architecture (as poetry)

ARCHITECTURE AS POETRY 2nd Ed. Dec. 2017

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ARCHITECTURE AS POETRY: a series of maps and tracings of some of the many alternate methods this world may be perceived: re: ARCH 393 Design Studio “The Inner Studio� coordinated by Andrew Levitt Winter 2017 (This edition was exported on 9 December 2017, following final reviews at the University of Waterloo School of Architecture one day prior.)

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homeostasis inertia momentum non-action softness the paternal metaphor not explaining not having to explain not repeating yourself again not repeating yourself again the deliberate withholding or misrepresentation of the truth smell triggering memory (or not) das ist kalbfleisch! weider und immer noch “How did you sleep last night?�

Sort by Âť Date Modified heisenberg's uncertainty principle the point-line-plane postulate idea vs. execution art as a defense mechanism 150mg of Wellbutrin / day the introspective loneliness of travel Pull out his eyes, / Apologise etc.... etc....

as poetry as poetry as poetry as poetry as poetry as poetry as poetry as poetry as poetry as poetry as poetry as poetry as poetry as poetry as poetry as poetry as poetry as poetry as poetry as poetry as poetry as poetry as poetry

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ABSTRACT: This project challenges the language of architecture through the intersection of psychogeography and string theory. It questions the legitimacy of memory and subjectivity against the physical, tangible world, raising the question: What is Real[ity]?

Is it the collective memory accessed through language, capitalism, metrics, and permanences? Or is it the singularity of the individual-- a solipsistic microcosm which forms patterns of feelings and movement?

I think both answers are correct, but with this project, I emphasize the latter idea, attempting to draw lines that carry as much law and information as the lines used on a conventional architectural project.

The canonical nomenclature of lines in the architectural practice is so rigidly defined. And the result is an entire discipline that is able to communicate beyond other languages, such as English or French.

Architectural lines form the language of architecture.

And through this language are we able to speak of space, and be heard, and be understood.

What if memories and feelings had such a system?

How can we illustrate the complex network of time and space-- of memory? What would solid lines represent? Heavy? Light? Broken?

Through a series of drawings, I explore how lines may serve to retell a story-- without words, but still, with information waiting to be read.

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5TH DIMENSIONAL PLANE:

(2D projection of a 3D reality at a simultaneous 4D cross-section.)

4TH DIMENSIONAL LINE

IMPLIED 6TH DIMENSION:

(the series of 5D planes suggests a continued volume. this volume represents Time and Space and Being to the Individual. (human being)

represented with a 3D object in 3D space

6 “Maps” of “Parallel Universes” are overlaid: each corresponding to an individual method of perceiving the Universe: 1. geography: north, south, east, west; borders, poles, streets, roads. this physical realm is called “Reality” because it is shared.

2. psychogeography: colour sets correspond to the Individual's synesthetic memory. this neurocognitive realm is known as “Memory” and also “Feeling”. normally, Memory is not eidetic; patterns can be recognized after some time-lag, as the resolution of this realm is limited.

Note: individual colours hold no specific nor autonomous meaning; meaning is derived from the individual set. most colours are "in-between" the traditional set of colours (ROYGBIV) because so few neural-synaptic associations have been made that correspond with the physical rules that govern Reality. (rules such as gravity, electromagnetism, strong and weak force [despite the fact that Memory depends on Reality.])

3. subconscious spatial "Dream" memory: the recognizable though inaccessible “settings” that frequently occur in the Individual's dreams. these spaces are arranged not entirely dissimilarly to Reality; relatively subtle alterations are made in accordance with the Individual's perception of Order. perhaps some method of Optimization.

4. parallel projection memory: projections incongruent with the "Natural" perspectival/Human perception of Space. represented in the style and Context that this parallel projection was initially Remembered; (in this case, the Individual first understood parallel projections as a plausible depiction of the Universe via the backwards-canted axonometric interface in a glitched version of Pokémon Blue for Gameboy Color received from a pretty cute boy.)

