Place
"Place": O.E. "open space in a city, market place, square," from O.Fr. place, from M.L. placea "place, spot," from L. platea "courtyard, open space, broad street," from Gk. plateia (hodos) "broad (way),"...
"Wanderlust": 1902, from Ger. Wanderlust, lit. "desire for wandering"
"Not all those who wander are lost"- J.R.R. Tolkien
Deliberate wandering of cities in search of "place" - this will suffice to describe much of what I enjoy doing, camera in hand. As an architect, I am always on the lookout for "place" and intrigued by what makes a place successful or not. I understand that buildings are often but a small part of the equation if they figure at all, and that the space between and around is usually more important. It's not about stand-alone objects, rather it's about relationships. The making of "place" is as complex as the relationships of any extended family you may encounter.
So it is easy to be fascinated with great places, because on each visit you can see a different side of it, a new part of its personality revealed. You can develop a relationship with great places. Even tired, not-so-great cities can have places that may yield interesting moments: perhaps you discover a remnant of some more glorious past era; sometimes it's just the way the light is falling and reflecting on that particular day.
"Place", of course, is not limited to spaces that are pleasant and attractive. I am often drawn to a part of Richmond that is, at best, a tangled mess of highway overpasses, swooping cloverleaf exits, and elevated railroads, below which may be found dirt parking lots and tired late nineteenth century warehouse buildings. But, at the right time of day, the light just right, you can find a sort of majesty in the soaring bridges and overpasses. Images of this area are part of a photo series I call the "Urban Heroic".
"Wanderlust": 1902, from Ger. Wanderlust, lit. "desire for wandering"
"Not all those who wander are lost"- J.R.R. Tolkien
Deliberate wandering of cities in search of "place" - this will suffice to describe much of what I enjoy doing, camera in hand. As an architect, I am always on the lookout for "place" and intrigued by what makes a place successful or not. I understand that buildings are often but a small part of the equation if they figure at all, and that the space between and around is usually more important. It's not about stand-alone objects, rather it's about relationships. The making of "place" is as complex as the relationships of any extended family you may encounter.
So it is easy to be fascinated with great places, because on each visit you can see a different side of it, a new part of its personality revealed. You can develop a relationship with great places. Even tired, not-so-great cities can have places that may yield interesting moments: perhaps you discover a remnant of some more glorious past era; sometimes it's just the way the light is falling and reflecting on that particular day.
"Place", of course, is not limited to spaces that are pleasant and attractive. I am often drawn to a part of Richmond that is, at best, a tangled mess of highway overpasses, swooping cloverleaf exits, and elevated railroads, below which may be found dirt parking lots and tired late nineteenth century warehouse buildings. But, at the right time of day, the light just right, you can find a sort of majesty in the soaring bridges and overpasses. Images of this area are part of a photo series I call the "Urban Heroic".
Comments
Post a Comment