The Law of Polarity holds good in relation to human society and cultures as well - everything has an opposite. Countercultures have erupted as condemnations of “the ways of the world”. A countercultural movement expresses the ethos and aspirations of a population during a specific time. As new lifestyles are explored, supporting architecture evolves to satiate the utopian ideals of new societies. Architecture is a product of the culture it is designed for.
Countercultures imply that societal norms can be passed and somehow revised, constantly in flux to meet evolving communal needs. Involved in the shaping of cultures, architects simultaneously reflect and create societal trends that manifest as buildings, cities, and systems that support new ways of living. Avant-garde architectural group Archigram’s work was conducive to a new approach to designing for utopian societies. The thinkers were much ahead of their time, expanding the boundaries of architecture’s influence on culture. Their designs, such as The Walking City and Plug-in-City, offer a glimpse into the limitless possibilities that communities can explore through design.
