[pair]ing Down

Meditation/celebration

The duality between meditation and celebration can be defined clearly through differences as well as similarities that unify the two words. Meditation deals more with creating a calm, serene atmosphere, whilst celebration “meditates” on a certain aspect of the design. For example, my “sacred space” project for studio is theoretically divided into two spaces, one that is a more relaxing and meditative space created by the clean, quiet, atmosphere while the other induces a certain feeling of chaos in its visitor. It is a more celebratory section in that it celebrates the overlapping of squares and the feeling it creates by displaying a reoccurring theme throughout the entire portion of the room.

 

Light/Shadow

Light and the absence of light is another duality discussed largely through the world of design. Light is an important aspect of a design and can basically “make or break” a project. Light enhances an object, structure, or space, and allows it to come alive by being illuminated in that light. The manipulation of light starts to add in the thought of shadow as well. For example, my studio window project consisted of a series of various sized squares that were arranged in a way that celebrated the light. It also enhanced the absence of light by elevating some squares on others that created a shadow around that square and allowed it, too, to be illuminated through the absence of light.

 

Transpose/Juxtapose

A building’s central theme or essence allows us as designers to truly see the transposition and juxtaposition throughout the design. Translating an idea or a concept through a building is its motif. It is our job as a designer to reflect that concept in a coherent way without transposing and juxtaposing it too much. For example, the Sydney Opera house mirrors and reflects the concept of sails on the horizon. It creates a certain rhythm and allows the theme of sails and boats to be transposed to fit the building while keeping the juxtaposition of the building in tact.

 

 

Monologue/Dialogue

In terms of speaking and writing, a monologue is a story told by one person where as a dialogue is a conversation between two bodies. This can be translated easily to design. A building or space can be conversing with a neighboring structure or telling its story alone.

 

Literal/Abstract

Literal and Abstract take on the same themes as transposing and juxtaposing in that it takes an idea and converts it to fit the building or space without literally using the precedent.