Airoots Archive

The essay challenges the modern notion of the future, rooted in a linear timeline, and advocates for a present-focused approach in architecture and urban design. Linear time obscures the complex and dynamic nature of the present, where recognition of ongoing processes is crucial. The essay proposes a practice that engages with present realities, rather than projecting idealized futures, exemplified by fictional but pragmatic "dream tool-houses" in Dharavi.

The article discusses global anxieties about population growth and the housing crisis, arguing that the fear of slums and the inability to provide affordable housing stem from faulty policies and a lack of imagination rather than the actual capacity to house people. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the factors contributing to the urban crisis, such as land arrangements and speculation, in order to address the issue effectively.