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Great architects are like great writers. Our abilities to observe the world around us down to the tiniest details, and then make the most remarkable connections, have in time given humanity great stories and experiences – whether through imagined or real spaces. As Charles Eames put it, “Eventually everything connects – people, ideas, objects. The key to quality of the connections is the key to quality per se.”
As architects, we have a nearly endless succession of connections to make, from materials, to geography, to time, to people, to experiences and statements of our own beliefs, all coming together in the design of a space. Novels are therefore a great way to remind yourself of the creative possibilities that architecture holds, encouraging you to dream about what architecture could be; and what experiences could be. These 7 non-architectural novels each have their own qualities that could open up the architectural world (and provide you with an enjoyable reading list in your time off). Enjoy!
Following a motorcycle journey of a father and son through the American Northwest, the novel is woven into a philosophical discovery of the true concept of Quality, something architects are constantly battling with. Is quality reached through perception, or rationality? Does it emerge from material properties; form; the designer? Pirsig begins to draw his own conclusions about quality and its necessity for a personal identification and relationship between creator and creation. In other words, quality can’t be faked, just as genuine investment can’t be faked. “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” doesn’t just take you along on an exciting story; it will cause you to think deeper about what Quality really means to you, and in turn, to your architecture.
Roy pays intense attention (as its title suggests) to the small things in life, but more importantly, how they connect to the bigger things. This understanding of the deep relationship between details and context is surely influenced by her education at The School of Planning and Architecture in Delhi, also contributing to her decisions on structure and space in the novel. As Roy explains, “The stories you love the most are the stories you already know… structurally as an architect, you don’t start designing a house with the entrance and end with the exit. There was a layered structure, narrative, that in itself was a challenge.” This cyclical thinking results in a textured, wholesome plot that through words aims to materialise the intangible, creating her own language through which to process the world. Hopefully it will inspire you to do the same.
“The Little Prince” is known for looking beyond the world at first glance, made obvious on the first few pages, where “the grown-ups” mistake a drawing of “a boa constrictor digesting an elephant” for a hat. Saint-Exupéry takes you back to the beauty and wonder of being a child, and the power of emotions that can come with certain experiences. It’s a short read in comparison to the rest of the books on this list, but is successful in reminding us of what’s important to people, relationships, a healthy psyche, and what we should be contributing to all of this. “The Little Prince” encourages you to “think outside the box,” or rather, “think outside the hat” and re-embodies the fascination with the world that is sometimes diluted with age.
Sebald constructs a story that revolves around the creation of identity through memory, born from the relationship between Austerlitz and the narrator that arises from their common interests in history and architecture. Hence, it’s not only the descriptions of memory, place and identity that are moving and complex, but also the descriptions of architectural spaces with images and illustrations to match. The novel is a tour through elements of architectural history with a personal story, making it informative as well as engaging.
A take on Rand’s ideal moral person is manifested in her depiction of architect Howard Roark, a man beyond corruption’s reach. It is a novel fighting for integrity and honesty, and against conformity and prestige. Whether one agrees with Rand’s philosophy of morality or not, “The Fountainhead” forces you to think deeply about the honesty of your practice, and communicating your beliefs on what you think is of importance in this world, through architecture. It questions everything about history, authority and tradition, in favour of uncompromising authenticity.
“A rose is a rose is a rose…” The layers that accumulate over a rose, an object, or a place over time working to shape something new is central to Ondaatje’s novel, where layers of time, place, history and culture slide over and around each other with immense fluidity. Following the narrative of a man whose identity and history is questionable, the relationship between space, memory and time is undeniable. These memories encapsulated within architecture are not only beautiful, but also thought-provoking from an architectural perspective. How do we use history and time to give form? How does the mapping and organization of space, nations, borders and labels fit into architecture?
Imagining the unimaginable spaces, such as the infinite experienced in one point, Borges pushes the boundaries of what space, and consequently architecture, could be. Is it possible to create the experience of an endless space? Of a shifting space? The worlds that exist within “The Aleph and Other Stories” twist reality, perhaps beyond the point of what is possible, but open up to the potential evolution of our experiences and perceptions of space.
It’s the hardest part, right?
You’ve made the commitment to change your life for the better.
You’re unhappy with feeling like a prisoner in your body. You’re fed up with that voice at the back of your mind telling you you’re the biggest person in the room. You’re tired of looking in the mirror, because who you see is not who you are.
