And attention to ephemera has architectural implications. Hallmark events are often remembered for their architectural or planning gestures such as the Crystal Palace, the Eiffel Towers, the Seattle space needle and the Tokyo Olympics swimming hall. In other words, ephemera have spatial implications that planners and designers need to appreciate. The notion of creating and planning events may make us nervous. The potential loss of authenticity and spontaneity ought to concern us, but we should not let it become an excuse for inaction.
Ephemera can also become the reason for actually getting things done.
For example, Barcelona made 30 years of infrastructure investment in 6 years when it was selected as the city for the Olympics. It's often suggested that these hallmark events offer the opportunity to extract considerable funds from other levels of government. Work is not the highest end of life. Festivity is an end in itself. It is not instrumental.