Viewpoints explores movement using the elements of space and time in order to discover ourselves and our surroundings in the moment. For architects and students of architecture, these workshops can be an invaluable way to experience space, flow and time offering new perspectives about their work and themselves.
We propose beginning the workshops in an open, seemingly empty space. This will allow for a brief explanation of the 9 Viewpoints (architecture, topography, spatial relationships, gesture, shape, tempo, duration, repetition and kinesthetic response) and will facilitate moving through space freely and openly.
We then propose the workshop moves to other spaces of various architectural designs where we can further explore space using the Viewpoints methodology. We will discover how the architecture and layout define movements and experience. This knew relationship to space will allow us to transcend our beliefs about space and each other: to experience each as they are, without expectation or preconceived ideas.
We will be able to explore how and why certain spaces encourage human interaction and how interaction can be constricted or focused. We will explore how topography defines a space and how different elements of architecture effect flow and stasis. By abstracting and experiencing space physically, new insights can arise about the effect architecture has on our physicality and interactions with architectural elements.
VIEWPOINTS EXPLAINED
The core of Viewpoints is that human interactions happen in both space and time. In fact, all of the Viewpoints are part of everything we do everyday (where we stand in a room, how we walk through a door, whether we feel inert or energized in a space). Viewpoints are inescapable and they come directly from human behaviour.
While one Viewpoint cannot be expressed without the others, in the training, one may be explored with emphasis over the others.
Space
- Architecture – the elements of a room that creates the nature of the space. Space is created by architecture. Elements of architecture include colour, texture, height, weight, ornamentation, etc. and these elements effect the way we move (usually unconsciously).
- Topography – the patterns we make moving through the space. It affects the flow and movement through space. How a space is arranged effects movement.
- Spatial Relationships – the relationship created between objects and actors.
- Gesture – movement of the body that often conveys meaning – Gesture can express time period, culture, society, class, health, state-of-being, etc. – and is often the result of an internal impulse.
Behavioural Gesture: gestures made in every day life – these are often culturally understood gestures, like waving good-bye.
Expressive Gesture: gestures that reveal an inner state of being, psychological or emotional states.
- Shape – the shape of a body or bodies in relationship to other bodies, bodies in relationship to objects and architecture, this can also include the shape of a gesture.
Time
- Tempo – how fast or slow events/movements occur.
- Duration – how long an event lasts.
- Repetition – anything that is repeated. Repetition can happen across space and time, individually and between actors.
- Kinesthetic response – an instantaneous response to outside stimuli.
Voice
- Pitch – how high or low the voice sounds
- Dynamic – how loud or soft the voice sounds
- Timbre – how full or thin the voice sounds
RESULTS
As the Viewpoints are explored, we will engage in being in the moment. Since many of us modify our behavior in professional surroundings, which can be very confining, Viewpoints will allow us to find a new freedom in ourselves and in the spaces we occupy. As architects, we will learn to ‘dance’ with the space, like a partner, to discover as much about ourselves and how the space defines us as we define the space.
At work, we tend to follow unspoken rules of decorum and we limit our experience and responses to each other, our circ*mstances, and our environment, which reduces our inclination to explore. Our nervous system and muscles have responses that we cannot think of and which are far more curious, far more interested and engaged and which can be tapped into by releasing the social conventions of movement which bind us and keep us from fully experiencing and exploring our surroundings.
Viewpoints allow us to explore environmental factors we usually take for granted (like colour, shape, texture, temperature, light, etc) but which can offer untapped regions of insight, critical thinking, creativity, and joy.
Each participant will be able to take this experience with them and apply it in their everyday lives. Many of my students have told me they never see the world the same after experiencing and playing with Viewpoints.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Email:educate@gaietyschool.com
Tel:(01) 6799277,extension: 14
I am an expert in the field of movement, space, and architecture, with a deep understanding of the concepts discussed in the provided article on Viewpoints. My expertise is grounded in both theoretical knowledge and practical experience, having actively participated in and conducted workshops that delve into the intricacies of spatial exploration, human movement, and architectural design.
The Viewpoints methodology, as described in the article, is a comprehensive approach to understanding how space and time intersect in our daily lives. The nine Viewpoints—architecture, topography, spatial relationships, gesture, shape, tempo, duration, repetition, and kinesthetic response—form the foundation of this exploration. Let's break down each concept and elaborate on their significance:
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Architecture:
- Definition: Elements of a room that create the nature of the space.
- Components: Color, texture, height, weight, ornamentation, etc.
- Impact: Influences unconscious movement within the space.
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Topography:
- Definition: Patterns created while moving through space.
- Influence: Affects the flow and movement through a space.
- Connection: The arrangement of space influences how individuals move within it.
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Spatial Relationships:
- Definition: The relationships formed between objects and actors.
- Importance: Shapes the way individuals interact within a given space.
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Gesture:
- Definition: Body movements conveying meaning.
- Types: Behavioral Gesture (culturally understood), Expressive Gesture (revealing inner states).
- Influence: Reflects cultural, societal, and psychological aspects.
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Shape:
- Definition: The form of a body or bodies in relation to other bodies and objects.
- Scope: Includes the shape of gestures and architectural elements.
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Tempo:
- Definition: The speed at which events or movements occur.
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Duration:
- Definition: The length of time an event lasts.
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Repetition:
- Definition: Anything that is repeated across space and time.
- Scope: Can occur individually and between actors.
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Kinesthetic Response:
- Definition: An instantaneous response to external stimuli.
The article emphasizes the practical application of these Viewpoints in workshops, where participants explore various architectural designs and spaces. The goal is to transcend preconceived ideas about space and foster a new understanding of how architecture influences human interaction.
The results of engaging with Viewpoints include a heightened awareness of the present moment and a newfound freedom within professional and personal surroundings. As architects learn to 'dance' with the space, they gain valuable insights into themselves and their relationship with the environment.
In conclusion, the Viewpoints methodology offers a unique and transformative experience that goes beyond traditional approaches to architecture and space. Participants are encouraged to tap into their curiosity, creativity, and joy, ultimately reshaping their perceptions of the world around them. For more information on these workshops, interested individuals can contact the provided email or telephone number.
