Physical properties of water

Left to right: Brazil pavilion exit, Passages for Walter Benjamin, Water temple by Tadao Andao, Thermal Vals by Peter Zumthor

Vision of the water

Naqeeya Sohail Marvi
We came from water our bodies are mainly water, so it is evitable that water has a strong effect on the human psyche.
Yoshida Hiroshi
Cities form an edge to the water; the combination of water and land is always charged with potential
drama since the transition between them van be abrupt and riddled. A city may keep the river at bay,
walls may elevate the street level above the rivers surface, dams may alter or block its flow into the
city, or barriers may prevent pedestrians from getting close to the waterways edge. The water so
fearlessly included in the design of the city, gives the city its center- not a heart but a central artery
full of intimate connections. I understand this pattern of settlement presents challenges as global
climate change fosters rising sea levels and more frequent and severe weather events.
The question arises how far can you push/subtract water before it starts to retaliate?

The old man and the sea by Ernest Hemingway where Santiago (fisherman) is pitted against the creatures of the sea,
I choose to view this tale as a chronicle of man’s battle against the natural world, but the novella is, more accurately,
the story of man’s place within nature. Life and death are prominent themes in The Old Man and the Sea. The old man
muses that the sea, a symbol for nature itself, is simultaneously beautiful and cruel because it gives life and takes it
away but also gives and nurtures life and man have to learn how to live with it and gain the advantages it offers. This is
a story that pits man against his natural surroundings. It is a prophetic story. It tells us that man’s strength and
determination can triumph over nature. In this novella the sea as a symbol for the whole of nature.

moods of water captured by Matt Burgess, ocean photographer.

What does atmosphere mean?

•My understanding of Peter Zumthor’s definition of “atmosphere”- The tectonic of water, it is used not only as a
visual element, but also as an important device that creates an atmosphere by the flow of water and introducing
vertical movements.
•The water used by Tadao Ando in his architecture can be classified into three types: water as a reflecting basin,
water as a cascade, and water as a waterfall, depending on the degree of vertical movement.
•Abstract forms of perceiving space. In my opinion, it is a good thing that these abstract subjects are discussed.
Atmosphere is very abstract as well, and you will not be able to create a good atmosphere if you stick to the
conventional things that are visual and tangible. In contrast to this atmosphere can also be created by the
physical attribute of water, children usually enjoy playing with water because it stimulates their senses, often
times calming and helps to self-regulate.

• “man, and nature to confront each other, and to have a tension maintained with regard to each other”
• - Tadao Ando
Strolling in the museum Bath in a parallel universe Middle of nowhere
Cities are not seen by Walter Benjamin

• An essay ‘Architecture and the Everyday’ Upton introduces the link between the everyday and built. He
summarizes his view of one in relation to the other: “architecture forms the fabric and setting of everyday
life.” I understood this by comparing everyday life
theatre, where the backdrop to the act tells as much of a story as the actors.
• Architecture is much more than the backdrop to everyday life- in its most fundamental role, architecture
must be conducive to the very best possible version of everyday life. This equation is seen as working
both ways, where architecture acts as both the informant and the informed.
• We tend to believe that all the seas are similar to those of our summer memories, lush and shady, under the sun. But
according to Bachelard, almost every sea is violent, and for those who cross it and choose to live nearby, life is a
continuous struggle.
The everyday experience of water – how can we use the archetype of
water to create a space for an everyday passerby