A journey of my theory of architecture. MY blog. Mei Yin's blog.
P03: Essay Review - The Concept of Place
The first point of the essay is about the argument between 'the place' which defined as 'stable places' in the past and 'mobile life' in the future. The idea of 'mobile life' which replace the stable places by Utopian projects stated that the New Babylon emphasized on in-determination, mobility and flexibility. This statement is supported by Dutch Utopian which predict that in New Babylon, everyone will always be traveling, they will not feel the need to return to origin place where it will undergone transformation all the time.
However, this statement is objected by American Urbanist who said that the essence of city is not places but 'interaction' where a good relationship between human and environment will lead to sense of emotional security.
At this point, i do agree with the latter which stressed on the relationship between human and environment (stable places). In mobile life, people tend to travel all the time. As an result, they lack of contact, both physically and emotionally. According to the studies of architectural theorist, Christopher Alexander, lack of contact will eventually leads to mental disorder, self-centredness and schizophrenia.
The second point of the essay is about 'Existential Space' and how the existential space is giving effects on human beings in daily life. As for a child, he will look for the missing object where it was seen the last time and learn to differentiate mobile objects and stable object and thus, using the latter as point of reference. This implied that the child knows how to recognize which is also part of 'conservation' where the child gradually construct the image of a structured world, in which the notion of space.
By the concept of existential space, the structure remains as center. For example, people thought of their home as the center point when asked to describe or talk about their environment because home is the origin place where one departs.
German philosopher, Otto Friedrich Bollnow stated that, the concept of space is connected with human actions. I totally agreed with this statement. He further said that space is conquered through man's action. The concept of space is divided into two meaning; 'place of action' and 'point of departure'. As i mentioned earlier, the child who remembered his home as center is an example of 'point of departure' while 'place of action' is the journey from home to school.
The author further explain about our possibilities of action based on horizontal and vertical planes which generated by our movements. The double movement of departure and return reflects a differentiation of space in two zones; a smaller internal and a surrounding external. Small internal zone is the intimate world of house and home while the surrounding external zone is the outside world where man departs and from where he returns. The existential space of the individual is determined by the interaction between human and environment which i think it is true. We need to understand and adapt the environment which is 'given' to us from the day we are born. That is how 'existential space' is developed step by step as a function of experience, experiencing life.
While adapting the environment, it doesn't mean that we are bounded. The interaction between human and environment however, comprises 'freedom' where we may shape it according to our needs.
The third point of the essay is 'Architectural Space' where if the structure does not permit the development of satisfactory existential space, man himself has to modify the environment. From the smallest changes we can make; moving pieces of furniture to the big projects where architects and planners are involved. Before the environment is 'concretize', natural elements may satisfy our need by developing them further. As we can see from historical studies on dwellings, the reasons for settlement are not an accident. By understanding the place and space, human choose certain sites for their dwellings. Therefore, Genius Loci of the site is appreciated through interaction between human and landscape. I agreed with this as i believe; nature always does the best job in providing a comfortable environment for human.
When there is a building, it creates the relationship between interior and exterior space where often, gate used to distinguish the 'inside' and 'outside'. The interaction between inside and outside also based on the establishment of direction within the place; lines and surfaces which from the interior continue towards outside or viceversa. However, this architectural style experienced increasing opposition where they can't feel at home in a space without limit. The American, Robert Venturi created contrast and contradiction between interior and exterior where the wall act as point of changes which eventually differentiate the interior and exterior forces of use and space. At this point, i do not agree that in order to feel at home, interior and exterior space need to be in contrast and contradiction between each other. As we can see nowadays, architects tend to create 'open space' between interior and exterior so that we can actually experience the nature surrounding as in, to bring us close to nature. The feel of home, is purely an emotional part and psychological mindset of ourselves but not the environment itself because i do believe that, home is the where the heart is :)
With ideas and suggestions coming from all over the world on how to improve the space quality for both interior and exterior, examples such as; curve wall, dynamic and continuous interior, hierarchical, functionalism, regular repetitions, geometrical organization, etc. are used. I think, the forms and ways of expressing the quality of space are basically developed from the basic shapes of square, circle and triangle. With different method of developing the basic shapes, spatial organizations is introduced. Hence, more and more architectural style to come.
As conclusion, i have talked about the three main points of the essay which are; the concept of place, the existential space and architectural space. I agreed with the statement of interaction between human and environment is needed rather than mobile life which seems to bring human to a more convenient and high-tech world. In order to create existential space, i think, we need to experience life step by step to actually recognize the environment around us either in internal zone or external zone. By interaction with environment, we can adapt to the environment given. Architectural space is where we can make modification to the environment if we are not satisfy with the existing space. However, before we make any changes, we should look into the surrounding and analyze what and how can the environment helps to make our life better. By appreciating Genius Loci of the site, human will eventually getting some good deals from the environment. Besides, i think the reason of differentiating the interior and exterior is based on our own perception of space. I strongly believe that the qualities of interior and exterior space are from our heart and mind. Although the forms and organizations affect, but the interaction between human and environment is the domain.
The concept of place, existential space and architectural space are basically connected, both visually and psychologically. Interaction between human and environment is the main influence where we can see, the way of interacting is giving effects on building form, building site, and even the spaces and it's qualities.
Yet Another Day ; Monday, June 21, 2010
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