Heidegger

1.  Our personal interaction does affect the building.  Heidegger is perhaps trying to define with ‘dwelling’ what one could call ‘meaning’.  Our personal interactions affect what meaning is given to certain buildings as opposed to others and with respect to Heidegger’s article, how we dwell within those buildings.  As designers and clients it is up to us to determine what will be meaningful in the building to determine how one can dwell in the building.

2.  Heidegger is searching for authenticity by giving examples of old language; he is trying to set up the context in which he can define ‘dwelling’.  Authenticity is important.  Without it there would be no meaning.  For example, the vast majority of development is not authentic and it provides meaningless geographies.  Buildings that are given meaning, that is the ability for one to dwell, provide authentic geographies.

3.  It is possible to build with a sense of permanence.  As designers we must understand what is meaningful to reach permanence.  If we design without meaning, creating superficial buildings, permanence will not be reached.  Those who inherit the buildings of the past will no doubt be looking for the meaning in buildings in whether or not the should be preserved or destroyed.

 

Eric Nielsen