During this period of divisiveness and increased talk of violence and hatred, Robert and I took a trip to attend a wedding. It feels more poignant and meaningful than usual to take a moment right now to celebrate love when my system sometimes feels like I’m swamped with anxiety and adrenaline.
I usually really enjoy weddings. But this one felt like a lifeline—a breath—a chance to refocus on what’s genuinely critical for all of us: connection.
We might define connection as what we feel when we are together in a space sharing an experience—conversation, a musical performance, work, prayer, whatever it might be.
We are doing less and less of being present for another person. As many studies of endless video meetings and social media habits confirm, ironically, screens and online work have not improved our personal connections. Alternatively, mental health is generally declining.
So this is a short and to-the-point request: Get out and be in a space—look around. Feel inspired and connected to the world we live in. Architecture is the ultimate analog experience.
The materials we conceive to shape become floors, walls, roof structures, and stairwells, generating light-filled rooms that provide more than simply shelter or a space to occupy. We, architects, want you to feel something. Be moved. Be aware that this is where you are right now in the world, and it matters. Please pass it on to those who you love.
