I have always found this cartoon by Bill Watterson amusing. He drew inspiration from William Shakespeare’s “As you Like it” (Act 2, Scene 7) to illustrate human nature.

It has also struck me as particularly relevant for architects who are tasked with designing the stages upon which life gets performed. We have an obligation to create the stage to accommodate the unrehearsed and provide opportunities to ad-lib. I believe that through our design, we can provide props and cues to enhance the lives of those who use the spaces we design.

At its core, architecture provides a container for human activities – a place to live, work, and play. However, beyond that, we have the responsibility to create spaces that foster serendipity.

For instance, do we provide window seats on stair landings for office workers to relax and chat?

Do we provide chalkboards in convenient areas for scientists to collaborate during hallway encounters?

Can we create stairs that go beyond mere functionality, transforming into amphitheater seating for impromptu performances, or perhaps even bookcases for treasured reading (or both)?

Can we incorporate expansive overlooks inspiring awe and wonder?

Can we provide sheltered nooks for cozying up by the fireside during a thunderstorm?

As designers we have the obligation to look beyond our residential and commercial clients’ immediate practical needs and create areas that evoke memories, inspire, and encourage. We can create spaces with shapes, proportions, and details drawn from our client’s treasured memories. By thoughtfully arranging and manipulating spaces, we can enhance our client’s daily lives with grand soaring spaces, or cozy retreats for contemplation. By providing cues within our designs, we can encourage life’s serendipitous moments, chance encounters, and facilitate the performance of unrehearsed and ad-libbed experiences.

 

Notes About Photos:

  • Figure 1. Blithwold Mansion, Bristol, RI – Kilham and Hopkins – 1907
  • Figure 2. The Salk Institute, La Jolla, CA – Louis Kahn – 1966
  • Figure 3. Panorama House, Sachangdong, South Korea, Moon Hoon – 2011
  • Figure 4. Douglas House, Lake Michigan, MI – Richard Meier – 1972

  • Figure 5. Cabin by the Lake – Architect unknown