Architecting the Euro

This article explores an obscure project in architectural history that a bank commissioned interdisciplinary group of advisors to undertake the mid-1990s. The task was provide models participants design competition for banknotes new currency — were not be reproduced but only stylized, concealing any specific historical reference. After winner determined through opinion poll, unexpected by-product construction actual buildings modeled after stylized architectures on banknotes.The distinctiveness this process, and reason its complexity, lies fact that, contrary what one may expect when discussing architecture money (especially money), everything had operate supranational level. question euro, which replaced national currencies twelve European states 2002. organization behind endeavor Monetary Institute, collaboration with Gallup Europe. Its force asked produce survey architecture, whatever might mean. As evidenced by documents associated project, primary requirement avoid bias (EMI 1996: 2). and, more specifically, been working opposite direction centuries, is unique opportunity explore how our discipline negotiated process nation-unbuilding emergence new, structure power