We all do from time to time retain to our peace, where we refresh our selves. We prefer to call it ‘our space’ referring the physical bubble that is formed around us. Although, the word ‘space’ justifies a much clearer essence that we all prefer to secretly hide away from everyone.
Michael Pollan talks about this space as being ‘A place of my Own’. The particularity of Pollan’s book is in forming conformity in admitting the need for loneliness. To be able to refresh the polluted mind with some air. To be able to gather a sense for need of worldliness.
-I walk up on the stairs, reaching upper and upper to my own little bubble. I close my door behind me. There is my place forming around me. The enclosure helps to keep my balance. There is no one who can hurt me. It is midnight. It is almost time to go to bed. But I decide to sit down and put my thoughts down on paper. No one can bother me. At least that is what I hope because I do not want to explain myself – again. I hear some knocks on the door. I do not want to respond but I certainly know by having my lights on, the other person knows that I am up. I respond after a few seconds and my loneliness has broken apart – again.
Everyone must remember a time of a childhood when building a tent, hiding away in the garden seem to give a possession of something grandiose and powerful. That control over the space gives the child a sense of ownership that remains a joyful memory in one’s mind for the entire being.
Growing up, we all face the loss of this powerful space and we start searching for our new place. We keep the memory fresh in our mind to be able to enter there. But that all is just a space, not a physically existing place. Pollan introduces the concept of ‘Here’ and ‘There’ through the difference between space and place. Space being the unreachable. The place the existing, tangible. The memory of a child where the space of loneliness and control exist is a space created in the mind; although, not tangible anymore.
-I walk up on the stairs, reaching upper and upper to my own little bubble. I close my door behind me. There is my place forming around me. The enclosure helps to keep my balance. There is no one who can hurt me. It is 11pm. It is almost time to go to bed. And so I do before someone can bug me before I reach my bed. I turn my lights off. So that if someone would knock on the door can think I am already asleep. And it works. The knock comes and I do not respond. The person goes away. And finally, my daydreaming begins and carries me to all the spaces I would like to be in.
We are all in desperate need for our own place in this Earth.
It is highly questionable, why do we all willing to share spaces and willing to join our amenities together. We all do for all services we gain from them. The variety in our lives that brightens our days. But how can we find our own ‘Place’ when our current cities our built to be maximised and justified? Our ‘Place’ does not and shall not have to be.
As Pollan describes, he built a house for writing. A separate piece of architecture away from the everyday home living, away from the busyness to find his peace with himself. His justification of being a writer convinces us all to believe that it is an absolute necessity; although, there are certainly different approaches one can take in order to find a peaceful corner to write in.
-I walk up on the stairs, reaching upper and upper to my own little bubble. I keep my door open.There is not a place forming around me. The lack of enclosure does not help to keep my balance. I feel like a victim. It is 3pm. It is definitely not the right time to go to bed. I am not sleepy. But as soon as I am in the bed, I close my eyes. Then no one can bug me. I hear some voices. But they are cut at some point when reaching to its highest frequency. The person goes away. And finally, I am let in peace and my daydreaming can begin. With myself.
We need to design cities leaving space for finding ourselves, to find our Place where we feel to belong to. Where we can re-engage with the hectic, constantly changing life that we are living. We need to reimagine cities to welcome its residents and not make them hide away behind the walls of their rooms hoping for an undisturbed moment. We need to fight and keep trying, to make an initiative in making our own Place to be created.
What Pollan shows is the need for not needing explanation. A need for following the self willing to refresh itself. The self that is willing to retain to its own shell. We all do very much need that. Daydreaming keeps us all in the hope to once it will be possible to find that ‘Place’; although, it does not have to be in this way. We need to find our own Place. That is the only way we can truly contribute to something much bigger than ourselves.
Sophiesticated Design 