Architecture, by its very definition, involves the construction of structures. Structures that are meant to serve as spaces for work, living, religious devotion, amongst many other purposes. Architectural projects and interventions, however, need land – and it is this intrinsic relationship, between land and architecture, that has massive ramifications not only regarding reducing carbon emissions but more importantly in forming an equitable future rooted in climate justice.
The built environment of the cities we live in does not exist in isolation, it is underpinned by the various systems that direct how most of our societies function today. One of those systems is the law – through which contracts can be disputed, lawsuits are brought forward, and which governs who has the right to ownership to portions of land in settlements around the world. A sobering reality is, around the world, urban buildings are monopolised by corporations. In many cases these large structures destroy the urban tissue and density of street-level architecture that contributes to making a city characteristic, limiting opportunities for diverse interactions between the multi-faceted residents of a city.
