Imagine walking to the parking lot from your apartment building through a serene walkway lined with arched bushes, bent trees and the trickle of a fountain somewhere in a hollow cove that echoes all along the way. You leave your apartment with a buzzing head, already planning out each hour of the day ahead, and this serenity hits you like a huge fluff-ball cocooning you from all sides, forcing you to pause and look around, instantly calming your racing mind.
The neighbourhood I lived in before moving to London had a similar walkway, along with a shaded cover at the top with squares cut out for the light to seep in. It created the effect of walking on illuminated tiles on the ground, which made for a stunning runway!
Architecture that speaks to people and inspires more than just being fit-for-purpose has the potential to stir emotions and activate the creative part of our brain that so easily gets snubbed in the humdrum of the ‘business-as-usual’ type of life that we lead now.
Perhaps you find the inspiration for your next article while on one of these walks, decide to spend a little more time at the park or finally start on the pet-project you’ve been putting off for ages?
Consider the synergies—architecture relies on the feel-good factor, imagery and tugs at tender emotions. Similarly, poetry relies on structure and sculpting with words and sounds (remember the trickling fountain?).
What about symbolism? The spine of both emotional architecture and soulful poetry.
A building can be designed to symbolise a particular idea or concept, just as a poem can use symbols and metaphors to convey its meaning. By using symbolism, both architecture and poetry can add depth and richness to their respective forms of expression.
Where do we start in our journey toward poetic architecture?
Play with light and shadow: Light and shadow can be used to create a sense of drama and emotion in architecture. Two major catapults of human appeal.
Harmonize with nature: A building that is designed to blend in with its natural surroundings could be seen as a poetic expression of the relationship between humans and nature.
Incorporate storytelling: Like poetry, architecture can tell a story. By designing a building to tell a specific story, architects can create a poetic effect that engages the imagination and emotions of the viewer.
Appeal to the senses: By paying attention to the textures, colors and materials used in a building, architects can create a rich sensory experience that engages the viewer on a deeper level.
The bottom line?
When you harmonize architecture with poetry, you engage people with their surroundings. By creating spaces people connect with on a deeper level, you drive emotional economic investment bringing circularity in sustainability and making it a cornerstone of the new era of architecture.
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