THE POWER OF ARCHITECTURE

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

What's lacking in the training of architects and urban planners is the ability to work under constraints of time, budget, space, and political agendas. These limitations, far from being obstacles, are opportunities that enrich the creative process and improve the final result: the buildings. However, many professionals see these constraints as barriers to their creativity, when in reality 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 70s with postmodernism, where form dominated over function, led to architecture becoming irrelevant in crucial debates such as development, poverty, and economic growth. As the voice of architects became less necessary in city building, many opted to seek visual impact rather than social relevance, prioritizing image over purpose.

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

Buildings can no longer be viewed merely as isolated elements in the city. They must function as tools that support communities, weaving urban and architectural relationships that generate positive impacts. This can improve the economy, social relations, and the environment through construction investments 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, bordering three neighborhoods with high rates of violence, this space managed to attract local youth, fostering dialogue among them and significantly reducing violence levels. Interestingly, the official project description only mentions the formal intention for the building to resemble stones, without the architect acknowledging the true power that architecture had in breaking down social barriers and creating equity in the city.

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