hedgehogs

St Petri Klippan, Sigurd Lewerentz

Any form of architecture would- in one way or another- isolate the dweller from the outside world. Yet we yearn for the outise, so we punctuate windows that we gaze through onto the external realm. This urge to look through a window is definitely present in the church in Klippan.

Sketch of Tadao Ando's Shiba memorial

The first I was overcome by such feelings was in the Ryotaro Shiba memorial. The memorial is made of a series of enclosures sealing off the outdoors. As you walk further into the building, you arrive at an empty void with a giant window. No books nor furniture standing between yourself and the opening, yet you cannot glimpse through the window as it is purposely fitted higher up to obstruct any visual connection possible.

the dilemma
As much as a hedgehog needs to huddle with other hedgehogs for warmth, they struggle to keep a distance not to hurt each other - Sigmund Freud on isolation