The reading mainly discussed two types of the city: Invisible City and Genetic City. Genetic City can simply understand as a city without history. Asia is a really historic place. According to Abbas, most of the representative examples today of the Gerneric City are Asian, since they show their “legibility” and “imageability” excessively. And this makes a historic place become a Genetic City. And this makes a historic place become superficial. Most of the cities have a similar developing pathway. Many cities lost their identity and culture during the vast construction or development. Based on my travel experience, it is true that most of the cities gave me a similar feeling except their locations. However, under the process of globalization, and the fusion of different cultures, it is possible that Gernetic City may become the only way that every city must be passed in the future.
– Lau Kong Ngai, 3035822756
The two types of cities discussed by Abbas is the exorbitant city and generic city. Invisible Cities, Calvino’s novel was borrowed to explain the concept of the former.
In your point of view, homogeneity from the concept of generic city seems to be inevitable in future city developments. Do you think there is still room for preservation / conservation of history, identity, and culture of a city? If so, how? you may wish to approach the question from the perspective of materiality, urban fabric, development methodology etc.