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sounded
breath, cast shadow
sustainability,
connectedness, and the workplace
The
world is too much with us; late and soon,
Getting
and spending, we lay waste our powers;
Little
we see in Nature that is ours;
We
have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!
This
Sea that bares her bosom to the moon;
The
winds that will be howling at all hours,
And
are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers;
For
this, for everything, we are out of tune;
It
moves us not. - Great God! I'd rather be
A
Pagan suckled in a creed outworn;
So
might I, standing on this pleasant lea,
Have
glimpses that would make me less forlorn;
Have
sight of Proteus rising from the sea;
Or
hear old Triton blow his wreathèd horn.
William
Wordsworth (1770 - 1850)
I am impressed by how little our angst has changed over the last two centuries.
Wordsworth's industrial England was going to hell in a hand-basket as quickly
then as we believe we are today. Yet, we continue to prosper even
as we lament the loss of the good old [bad] days. The world's industrial
societies developed healthier living conditions; addressed workers' rights;
expanded democratic participation; improved social services; and the list
goes on. We are part of this continuum and not only must we be vigilant
in maintaining the social progress of our past, but we are also continuing
to respond to the challenges of today and the future.
Thesis
is the time to distill my passions and observations into one complete project
that expresses an architectural comment. Of the many issues of our
age, I am concentrating on furthering sustainable development and addressing
the concerns of working in a nurturing and healthy environment. Considering
such a large part of our time is devoted to our place of work, I believe
that this environment should be as healthy and empowering as possible.
As the cotton gin was to the industrial revolution, so is the computer
to the information revolution. I believe that our office environments
not only need to address ecological concerns, but they also have to respond
to workers' needs for natural light, fresh air, and visual stimulation.
The two concepts go hand-in-hand.
‘The
task of architecture is to make visible “how the world touches us”, as
Maurice Merleau-Ponty wrote of the paintings of Paul Cézanne.’
(Juhani
Pallasmaa, Annual Discourse Lecture 1999 for RIBA Architecture Gallery)
I am
interested in how to express architecture in tactile human terms. It seems
quite simple, but I would argue that the ‘efficiencies’ of globalisation
have not brought us healthy architecture in which to live and work. My
goal is to reinvigorate our sense of dwelling. I am fascinated by
textures, sun shadows, graceful aging of materials, human scale, and ideally
designs that feel as if they were the obvious and natural choice for a
particular site. It is as much about learning how to live well as it is
about creating living places. Of course these are lofty ideals, but I will
argue that thesis is about ‘raising consciousness’ and learning what more
we can see, express, and do.
Christopher
Alexander refers to architectural interventions as opportunities to ‘repair’
the built fabric. Montréal is a natural choice for my site;
furthermore, it is a city where information technology companies are on
the vanguard and ecological design is just beginning to enter the architectural
discourse. I am proposing an urban project (commercial and multiple
office space) that will also address ideas of public versus private space,
circulation and transportation, and local cultural phenomena. This thesis,
therefore, is about furthering the design culture of post-industrial Montréal
with a contemporary approach to ecodesign in the work place.
One
shade the more, one ray the less,
Had
half impaired the nameless grace
Which
waves in every raven tress,
Or
softly lightens o’er her face;
Where
thoughts serenely sweet express
How
pure, how dear their dwelling place.
from
She Walks in Beauty
Lord
Byron (1788-1824)
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