Cities in the Sky

In the early 20th century, the ground had become associated with disorder, decay and tubercular contagion. Modern architecture was sometimes conceived of as a battle against these conditions, where stilt-like pilotis raised structures away from the ground below and toward the sunlight and fresh air above. This architectural vocabulary still informs our view of the imaginary future where elevated walkways lift us off the earth, the battle with gravity and disease fought and won. Above: Tomorrowland (2015).