ABSTRACT
We have long had a utilitarian view of infrastructure, focused on its function rather than its aesthetics. While that makes sense in some ways, since much of our infrastructure remains invisible below the ground or through the airwaves, the utilitarianism that has dominated our thinking about infrastructure rests on an ethical assumption that it should create the greatest good for the greatest number, regardless of how it looks. But utilitarian ethics offers a more nuanced view of the matter, suggesting that the utility of our infrastructure – and our architecture – depends as much upon its respect for community needs and cultural values as its functionality and efficiency.
