Capitalism is a
system that rests on the idea of trading price and competition. In other words,
what makes capitalism work better is defining a trading price for every possible
value that we have. If the price is determined, all the system and other values
can be related to this price. We are doing it. The price of working hours or
the price of swimming on the good beaches are already determined. In this
context, it is impossible to separate architectural pieces from their existing
market values.
"In essence, a
commodity is a phenomenon that acquires value when it is exchanged or, as Marx
puts it in relation to capitalist commodity production, exchange value is the
necessary mode of expression, or form of appearance, of value."
Sometimes exchange value of the buildings can
be more important than the building itself. The architectural design and
function of the building are considered as the small factors that impact the
price tag. The interesting thing is the role and importance of the other elements
while defining the value. Those are the supply-demand relation and mediatic
image of the project.
For example, it
is familiar to encounter people who have bought their flats from the project
models. While the construction is ongoing, firms start to marketing their
products. Sometimes the customer purchased the house without seeing the
foundation of it. It is very weird to buying the contract rather than the falt
itself. However, this kind of trade activity is directly based on the possible
exchange value of the project. All criteria
except for the mediatic image and trade value are neglected. Even the need of the
consumer can be questioned. For this context, probably the main aim is to make a
profit from the differences in the exchange value of the project. With this
sort of investment cycle, the role of architecture will lose its importance.
