What is the Thinking Hand in Architecture (and why we, as architects, must defend the natural slowness and diversity of experience) #ilmaBlog #Discourse #Theory #Architecture #Design
Posted: October 7, 2018 Filed under: Architectist, Architecture, Art, Design, Design Thinking, Isms, More FC3 | Tags: Architects, book, Design, Discourse, existential, isms, Theory Leave a comment
2009 Book, The Thinking Hand written byArchitect Juhani Pallasmaa
In The Thinking Hand, Architect Juhani Pallasmaa reveals the miraculous potential of the human hand. He shows how the pencil in the hand of the artist or architect becomes the bridge between the imagining mind and the emerging image. The book surveys the multiple essences of the hand, its biological evolution and its role in the shaping of culture, highlighting how the hand–tool union and eye–hand–mind fusion are essential for dexterity and how ultimately the body and the senses play a crucial role in memory and creative work. Pallasmaa here continues the exploration begun in his classic work The Eyes of the Skin by further investigating the interplay of emotion and imagination, intelligence and making, theory and life, once again redefining the task of art and architecture through well-grounded human truths.
Pallasmaa notes that, “…architecture provides our most important existential icons by which we can understand both our culture and ourselves. Architecture is an art form of the eye, the hand, the head and the heart. The practice of architecture calls for the eye in the sense of requiring precise and perceptive observation. It requires the skills of the hand, which must be understood as an active instrument of processing ideas in the Heideggeran sense. As architecture is an art of constructing and physical making, its processes and origins are essential ingredients of its very expression…”
Linking art and architecture he continues, “…as today’s consumer, media and information culture increasingly manipulate the human mind through thematized environments, commercial conditioning and benumbing entertainment, art has the mission to defend the autonomy of individual experience and provide an existential ground for the human condition. One of the primary tasks of art is to safeguard the authenticity and independence of human experience.”
Pallasmaa asserts that,
“Confidence in future architecture must be based on the knowledge of its specific task; architects need to set themselves tasks that no one else knows how to imagine. Existential meanings of inhabiting space can be articulated by the art of architecture alone. Thus architecture continues to have a great human task in mediating between the world and ourselves and in providing a horizon of understanding in the human existential condition.
The task of architecture is to maintain the differentiation and hierarchical and qualitative articulation of existential space. Instead of participating in the process of further speeding up the experience of the world, architecture has to slow down experience, halt time, and defend the natural slowness and diversity of experience. Architecture must defend us against excessive exposure, noise and communication. Finally, the task of architecture is to maintain and defend silence. The duty of architecture and art is to survey ideals and new modes of perception and experience, and thus open up and widen the boundaries of our lived world.”
We would love to hear from you about what you think about this post. We sincerely appreciate all your comments – and – if you like this post please share it with friends.
Feel free to contact us if you would like to discuss ideas for your next project!
Sincerely,
FRANK CUNHA III
I Love My Architect – Facebook
The ‘Allegory of the Cave’
Posted: October 2, 2018 Filed under: Isms, More FC3 | Tags: FC3, Greek, History, Ideas, isms, musings, Philosophy, Plato, thoughts, western civilization Leave a commentThe Allegory of the Cave is a story from Book VII in the Greek philosopher Plato‘s masterpiece The Republic, written in 517 BCE. It is probably Plato’s best-known story, and its placement in The Republic is significant, because The Republic is the centerpiece of Plato’s philosophy, and centrally concerned with how people acquire knowledge about beauty, justice, and good. The Allegory of the Cave uses a metaphor of prisoners kept chained in the dark to explain the difficulties of reaching and sustaining a just and intellectual spirit.
The ‘Allegory Of The Cave‘ is a theory put forward by Plato, concerning human perception. Plato claimed that knowledge gained through the senses is no more than opinion and that, in order to have real knowledge, we must gain it through philosophical reasoning.
Plato’s “The Republic Book 7” ‘On Shadows and Realities in Education’
As our interaction with technology accounts for more of each day, I cannot help but wonder if our perceptions of reality will shift as a civilization. What is real and what is an illusion?
We would love to hear from you on what you think about this post. We sincerely appreciate all your comments – and – if you like this post please share it with friends. And feel free to contact us if you would like to discuss ideas for your next project!
