CLOG Investigates Sci-Fi Architecture in Latest Issue

CLOG is an seasonal architecture magazine that investigates a particular topic. CLOG issues are made up of short, usually one page articles by various architects, critics, and writers. Their latest issue points CLOG’s contributors at science fiction.

Contributors are often left to cover a wide variety of subjects within that topic. Mark Durmel discusses the homegrown movement to rebuild the set of Luke Skywalker’s Tatooine homestead (it’s out in the Tunisian desert if you’re curious). Simon Kristak asks how flying cars and the subsequent disappearance of roads and infrastructure would influence the shape of buildings. Regardless of the specific topic, nearly all of the articles boil down to the question: what does science fiction say about the past, present, and most importantly, the future?

[easyazon-image align=”left” asin=”B008M4MB8K” locale=”us” height=”158″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51lCV–t3oL._SL160_.jpg” width=”160″]CLOG puts the whimsical futuristic architecture of yesteryear a page away from contemporary speculative pieces, begging the question, where do our contemporary speculations stand within the historical context of science fiction speculation? Our lives are undoubtedly “futuristic” in the traditional, 20th century sort of way. Samsung has recently played on our notions of sci-fi technology, basically equating their latest smartwatch with famous examples in science fiction. The short answer is we’re getting there, and we can go in a few directions. Science fiction always plays on the possible futures that we’re capable of creating. Will we make it a technological utopia? Or a dystopia like so many sci-fi writers have imagined?

Of course CLOG doesn’t seek to answer these questions, but to merely present a collection of studies, speculations, and commentary on our long and storied practice of wondering and studying our futures. It’s a must have for any science fiction or architecture enthusiast. It also has a ton of great nuggets of wisdom, like this one from Dan Newman’s article We no longer predict tomorrow. We only critique the now.

“Do we still have a future? We must. Somewhere. But first, it seems, our present must be managed with great care, in the ever expanding and accelerating now.” You can pick up CLOG: Sci-fi here.

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Image Source: CLOG Sci – Fi

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November 8, 2013 By Dennis Lynch

About the author

I'm a freelance journalist based out of New York City. I specialize in the arts, architecture, design, and music. I spend most of my time writing and the rest reconciling laptops, Casio keyboards, and old tape machines to make music. I can be reached via Twitter.