5. body memory: a mapping of the body in movement in and between Places. this kinetic "muscle memory" can be forgotten if not practiced. although it can be thoroughly theorized, the physical body must be present for Memories to be made.

6. heart memory: a mapping of the heart through some method of dissociation (for protection).

Where does it hurt?

Where in your heart?

Where in the World?

Where in the World in your Heart?

Where has it gone?

Where has it been?

What's keeping it from falling and breaking again?

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appendix:

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•

Man’s last mind paused before fusion, looking over a space that included nothing but the dregs of one last dark star and nothing besides but incredibly thin matter, agitated randomly by the tag ends of heat wearing out, asymptotically, to the absolute zero.

Man said, “AC, is this the end?

Can this chaos not be reversed into the Universe once more?

Can that not be done?”

AC said, “THERE IS AS YET INSUFFICIENT DATA FOR A MEANINGFUL ANSWER.”

☐ •

Man’s last mind fused and only AC existed— and that in hyperspace.

☐ • ✴

The Last Question by Isaac Asimov © 1956

SPACE

0D POINT TIME

4D DURATION 1D LINE

t

Y

5D ALTERITY

2D PLANE

NOW

X

DECISION

BEGINNING

END

Z

ALTERNATE REALITY

3D SPACE POTENTIAL Y

X

UP

6D SUBJECTIVITY

3D SPACE ANYTHING AROUND

THE UNIVERSE

7D REALITY

BIG BANG

e=mc2

HEAT DEATH

8D REALITY+

BIG BANG

HEAT DEATH

9D INFINITY COLD DEATH

10D INFINITESIMUS

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POINT

information:

POINT

IS IS NOT

VOID

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information:

LINE VECTOR AXIS

LINE

TYPE WEIGHT COLOUR TIPS:

FINITE TRAJECTORY INFINITE

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IMPLIED THIRD DIMENSION

FATALITY

RESULTS

ATTENTION

IMPLIED THIRD DIMENSION

CHAPTER

PAGE

CONTENTS

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DRAWING PLANE

EUCLIDIAN PLANE

information:

PLANE

TYPE WEIGHT COLOUR AXES CONTENTS 27

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...

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A MOTION...

THROUGH TIME...

THROUGH SPACE...

THROUGH IDENTITY...

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BEGINS...

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PLANE ONE: REALITY

36 P 208 W 31 S 129 S 46 L

186 V

200 V 124 V

50 G

103 G

53 D

37

6056 F

6036 C

110 C

5034 W

210 C 100 C 39

563 B

210

2345 Y

113 M D

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563 B

113 M

210 D

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PLANE TWO: MEMORY

stones found outside the SickKids hospital

10 OCTOBER 2017 I went for a five hour walk downtown and took note of the information-rich environment I passively occupied. With very little knowledge of psychogeography and just a rudimentary understanding of what it meant to be a flâneur, I allowed the City to propel me forward. I had no where to go, and no one to meet, but I had some time to kill. So I allowed my body to exist, but not in stillness-- in deliberate motion.

The subtle shifts in my behaviour and mood became more evident the farther I walked-- it was then that I reliezed that I am as much a part of the city as the businessmen and resident artists. As much as the sidewalk itself and the sky and the architecture.

This network of things affects me and I affect it.

There are places I belong, and others I don't. Neighbourhoods which will accept me as a visitor, and others that won't.

I have memories so strongly tethered to restaurants and parks. Entire streets make me feel at home, purely because I've spent so much time (and money) there.

I attempted to map four facets of this personal realization:

1. the trajectory of my walk 2. the social boundaries these travel vectors intersect 3. actions, thoughts 4. how much me-ness i can exhibit within these spaces 1

This walk occured during a time when I was pondering an affirmative definition of softness: What is meant to be soft and how I might actively practice it.

The active passiveness of this walk revealed to me the most vibrant albeit silent secrets of the city. Hidden poems, and rare glances stolen.

Entirely histories imbued into the palimpsest of the barely-organized collection of objects that move and exists within the boundaries of Toronto.

