Let me introduce you to a concept I call ‘silent space’. While much is written about ways to bring silence into our daily patterns by meditation, prayers, and quieting the technological noises around us – the idea of silent space has gained little attention. Silent space is more than space without sound. Silent space is a visual emptiness that pulls us from our busy lives, calling us to focus our attention, quieting us, and even changing our breathing. The medical profession has discovered that silence can lower blood pressure and steady the heart beat. Perhaps silent space can do the same by inviting our bodies into restfulness.
Silent space allows us to see the beauty of the natural elements and asks our senses to be involved. We want to feel the smooth marble, watch the magic in the prisms of light, be amazed at the artistry found in the wood grains, listen to the water as it babbles, and marvel at the architectural designs of the built environment. Each of these elements of nature can be savored, allowing us to be present in the moment, in the space.
Perhaps it is helpful to speak of what might be the opposite of silent space. Let me suggest crowded, too full, demanding, and cluttered. Clutter confuses and distracts us. It is much more difficult to navigate our thoughts and bodies through clutter. Clutter often happens because our culture is not comfortable with emptiness. We want to fill every wall, nook, and corner with ‘something’ or ‘anything’. We are uncomfortable ‘seeing silence’.
Seeking emptiness as a ‘presence’ is to acknowledge the artistry of that which is both ‘in’ and ‘not in’ the space. An art gallery values the silent space around a painting or sculpture in order to see and appreciate its beauty. The notes of music need pauses to hear the rhythm. We speak of the importance of white space on a page in order to easily comprehend the message. Silent space allows so much more to be seen and experienced.
Business marketing guru, Tom Peters, suggests that all good design conveys the qualities of simplicity, beauty, clarity, and grace. Inherently these qualities help to design for silent space. Simplicity invites putting only what is needed in the space for that moment and time. Focusing on simplicity eliminates clutter and putting too much in a single space. Beauty is introduced by the integration of the natural world and seeing the natural elements as part of the art expression within the space. Clarity seeks to name a focus and intention of each space and what happens there. Grace is the uncomplicated flow of whatever activity happens in the space with whatever physical attributes are there. The quality of grace as a design principle is the ease of using and being in the space.
Simplicity, Beauty, Clarity, Grace, Silence. Where are these qualities found or challenged in your spaces? Are you beginning to think about your spaces differently? Hope so!
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