Reciprocal Architecture – Non-Places That Are Not Fully Such

Super-modernity’s reality is characterized by non-places, places that cannot be defined as relational, historical, or concerned with identity. Contemporary architecture struggles with tension between the desire to create ‘places’, and culture’s compulsion of generating non-places. The paper examines the notion of reciprocal architecture, that accommodates conflicting aspects of place and non-place. Traditionally towers functioned as focal places, establishing identity and projecting stability. On the other hand, towers' observation decks can be understood as non-places, advocating superficiality, detachment, and self-referential experience. Through the case study of the 'observation deck', the possibility of reciprocal architecture mechanisms of place/non-place is questioned and theorized.