Visions Of Architecture

People today live their daily lives in visual surroundings that subconsciously both suggests and affirms that the workplace and the home are two separate realities.

But this is not true, there is only one reality and this "reality split" is nothing else than a mental construction. Thus there is no logical reason to have one fixed set of visual references for work and another one for leisure, unless someone consciously want to, with all its consequences.

It is every individual's responsibility to shape his or her surroundings so that it stimulates one's thoughts and emotions in a desired way.

The difference between workplace and home in terms of visual preferences 100 years ago was not as big as it is today. At the norwegian knitting industry museum at Salhus, the old factory are full of examples of how industry architecture and what we today think of as "elements of home decoration" are blended together. However, there is a symbolic connection involved that have to be viewed in an historical context. Hand painted decorations on industry machines is a prime example of "art as a background of events" opposed to the now seemingly dominating view of "art for art's sake". (Both a defining factor and a consequence of the "reality split" in the Western world.) Why would an industry worker want to have different visual preferences for the workplace and the home? Industry workers of that time was proud of their job, and did not have to construct the illusion of a separate reality at home. It is said that the employees at Salhus were doing hard work all day long and that the working conditions were not good, but just the fact that they were able to marry and have families makes me question this fact. Had they been doing real hard work every day all year long, they would not even have had an opportunity to have a love life. We also know from historical research that employees that were pushed too hard reduced their effectivity instead of increasing it. The workers at Salhus lived their real life both at work and at home, and their visual surroundings confirmed this unity.

Unfortunately, it seems that many people today do not feel the same pride in their profession as the Salhus workers did, and tries to compensate for this by using instruments of visual structure to create a mental construction of "being someone else" at home. They have a right to do so (for themselves) if they wish, but the trouble occurs when these sets of visual references are forced upon others. As Oskar Hansen wrote: "The decision is taken in my name. I am standing next to the process". But I firmly believe that many people could gain a lot from bringing the symbols of the strict disciplined routines of their workplaces into their daily lives, and vice versa. Architects can help in this process. Architects today who thinks that their job is to dictate their clients' visual preferences (unless, of course, they are asked to) are only feeding their own ego and have missed the point of their correct place in society: the architect as a servant, not a master.

I want to bring the neutral and pure practical-aimed "industrial" designs back into the homes of ordinary people, where they can be changed and modified by the residents. With freedom also comes responsibility for one's own choices of visual preferences. Architects can help people learning this. If there is a need for a round corner, make it. If there is a need for a straight wall, make it. If you're not satisified, rebuild.

Stop dictating by "being artistic"!



Visions Of Architecture av Sølve N.T. Lauvås er lisensiert under en Creative Commons Navngivelse-Ikkekommersiell-DelPåSammeVilkår 3.0 Norge Lisens.