Dear all members of this semester length gathering*,
Hope you’re ready to read to my flow of thoughts that stuck with me after this semester. Shortly, I can say I was learning to see the potential. I know this is not the answer Tomas and Robin wish to hear – it is like saying nothing or everything, sounds too abstract. So, I try briefly to tell the key elements that became essential to bring with me further, and I am sure not just in the architectural projects.
First of all, I got really convinced by this task and the process that we as architects should learn to be more empathetic as J. Pallasmaa** said, architects need more soft egos. The way of looking for potential with respect to the existing situation forced me to develop or think more about that sensitivity and reject the wish “only to design”. I understood that the most important task could be finding the grain and harvest it. The small but really contextual change could be a key element in the project – the most important thing is to know the reason why you choose to do this.
Secondly, during this semester the importance of observation was proved. My chosen building was “stubborn” enough to invite me inside, which made me stressful, however, several days walking around, sitting in the corners and sketching details became a form of understanding the building. A. Siza in one of his essays wrote that learning to see is one of the fundamental skills for architectsand he added The more we observe, the clearer the essence of the object will become. And this essence will be consolidated as vague, instinctive knowledge.*** Therefore, I do feel a bit confused – did I really get to know the object or did I interpret all of it. And here came the need for precision. Although I have always kept myself attentive to the details, I understood that precision means even more. It is not only about seeing the details, but also relating them to the totality: if you analyze the details, you understand the bigger picture. However, this part was one of the most challenging for me – I do feel I didn’t succeed to reach that precision, but at least I do have an ambition for it.
Thirdly, imagination, which was necessary in this process, was even more challenging for me. My stubborn and hardly understandable building taught me that seeing potential first comes with the ability to rethink the evident and imagine it in a new scenario.* Probably my choice to analyze the facade as a threshold, with a view that the facade could be understood not only as an envelope, but also as a volume, sounds quite silly, but I did that. And still I learned a lot.
Looking back to the whole process, I feel I stressed myself too much with the concern of the result. The same regrets go with the act of drawing and redrawing. Although I noted for myself on the third week of consultations to draw more in order to find the details,I didn’t start. Instead of drawing I was questioning – whether it is worthy, what will be the result of that. I didn’t realize that the act of drawing is such a powerful process – a tool for observation, concentration and analysis – rediscovering the uniqueness of evident things (A. Siza) . Thanks to Tomas, who during the last consultation said to me: “Do everything you don’t see the point in”, of course added “just in studio framework”.
Finally, I am happy because I started asking myself much more often: what am I honestly curious about? The search for curiosity allows me to understand my ambitions and abilities even better – I think the whole studio with all the conversations and advice given by Tomas and Robin became super powerful and encouraging to look not only for a solution to my building (which I couldn’t say I found), but to think deeper about the tools, approach and the role of architects, architecture. Clearly, reality is not only rainbows and unicorns, but I am sure that lessons I learnt or at least I started to learn will lead me further.
Thanks for reading; for positiveness and for the opportunity not only to be a part of this studio, but also for this way of sharing our thoughts and reflections.
Warmest
Egle Kliučinskaité