The Poetic Language of Architecture
"Of all the arts, none is more fundamental to the way we live than architecture. It is a mirror of our own time and of times gone by. Great buildings and structures are much more than powerful works of architecture and engineering: The capture the Zeitgeist - the spirit of their time." (Trevor Howells)
Architecture is the art of place making. Architecture marks the civilization level in each time period. The buildings that are created symbolized the trends and the type of people's activities in that era. Architecture can be utilized to show case power, intelligence, or wealth. Modernist architects believe that form follows function while Renaissance architects emphasis on symmetry, proportion, and geometry. Aesthetic is an important aspect of architectural design, yet interesting buildings may not necessarily comfortable to be occupied nor functional for the users.
Note: The photo on the left was taken in Valencia, Spain on our Mediterranean cruise honeymoon in 2015. |
Urie Bronfenbrenner, a developmental psychologist, theorizes that environment affects human psychological growth. Ancient Chinese believes in the role of Feng Shui to foster prosperity through metaphoric terms of invisible forces of Qi; balancing the energy in universe, earth, and humanity. Similarly, Indian culture believes in the use of Mandala in design as a symbol of a microcosm of the universe that exhibits balance.
Kenneth K.Y. Poon, a talented architect who happens to be my husband, believes that "Building has a soul" and it is the responsibility of an architect to create buildings that are not only beautiful, but also meaningful and functional for the users. He often embodies the poetic architectural languages in his building design. Architectural projects that are built only to serve the ego of the architects or to maximize the profits of developers cannot be considered successful unless they are also comfortable for the users and functional in nature.
Prof. Ananya Roy, my previous teacher at UC Berkeley, taught me that designers should be sensitive toward the environment and should not treat the land as "Tabula Rasa (a blank piece of paper). My own design philosophy derives from Christian scripture that introduces the existence of: Mind, Body, and Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:23). The translation of Mind as Landscaping, Body as Architecture, and Spirit as Lighting symbolize the organic living nature of architecture as the extension of human being's connectivity with the earth, universe, and each other. The balance between these three aspects of architecture will also creates a harmony for the built environment and the users. I am grateful for my previous architecture teacher at UC Berkeley, Professor Dana Buntrock, who encouraged and taught me how to translate this biblical concept to create architectural language in building design.
Personally, I believe that we should move away from architecture that only serves to show-case wealth and considering functional architecture that
provides comfort for users while at the same time sustainable to the earth. Architecture creates a rhythm and breaths a poetic language of its own when there is a synergy among architects, owners, neighborhood community, and the city planner to create a building that becomes a "Living Being" and serves its purpose as "Shelters for the Users".
Perhaps it is the love for inspiring, beautiful, and green architecture that somehow brought Kenneth and I together as a couple (thankful for God's grace and guidance who facilitate this process) and although I have much more to say about building design, somehow I realize that my husband knows a lot more about green architecture so much more than I am. Together, we are dreaming to be part of professionals who can be used by God to create smart, sustainable, and inclusive cities using green financing.
(Dr. Ailin Iwan, November 26, 2020)