Places replicating places. People containers have been carrying within themselves places for centuries. A search through what these trunks contain reveal archives of places gifted to us by people who are no more. Tied to them are our memories. This happens when the identities of the places where these memories were made are so strong, we chip off pieces of the architecture, dig a hole and bury them in within us. For safe keeping. Our places and their memories.
It appears as though that chip off the big block, when introduced into a new environment, does what vegetative propagules do; regenerate the whole. Our special places cannot be tied to physical foundations. They follow us as we move through time here on this ball of dirt. After we have our little nostalgic moments, we release from within us the pieces of our identity; our home. And we sit and watch them do their thing; regenerate what we have held dear to us.
Architecture studies how to form spaces; with the intension of them turning into places. It rarely materializes as such. We typically design for the sake of construction.
What is important? Or should I rather say what should be more important? When I say “important”, I mean not that the other is insignificant but rather in terms of scale one may be considered as a lesser half. Is the study to becoming an architect centered on creating places people can carry in their hearts or it is centered on constructing edifices. Ironically, when architects design with the intent of creating places that people can carry with them wherever in the world, the spaces turn into edifices because they have been carried far and wide. As far as our legs can take us and to as many as our lips can witness to. And this is because these spaces were designed intentionally or unintentionally as PLACE.
Planted, rooted and grounded in soil. Something habitable. A place worth living in. It is not just for existence; as we have encountered all our lives. Something that not only supports life but creates it. Thinking deeply about it you can agree with me that, that mix of creation and support of the living makes it difficult to uproot it from the earth and from the hearts of you and I. That is what I want to learn how to do. To be able to create life. To breathe meaning and purpose into the innate. The purpose that is more organic than utilitarian in the sense of all that is worth. For my heart to see beyond what they see. And also have the ability to open theirs. To be different. For to be an architect, means to create and shape realities. That is one special and great task. Thus, making the executer even more special. I want to understand what it means to be this kind of special