‘According to ancient Roman belief, every independent being has its guardian spirit. This spirit gives life to people and places, accompanies them from birth to death, and determines their character or essence.’ (Phenomenology)
To think of each place as having a guardian spirit, a character that is basic to it, reminds me again of How Buildings Learn by Stewart Brand. In this book he takes a look at the multiple lives a building has in its lifetime. Some buildings are designed to be adaptable, but most are built for a specific use that defines its character. A home, school, church, and an office building each have a specific use and thereby creating a different human experience. Historical buildings have committees who advocate for the ‘character and essence', but many others do not. When the building’s spirit or character is compromised, we can experience it as miss-matched or it may produce a negative or confusing feeling within us.
In 2001, my husband and I purchased an American foursquare house. This style of home architecture was built from 1895 – 1930 and had distinctive qualities: a box shape, five panel doors, simple in design, and suited to make use of every inch of the house and lot. We named the house ‘Simplicity’. She was built in two parts - the first structure at the turn of the century and the back section added in the 1920's. With each home decision we have attempted to keep the intention of its character, its essence. The simple lines of the window molding have not been hidden by draperies when possible. Carpeting has not been laid over the beautiful wooden floors. The three open porches are used as outdoor living spaces. Simplicity’s front door graces a hand-turned rather than an electric door bell. One of the bathrooms houses a claw foot tub that welcomes relaxing bubble baths. Everything is simple, minimal, and yet enough.
Each of these decisions to maintain its essence as ‘simplicity’ has invited us to live simpler lives. The first floor's ten and a half foot ceilings grace us with expanded space to breathe. One of the rooms contains floor to ceiling shelving, more than likely intended as a pantry. In our current lifestyle, this room was first transformed into the library, offering us a quiet and reflective place. Now one of our offices resides there. The living room is arranged for storytelling and conversation. Chairs and sofas, lamps and tables create inviting nooks to hold the entertainment of one or more. Our front dining room is used on most days and invites us to linger over a meal, share with others, and host celebrations. The kitchen is large and in the middle of the house. Tall double-hung windows invite natural light from the East and the West into this hub of the home - the place where people gather and from which smells of hospitality come as meals are prepared and shared.
Simplicity has had other lives. Stewart Brand says, ‘The house and its occupants mold to each other twenty-four hours a day, and the building accumulates the record of that intimacy.’ Prior to being rescued from demolition, moved to its present site and then remodeled, Simplicity housed a hair salon and tailor’s shop on the first floor with an apartment above. Earlier the house was the family home of a well-known elementary teacher in the village. Each of these ‘lives’ has been recorded in this place.
‘This spirit gives life to people and places, accompanies them from birth to death, and determines their character or essence.’
Learn more about spaces and places . . . www.spatialimpact.com
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