If you've ever spent any time with an architect, you might notice they talk about buildings as space.
They say stuff like, "And with this space, we'll create the coffee bar area." Or they'll walk into a room and say, "This is a great space with all the natural lighting and tall ceilings."
Why do architects talk this way?
It's our training.
Early in the education of an architect, a little seed of truth is planted. That seed of truth is simple yet profound. The truth is that in placing any object, you do more than what is immediately apparent. You create a space around the object -- a path or a workspace. You create edges that are either soft or hard, tall or short, deep or shallow, or between. You introduce color, material, texture, and possibly smell. You create surfaces that reflect light and sound and create relationships with other objects that cannot be explained in simple terms but are still understood by the mind.
Why is this better? Aren't architects being hoity-toity by bringing abstract ideas to our rooms and buildings?
In an industry full of people trying to sell you STUFF, and a world that is desperate to judge you based on that stuff, a non-material perspective is refreshing and fulfilling.
Embracing a non-material perspective encourages a shift towards valuing experiences, emotions, and connections. This approach prioritizes the intangible aspects of life that often get overlooked in a consumer-driven society. By emphasizing the importance of function and well-being over materiality or style, individuals can cultivate a more meaningful and satisfying existence.
With the increasing significance of the non-material realm in our society, material wealth is losing its rarity and hence its value. Creating beautiful spaces using inexpensive materials arranged with care and consideration offers the highest value in both the tangible and intangible realms.
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