THE POWER OF ARCHITECTURE

The main criticism of contemporary architecture is its irrelevance: architects have focused on issues that only interest other architects, ignoring important problems for society. The academic world has not adequately prepared professionals to face current reality, relegating crucial issues, such as the problem of social housing in Latin America, to other disciplines.

What is missing in the training of architects and urban planners is the ability to work under time, budget, space and political agenda restrictions. These limitations, far from being obstacles, are opportunities that enrich the creative process and improve the final result: buildings. However, many professionals see these restrictions as barriers to their creativity, when in fact they are the driving force behind innovative solutions.

Throughout recent history, architects decided that, as part of the fine arts, their practice should be based on artistic freedom and genius. This approach, which began in the 1960s and 1970s with postmodernism, where form dominated over function, led to architecture becoming irrelevant in crucial debates such as development, poverty or economic growth. As the voice of architects became less necessary in the construction of cities, many chose to seek visual impact rather than social relevance, prioritising image over purpose.

The real challenge for architecture in the 21st century is no longer the creation of isolated architectural objects, but the ability to work transversally and to formulate questions that involve various disciplines: economics, finance, social sciences and politics. Architecture must actively participate in issues such as marginalization, security and development, going beyond internal discussions within the profession to collaborate with the forces that can truly transform people's lives.

Buildings can no longer be seen as isolated elements in the city. They must function as tools that help communities, weaving urban and architectural relationships that generate positive impacts. This can improve the economy, social relations and ecology through investments in construction that benefit both large economies and local microeconomies.

An example of how a building can positively impact its surroundings is the Parque Biblioteca España in Medellín, inaugurated in 2007. Located on a mountain, on the border of three neighborhoods with high rates of violence, this space managed to attract young people from the area, encouraging dialogue between them and significantly reducing levels of violence. Curiously, the official description of the project only mentions the formal intention of the building looking like stones, without the architect recognizing the true power that architecture had in breaking down social barriers and generating equity in the city.

Just as Louis Kahn said that a brick wanted to be more than just a brick, buildings today must aspire to be more than just structures. Architecture has the power to create better cities, reduce social and economic gaps, and improve the quality of life of its inhabitants. This is the true transformative potential of architecture.