Sincerely,
FRANK CUNHA III
I Love My Architect – Facebook
Architecture in Motion
Posted: February 17, 2012 Filed under: Architecture, Isms, JustArch, More FC3 | Tags: Architecture, Design, Flow, isms, Manifesto, Symbolism, Theory, Zaha, ZAHA HADID 3 CommentsWhen I think of the “flow” of a space the first image to come to mind is the motion of the occupant and how he or she experiences the space. Of course the building itself (and/or site) can have a flow as well (visual flow) both outside with the facade (think strong horizontal/vertical features, or curved forms of aluminum panels for example) or inside with the finishes (think flow of flooring material/texture from one space to another), but to me the perception of the space through movement has a greater impact on the occupant’s perception and experience of the space. If the “space” is correctly designed by someone who understands the flows of a particular building type, it will certainly make for a joyous experience for the occupant. When this not the case the occupant will feel uneasy and will not be able to have a pleasant experience. A seasoned designer will be able to work simultaneously in plan and section to develop a design concept that will result in proper flow for the type of function being asked of the space that he/she is creating. When the layout of the space, the material/textures used, the colors used, the use of light, and the flow of movement of are properly executed the space just feels right.
If you like this post please share it with friends.
Sincerely,
Frank Cunha III
I Love My Architect – Facebook
Protected: TWELVE
Posted: October 9, 2011 Filed under: Isms | Tags: Carl Watts, Collab, Collaboration, Collection, FC3, Frank Cunha III, isms, Poems, Poet, Poetry, Twelve Enter your password to view comments.Attention Deficit Disorder – Designing Every 2 to 3 Minutes
Posted: August 27, 2011 Filed under: Architecture, Isms, More FC3 | Tags: 2-3 Minutes, ADD, Architecture, Disease, isms, Mental, Newark, Theory 4 CommentsA.D.D. may be over diagnosed these days (especially in schools), but during Architecture School one of my professors wanted my friend to see how long I could stay at my drafting table (remember those? I’m dating myself here, although my class may have been one of the last to use them). After a few minutes I would get restless, now with social media I can work on several things at once which satisfies the A.D.D.
What we discovered (after several all-nighters) was a direct link between where I lived and the airplane “noise” I would hear subconsciously (after living under the flight zone my entire life my consciousness had completely tuned it out). I used the timing of the flights (every 2 to 3 minutes) to help inform my Architectural design theories. For example;
Here is a map of where I grew up:
Perhaps this helps shed some light on how I operate!
Sincerely,
@FrankCunhaIII
Eleven: Night’s Illusions
Posted: May 21, 2011 Filed under: Art, Isms, More FC3, Poetry | Tags: Art, Artistic, Artwork, Carl Watts, Collaboration, FC3, Images, isms, Layers, Original, Photographic, Poem, Poetry, Repost, Unique 8 CommentsNight’s Illusions
It seems it is all a dream
A pleasant mishmash of confusion
I was fine when I went to sleep
Now the pictures flash like an illusion
Beauty of body very bold
Images sharp over laid in folds
Sensuous, desirable, a story told
A woman’s beauty never grows old
The gentle brush of scented hair
Color, thoughts flashing about
Warmth and excitement fill the air
How will this dream work out?
Another flash, a clashing sound
The alarm set to kill dreams
Brilliant images falling all around
Back to sleep, should I try?
Try learn the girls name?
Get up and start my day?
I suspect I’ll never be the same
Not after meeting, the girls with no name
[end]
Artwork: Frank Cunha III | Poetry: Carl Watts | More Poetry
If you like this post please share it.
Sincerely,
Frank Cunha III
I Love My Architect – Facebook
Nine: Looking Back
Posted: April 2, 2011 Filed under: Art, Isms, More FC3, Poetry | Tags: Art, Artistic, Audrey, Audrey Bitoni, Bitoni, Carl Watts, Collaboration, FC3, Frank Cunha, Golden Eye, Graphic, Greg Hergert Stencil Background, He, isms, Original, Photo Art, Photographic, Poem, Poetry, She, Special, Time to Celebrate, Unique 1 CommentLooking Back
We had met over space and time
Meeting as life does in it’s rhythm of rhyme
I didn’t know him at first
He wouldn’t stop, expressing a thirst
Something about him drew him to me
It was like he was looking right straight through me
Seven thousand miles and a million years
As I look back in my memory, I remember tears
It was a love that wasn’t meant to be
The kind of love only expressed by strong affinity
Still I feel I can see him behind me
Slowly walking up to touch me
I shiver with thrill
Until I remember it isn’t real
But the pictures is clear
In my heart, he will always be near.
