Sadia Tabassum

On Thoughtful Design: Architecture with soul We live in a world of thoughtless consumerism, existing from one moment to the next with little

time to spare for nurturing our core self- the essence of our being. Our society encourages the

consumption of products to fill that void of connectivity, and sadly, our architecture tends to

reflect this. We need to advocate for thoughtful architecture that addresses these issues and is

designed with soul- reflecting the beauty of everything human.

Architecture must reflect the complex identities of its occupants

Whether by addressing the socio- economic status, profession, culture, gender, race or any

number of facets of its occupants’ identities, thoughtful architecture must respond to the individual

needs and aspirations of those who occupy it. In celebrating diverse identities, architecture can

help reduce the gap between the elitist architectural communities that exist today and the general

population, and better cater to the needs of the people who are meant to experience it.

Architecture must adapt to its context, both spatial and temporal

By being sensitive to the natural and cultural histories of the environment it inhabits, thoughtful

architecture must integrate itself into the built and un-built space around it. It is important to pay

just as much attention to the parts of the cityscape that aren’t built upon as those that are, to

understand the chronological growth of the city and to occupy a portion of it with respect and

sensitivity.

Architecture must be at once fearless and humble

Whether by introducing bolder forms, strategies, or even building materials in an otherwise

orthodox region, thoughtful architecture must be audacious with its imagination, pushing the

boundaries of social constructs. But it must be humble in equal measure in accepting that not all

 

experiments are ultimately successful and respond to the consequences of such situations with the

grace and optimistic resolve that are necessary for its growth.

Architecture must be deliberate

Thoughtful architecture must clearly be able to identify its true purpose to everyone who

experiences it. Whether by addressing the divide between public and private spaces within its

form or by highlighting the ambiguity between the two, architecture must be intentional in its

design in a way that is legible to the people who occupy it. Each individual component of the

overall form must reinforce the intentionality of the design and thus communicate the purpose of

the overall form.

Architecture must evolve

Like every art form that hopes to survive, thoughtful architecture must be open to change. By

cultivating sustainable design and providing economic solutions where it’s necessary, for our

present time and for the future, it must constantly learn from the past to improve.

Final thoughts

Truly thoughtful architecture must help us connect to our humanity. As the Austrian architect

Friedensreich Hundertwasser put it in the description of his work:

“The flat floor is an invention of the architects. It fits engines - not human beings. People

not only have eyes to enjoy the beauty they see and ears to hear melodies and noses to

smell nice scents. People also have a sense of touch in their hands and feet. If modern man

is forced to walk on flat asphalt and concrete floors as they were planned thoughtlessly in

designers' offices, estranged from man's age-old relationship and contact to earth, a crucial

part of man withers and dies. This has catastrophic consequences for the soul, the

equilibrium, the well- being and the health of man. Man forgets how to experience things

and becomes emotionally ill. An uneven and animated floor is the recovery of man’s

mental equilibrium, of the dignity of man, which has been violated in our leveling,

unnatural and hostile urban grid system. The uneven floor becomes a symphony, a melody

 

for the feet and brings back natural vibrations to man. Architecture should elevate and not

subdue man. It is good to walk on uneven floors and regain our human balance.”

Hundertwasser chose to use the uneven floors of his architecture to help people get in touch with

the part of their humanity that has been stripped by the grid- locked machine of efficiency that is

our society. In similar fashion, thoughtful architecture must find ways to help us recollect our

humanity, and reclaim our relationship to the built environment that surrounds us.