Dream & Nature
Architectural Design Theory
The Dream
This website is an attempt to realise a youthful dream. The dream? To make the world more peaceful. The dream led to a belief that if a man could be at peace in his home, as a direct result of the physical building, he would be less inclined to get up in the morning to go to war.
The privilege of a good education suggested it might just be possible to translate a dream for all of all’s benefits. Architecture should lead to a happy place. JG ‘09.
Search & Discovery
We went in search of a house or building that might deliver quiet, calm. Many beautiful buildings were found – beautiful buildings by Schindler & Eames, Corbusier, and Rietveld.
However, and more importantly, we discovered a method of building that has a calming influence. The method is a system incorporating a measure series that mediates between our inner and outer worlds.
The Abbey
In the walls of the Abbey at Vaals, we found a treatise for Architecture like none since those built, or written by, the Greeks, Vitruvius, Palladio, or Corbusier. The clarity experienced in the Abbey at Vaals was explained away as a direct result of the measures used to mark out the walls and courts and gardens.
Dom. Hans van der Laan, the architect and monk, said that to understand his theory on how and why to build, we must try to be like children in our minds. The space emerges from the centre of the mass of the walls. The solids and voids are governed by the plastic number, a series of measures distilled from nature.
Nature
Our world, our site, is incomplete for our life. Our natural landscapes resist our existence. To survive, we must build walls.
When we build, we complete Nature. One may choose to accept or reject this as the truth.
Borrowed Space
When we build on a site, we borrow a piece of natural space. The natural space is vertically orientated and we change it into a horizontal space. In this horizontal personal space, borrowed from the great space of nature, we live, work, and die against the walls.
The space and stones return to the earth.
Limitless Space
The Earth is unlimited. We set limits in the unlimited. Thinkers call it defensible space and children in particular are happier and develop more securely when they have limits. A horizon needs a ship, just as land needs limits and hills need houses.
We begin to feel.
Formless
The Earth is formless. We can see only one surface and it is not possible to perceive its form. When we cut or quarry the earth, we shape and give it form to see. Architecture is about commodity and delight. Our ability to perceive form requires that we exercise care when creating our forms to enjoy. It is as though we must give back considered form that is easy on the landscape and good for the mind.
We start to see.
Immeasurable
The Earth is immeasurable. How many blades of grass and grains of sand? No two branches, flowers, or rocks are the same size. We break down infinite quantity in our minds. We have units or measures. We learn to count. We group and sort: tiny, very small, medium, large, extra large, huge. Children do it with shells and stones, sweets and flowers. Continuous quantity is workable.
We understand.
Get in touch
If you wish to consult over a project or query our services, just get in touch.