We are defined by the spaces we’re in. While our mental narratives may guide us, our feelings may drive us or our responsibilities may direct us, the spaces we are traveling through may have a stronger, though more silent effect.
That influence shouldn’t be ignored. Instead, it should be of primary importance in the formation of any built environment. Growing up in the city, I recognized the silent, energetic dialogue that can go on between the streetscape and us. This was in Boston’s Back Bay. These structures were so thoughtfully designed that they caught our attention. They spoke to us in their own language, through their proportions, rhythm, color and patterns. We felt a strong connection to the spaces that they created. When tuned in, we could sense how they spoke to us and how they spoke to each other. They cultivated a public dialogue.
Buildings could also facilitate a deep interaction between people, strengthening our sense of community. Through the creation of great spaces, we could foster an intimate, personal conversation between us and the space we were in. While this is happening, others around us might be simultaneously experiencing the same sentiment. The result of connectivity to a special space may be both an intimate, private experience while also a very public, shared phenomenon. Architecture has not only the power to speak to individuals, it can also create a strong community through a shared appreciation for a space.