Scratching the Surface 37. Jack Self
Jul 26, 2017
In a thought-provoking conversation, Jack Self, a London-based architect, writer, and founder of The Real Foundation, delves into the intersection of architecture and philosophy. He shares insights from his unique journey, including the impact of Occupy on his views. Jack emphasizes the importance of material culture in contemporary discourse, revealing how design can reflect and address political issues. He explains how The Real Review caters to both the general public and design professionals, advocating for clarity and engagement in architectural writing.
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Early Career Confronts Urban Inequality
- Jack Self recounts moving from Australia to France and working on masterplanning in Paris suburbs where he first encountered stark urban wealth inequality.
- That experience, around 2008, pushed him to reconsider architecture's social effects and later influenced his career shift into writing and activism.
Unemployment Led To New Studies
- Jack describes losing his job in London and returning to architecture school, then studying philosophy and economics after joining Occupy.
- Those experiences broadened his interests and led to a blurred practice across architecture, writing and curation.
Space Enacts Ideology
- Jack realized public protests were limited by privatized urban space, noting St. Paul's as an exception.
- He sees spatial design as a direct expression of ideology and power relations in cities.