Enough is enough!
If you think about it, where you are today in life is a result of your current habits. So how do you go about changing all those habits that got you here? Just thinking about changing them is overwhelming. It’s going to take massive discipline and determination.
But what if I told you only needed to change one habit?
Just one to set the snowball in motion.
And that’s why I’m here. I would love to be the guy who helps you get started on your journey. Or maybe you’ve started your journey but feel lost. That’s ok too. One of the following habits might be the spark you need to rekindle your fire.
I marvel at people who can unlock their jaw to inhale huge chunks of food without chewing. It’s a great skill to have in today’s fast paced world.
Unfortunately, it comes at a price. Research shows that mindful eating can decrease your calorie intake by 12.57%. If you consume 2,000 calories a day, then that’s 250 calories. That’s equal to cutting out a candy bar! Every. Day.
So chew your food to a cream before swallowing.
Studies show that the fat, sugar, and salt in processed foods have the same addictive properties as cocaine or alcohol. So eating junk food in moderation is like telling an alcoholic they can drink in moderation. Rather go cold turkey. If you do stray from your diet, don’t beat yourself up. Just continue where you left off from your healthy regime.
Instead, work on your environment. Both physically and mentally. Participants in a study made healthier choices even though they weren’t motivated to change their eating habits. You can receive the same benefit by finding people who have what you want and hang out with them. Replace all tempting treats with healthier options like fruit and nuts. Replace sugary sodas with bottled water.
Successful people who reach their goal know exactly what they want to achieve. They don’t aim for vague goals like ‘I want to be healthy’ or ‘I want to lose weight’. Find a measurable benchmark and set your sights on your desired outcome. For you, it might be waist circumference, body weight, body fat percentage, BMI or dress size.
The first thing well-intentioned dieters cut out is processed sugar. But what about salt? Your body holds onto excess water to dilute high sodium levels in your body. You might have experienced that bloated feeling after a salty meal. Aim to keep your total sodium intake below 1,500mg a day. About half a teaspoon of salt.
In school did you aim for 100% test marks? And if you didn’t achieve it, you’d give up and say: ‘Ah screw it!’
Some folks apply this train of thought to their health goals. Rather aim for an 80 – 90% efficiency. For example, there are 21 main meals in a week. If you ate healthy for only 20 meals then you’ve achieved a 90% score. That’s an A+. Would you be happy with an A+ in school? I bet you would.
If you can not measure it, you can not manage it. If you can not manage it, you can not control it. If you can not control it, you can not improve it. Keeping a food journal is a useful tool if you’re stuck on a weight loss plateau. You can analyze your journal and find out where there’s room for improvement.
To make it even easier, use a journaling phone app and take pictures of everything you eat and drink. No writing required.
You’ve heard the popular adage, diet is 80% of weight loss. And it rings true. It’s going to be a tough road to losing weight if your diet isn’t healthy. So instead of working out longer and harder, rather focus on your diet.
Doesn’t matter what diet you’re following, most of them give the green light for green veggies. Experiment, tweak and find out creative ways to sneak in more veggies into your meals.
See Also: Lose More Weight with these 14 Super Foods That Boost Your Metabolism
To get to the top of the health mountain, you may have to climb a few hundred stairs. It’s only natural to worry about the daunting journey ahead of you.
But I want you to forget about stair #497 or whatever. It’s not important now.
It will be someday, but not now. Rather focus on the stair in front of you. Because no matter where you are in your journey, there’s always just that one step in front of you.
Take it slow, steady and one step at a time. The last thing you want to happen is to get overwhelmed and quit.
That one step might mean solidifying only one healthy habit a week. That one step might mean packing a healthy lunch for work. That one step might mean picking the smallest habit that’s most attainable. Making the first habit so easy, you can’t say no.
That’s how you gain momentum. That’s how you win the long game.
Your highest priority is to get through today. That’s it. Don’t worry about what tomorrow might bring. Just get through today.
There`s only here. There`s only now. There’s no other day but today. So, what are you going to do today?
See Also: 4 Reasons You’re Sabotaging Your Weight Loss Results
The post 8 Bad Food Habits That are Sabotaging Your Weight Loss Goals appeared first on Dumb Little Man.
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Note : the Blue light that you see in the middle is form the Fun fair on the Dam .. . It was my lucky evening with the clouds, fun fair for the extra light and almost no wind for the reflection 😉
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Sig Nordal 