Some Thoughts About History
If you’ve not visited Blair Humphreys’ blog, www.imaginativeamerica.com, do so. He’s had some great posts about the city’s earlyday planning efforts.
Though the 1930s, city fathers had some pretty high ambitions about what this city should look like. They envisioned a string of parks connected by a grand boulevard. They designed and built ornate bridges and public works projects. They aspired to have this city look … special.
Something happened. After World War II, everything became very utilitarian, very … boring. And it stayed that way, all the way through the 1990s. We’re still building bridges and streets that, for the most part, are boring. They serve a function, and that’s it.
So what happened? I’ve got a theory, and it’s just that. The Great Depression happened. And maybe, just maybe, the leading citizens who really cared about what this city should look like, ended up leaving for elsewhere. And the leadership that was left, God bless them, did what they could to keep things running. But they no longer gave much thought to design, to pedestrian needs, to community.
It’s just a theory… and now I’m opening it to debate. What do you think?
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Comments
Hey Steve, appreciate the good word.
I don’t know the answer to your question…yet. Hopefully by the end of the semester, with a completed thesis on OKC’s planning history behind me, I will be able to give you an answer.
For now though we can have fun hypothesizing. And as far as theories go, I believe what you say is quite possible. Still, I am thinking that it had more to do with national post-WWII trends in planning and development that we wholeheartedly adopted. Especially in road and highway development (the utilitarian focus you mention), which we have made a priority above all other planning and development objectives ever since.
No one says we have to stick to the monotony. I am all for making OKC a place that strives for and expects excellence in everything we do!
I think the highways killed cities and design, and ultimately aesthetics in Oklahoma City. When highways were built, the civil engineers — the technocrats — took over. Human-oriented planning was supplanted by traffic and cost- efficiency. Things like sidewalks became (and still are) an afterthought.
Just my thoughts.
I am visiting all the blogs nom’d for the 2008 Okie Blog awards…just wanted to say CONGRATS on your nom!!!
http://okiedoke.com/ok/08awards/index.html
I sure could use your vote when you stop by the ballot box….please stop by when you get time
I don’t know about your theory, but I do know that some people look at a good abstract painting and can appreciate it… others say “what’s THAT supposed to be?, anybody could do that!” Nothing will change the viewpoints of those people (except learning to appreciate good design). I think that the decline or absence of OKC’s vision hinges on the degree of art appreciation of those in authority. We need a balance of art and logic. During the depression utilitarianism was mandatory. Now we have a better balance. Hopefully it will continue.