STILL

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SLOW

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SAD

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SUFFICIENT

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WINNERS CIRCLE

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PRINCE

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VODDEN

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GREAT LAKES

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VALLEYWAY

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SWEETWOOD

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CITY CENTRE

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LONESTAR

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VINTAGE GATE

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COURTNEYPARK

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SUNFOREST

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DUNDAS

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CAMBRIDGE

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CHIDHAM, FEATHERHEAD

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DARLINGTON

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GREENMOUNT

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BLOOR

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WILLOWOOD

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MCGILL

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YONGE

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PLANE THREE: DREAMS

decontextualize

live love learn earn grade school

dream home

first boyfriend first love high school

movie theatre mom's house dad's house

the mall

university

large basement movie theatre

first sour breakup

small basement

midtown

the village

downtown

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recontextualize

“REAL”

REAL

cted proje

PLANE FOUR: PARALLEL UNIVERSE

The story of BB (Baby Boy): a boy who was born with a soft and vibrant heart. One day, his very pure heart was petrified and broken. It was shattered and scattered around the world, leaving BB hollow.

Inches from death, he made a deal with the Devil: Never be normal, and he will remain alive. As long as he's stochastic, he'll live long enough to collect the fragments of his broken heart.

If BB is still, or moves too predictably or repetatively, his happiness depleats.

If his happiness gets too low, he turns into a monster, hurting everyone around him— the ones closest to him the worst...

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PLANE FIVE: BODY MEMORY

PLANE SIX: HEART MEMORY

+FICTION

+ENCRYPTION

+REDACTION

These fragments lend powers...

•

But must be stolen back...

â?Ś

?

ACT ONE

I

HEALTH

DISTRICT 208

VAUDEVILLE

3 1 2B

GIFT: SKINNY JEANS

SILVERSTRIP

2A

×

“i think you're awesome.”

II

MAGIC

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DISTRICT 208

×

VAUDEVILLE

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GIFT: CAMERA

ACT TWO

III

MOBILITY

DISTRICT 208

RAVEN TOWN PRINCE CHARMING

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8 7

6

DISTRICT ONE

× 9

GIFT: METRO PASS

“id rather get hit by a car than listen to you speak for 5 more seconds�

IV

WEALTH

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SUNFOREST 14

JAK

SILVERSTRIP

RAVEN TOWN

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11

DARLINGTON 20 12

SILVERSTRIP 16

DISTRICT ONE

DISTRICT TWO 17

INSOMNIA

×

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GAS CANAL

GIFT: STUDENT LOANS, LAUGHTER

“i'd like you to meet my girlfriend...

ACT THREE

V

TRUTH

ODIS

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FEATHERWOOD

ร

DARLINGTON

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ยง

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SILVERSTRIP

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PURPLE HAZE DISTRICT ONE

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DISTRICT TWO

INSOMNIA 26

GAS CANAL

GIFT: NICE UNDERWEAR

“this doesn't feel right.”

VI

FUCKBOI

DARLINGTON

ร 30

SILVERSTRIP

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ยง FEATHERWOOD

WESTEGG 32

EGGVILLE

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PURPLE HAZE DISTRICT ONE

PALM CITY

DISTRICT TWO INSOMNIA 29

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GAS CANAL

GIFT: TOPPING

VII

PIG

WESTEGG EGGVILLE

DISTRICT ONE

PALM CITY DISTRICT TWO

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INSOMNIA 34

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GAS CANAL

GIFT: DISPOSABLE INCOME

ยง

VIII

SLUT

?

EGGVILLE PURPLE HAZE

§

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PALM CITY

INSOMNIA 38

GIFT: GUMPTION

××× ×××× ×××

IX

SOFTNESS

INSOMNIA

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GAS CANAL

ร

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????

ยง

GIFT: POETRY

...though we never walk in the same direction.

WILL YOU FIND STILLNESS IN YOUR TRAVELS?

HOW MANY PIECES?

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THE END*

how to be soft: listen locate contextualize optimize actualize (evaluate)

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