Week 3/4 - Back to the roots

This post is a perfect example of the perils of procrastination. Not only am I taking two weeks to complete it, I am posting at the end of the week. Oh well, take it, learn from it and let it go; what else can one do with one’s mistakes?
 

This entry is inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s quote: 

“Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.”
       

In my study of nature I decided to learn a little bit about the structure of trees. Not only are they a major component in local architecture, they are a great architectural example to learn from. Just think about it, the roots are like the foundation of a building, bark is like sheathing and leaves are photosynthetic all natural solar panels. All it needs is soil, water and sunlight to create a sustainable home for an innumerable variety of inhabitants.
  

  
Furthermore, trees stand the test of time, Old Tjikko is a spruce tree which has thrived for 9,550 years in Sweden. Not many human designs have stood the test of time quite so well. Often we jump to the conclusion that the newest design or innovation is the best and we must always be progressing. However, a system which has been around for as long as the tree (360 million years) clearly has been doing something right. That is the great thing about nature, it has had so long to evolve, perfect and vary according to the earth’s conditions. So, while human technology is fantastic, we have only been creating for such a short amount of time compared to nature and we have so many harmful and destructive flaws in our designs and we will for a long time to come. However good our intentions, there will always be a future generation to look back on our methods and wonder how they could have possibly been related to such a barbaric culture, just as we do to past generations. Perhaps it is time we take a good long look at organic designs before we step forward with our own technology.  
     

On a slightly different note, the other night when I got home CBC Radio 2 played a cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m On Fire” redone by Whitehorse. The folky cover adds both sweetness and dynamism to the song, making you almost forget it originated in mid-eighties pop culture. This got me to thinking about architecture and how we remake or “cover” popular buildings from the past, keeping the essence yet making it contemporary. In order to become a better future architect, I am embarking on a thirteen (or possibly more) part series to discover various significant phases of architecture and discuss them. If I am extremely motivated I will also discuss a modern adaptation of each style, but I am not promising anything. Next week, is the study of the formation of architecture (I know, how exciting!).  
  

I highly suggest going to Whitehorse’s website; at the bottom left of the webpage there is the player and “I’m On Fire” is the second on the list may it bring inspiration into your day.