SEXTON
The Power of Clarity I presented a building today. It was all about lift. The volume shot off the side of a cliff, its light steel frame cantilevered authoritatively, reaching as far as it could go without a single support. Glass wrapped the flying bar, emphasizing its soaring quality and providing views to all sides as if no walls were there. Its base was legibly anchored to the cliffside: light materials were light; heavy materials were heavy. It made sense. The reviewers loved it. “Bravo!” they said, “Your intent is very clear, and you’ve carried it out admirably. Every move contributes to the main idea.” I walked away feeling great. Buildings are not built to be understood. Buildings are not built to be objectified. Buildings are built to house life in all its complexities.
I presented a building today. It wasn’t about any one thing. At some points it was about lifting, at some points it was about falling, and at some points it was about resting. The heaviest points were the most suspended, and the lightest points were the most grounded. The most intimate spaces 16
