Norberg-Shulz/Pallasmaa

Norberg Shulz is drawn to Heidegger because he is attempting to qualify the meaning of “place” in the same way that Heidegger was approaching “dwell.” He feels that the word encompasses something tangible and intangible, a character that cannot be defined and is always changing. Both authors conclude that a dwelling or place is dependent on man’s interaction with it. These readings show that the philosophical questions behind architecture are timeless and will continued to be revisited for many years to come.

Again, a building is defined by the interactions that take place in and around it. Try as we might, it is impossible for architects to completely define how our designs will be used. We can take lessons learned from precedents and the relationships we build with each client to inform how we design spaces, but ultimately each person will experience architecture differently.

Palasmaa is highlighting how an artists’ background and relationship to the world informs their work. All art is a product of a person’s history, whether it is meant to be conscious or unconscious. It is impossible to be completely objective and our experiences inform how others may interpret our designs. This uniqueness and the interplay of all the arts is what makes our world so beautiful and engaging. Furthermore, just as our lives are always changing so is the way we design and experience buildings. A piece of art is a reflection of the artist’s psyche at that moment in their life, it could be lonely, solemn, playful, hopeful, etc.