[end]
Artwork: Frank Cunha III | Poetry: Carl Watts | More Poetry
If you like this post please share it.
Sincerely,
Frank Cunha III
I Love My Architect – Facebook
Eight: Sunset
Posted: February 23, 2011 Filed under: Isms, More FC3, Poetry | Tags: Art, FC3, Hope, Inspiration, isms, Joy, Love, Original, Photo, Photographic, Poetry, Sunset Leave a comment
Sunset
Sparks fly,
The glow of the sunset penetrated the unfinished dome,
An amulet for luck on her breast made of chrome,
Quick breaths heave from her chest when she sees him near,
The woman he loves has come to see him here,
This time it will be different because it is known,
Her love is true, he has come to know that it has grown,
They made something together piece by piece,
The foundation stone has been set,
He knew it was meant to be since the first day they met,
Her neck so soft, her hair wrapped high,
Her lips all a quiver, eyes like waves reflected in the clear blue sky,
Made him thirst for another embrace,
His heart pumped up and started to race,
She waited for the glow to come to a still,
That moment when the dusk sets in and the nighttime begins.
[end]
Artwork & Poetry: Frank Cunha III | More Poetry
If you like this post please share it.
Sincerely,
Frank Cunha III
I Love My Architect – Facebook
Four: The Arrival — Original and Re-edited Version by @Zorlone
Posted: February 5, 2011 Filed under: Art, FC3ZMD, More FC3, Photography, Poetry | Tags: Art, Bird, Birds, D90, Farm, FC3, FC3ZMD, isms, Love, Minimalism, Nikon, Photo, Photographic, Poetry, Sussex County, Zorlone 4 CommentsThe Arrival
From a thousand miles they came to see the show,
The nighttime sky was slowly beginning to glow,
The lights shown bright, oh what a sight,
They sat snuck together, nice and tight,
It felt right after such a long flight,
Try not to think of saying good night.
Just sit right back and enjoy the view,
Cause they all knew, these days are few,
Just sit right back and enjoy the craze,
Before the velvet curtains are raised,
The soft white snow began to accrue,
No one cared, they weren’t subdued,
They all knew, these days are few,
They laughed and mused at the stage anew,
The greatest show of their age revived,
Just then they knew they had arrived,
Buzz— Swoosh— Boo—
[end]
Artwork: Frank Cunha III | Poetry: Frank Cunha III / Re-edited by: Lorenzo Bernardino | More Poetry
The Arrival
They came from many miles around to see the show,
The nighttime sky was slowly beginning to glow,
The lights shown bright, what a sight,
They sat close together, nice and tight,
It felt right after such a long flight,
Try not to think of when it is time to go,
Just sit right back and enjoy the show,
They all knew, these days are few,
Just sit right back and enjoy the show,
Before the velvet curtains drew,
The soft white snow began to accrue,
No one cared, they weren’t scared,
They all knew, these days are few,
They laughed and mused at the stage,
The greatest show of their age,
Just then they knew they had arrived,
Buzz— Swoosh— Moo—
[end]
Artwork: Frank Cunha III | Poetry: Frank Cunha III | More Poetry
If you like this post please share it.
Sincerely,
Frank Cunha III
I Love My Architect – Facebook
Three: Waiting for the Rain
Posted: February 1, 2011 Filed under: Art, Isms, Poetry | Tags: Art, Artwork, Collage, FC3, Frank Cunha III, Free, Freedom, isms, Montage, Nude, Original, Photo, Photographic, Photography, Poet, Poetry, Sexy, Umbrella, Waiting for the Rain, Word, Written Leave a comment
Waiting for the Rain
[end]
Artwork: Frank Cunha III | Poetry: Carl Watts | More Poetry
Photo of the Day
Posted: September 11, 2010 Filed under: Art, Isms, More FC3 | Tags: Ground Zero, Hope, isms, New York City, NYC, Photo, World Trade Center, WTC 1 Comment
A New Hope
Being an Architect I am hopeful that the reconstruction at ground zero will bring HOPE
not only to New Yorkers but also to all Americans. As the buildings at the WTC site are rebuilt one
piece at a time so will our shattered soul as a collective consciousness be pieced back together.