conceptualize, develop and extract ideas. This has been done while consciously abstaining from 'the usual style' that's expected from similar works in academia. This unusual style serves an actual purpose; since formal language can sometimes be to a pedagogical disadvantage and, according to the author of this work, doesn't necessarily serve the purpose of pure communication– instead, hints towards superficial and belated ideals rather than ones pertaining to effective communication! Because through an honest voice, one avoids the paradox of trying to convey objective ideas as a subjective individual. Since these topics falls within the sphere of "the humanities", where empirical measurements and conceptual tools seldom suffice when compared to the natural sciences – explaining phenomena that pertains to the human experience – is best done as a person.
Architecture risks becoming completely irrelevant! That which us architects care for, wishes to champion, and offer humanity; is a luxury; which a broken society does not care for! Therefore, this work involves itself with topics that indirectly affect architectures creation. It is why this work encouraging a call-to-actions, and could be viewed as 'politically charged'! Because it is relevant for us to understand what influences the creation of the built environment beyond ones own agency, so that we may change it; by any means bestowed to us as both democratic citizens and as a unified profession! For our own sake, but also for others.
This work aims to contribute to The Discussion within architecture by granting the reader new examples, descriptions, definitions, and perspectives on current architecture and the architect.

• author: Liander Ankarcrona, Jon
• supervisor: Mattias Kärrholm
• organization: Department of Architecture and Built Environment
• course: AAHM01 20252
• year: 2026
• type: H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
• subject: Arts and Architecture
• keywords: architecture, politics, economics, psychology, philosophy, technology, architectural history, complexity, social justice, architects, the built environment, digitalization, democracy, inequality, heterodox economics, architecture and society, architecture and political economy, political economy, neoliberalism, system dynamics, complex system dynamics, evolutionary systems, architectural philosophy, architecture as common good, architectural polemics, critical theory, lived experience, the human experience, humanism, austerity, anarchy, capitlism, capitalist critical theory, post-capitalism, climate change, global warming, equality, empiricism, rationalism, urban planning, urban design, spirituality, aesthetics, beauty, meaning, purpose, populism, communication, science, para-social, social media, technofeudalism, post-keynesian, bullshit jobs, control, power, political power, new public management, architectural quality, academia, epistemic corruption, corruption, design, engineering, planning, neoclassical economics, neoclassical, collectivism, future, culture, collective consciousness, consciousness, awareness, gentrification, globalism, theory, education, scientificism, post religion, monumentality, bureaucracy, political theory, cities, construction, BIM, systems
• language: English
• id: 9224128
• date added to LUP: 2026-03-17 09:00:50
• date last changed: 2026-03-17 09:00:50