BenText part 1: spacing the diagram ie to place at intervals UseS part 2: placing the diagram ie to put in a particular place TypeS part 3: pacing the diagram ie rate of movement or progress WithouT part 4: astral travel displacing space ObE part 5: peter EisenmaN cities of artificial excavation (see AffectiveSpace)

part 5: peter eisenman CCA exhibition cities of artificial excavation affective space

An architecture that ‘moves’ is an architecture that transcends its own body - even if only by implication. Current thinking is that it is not yet feasible to move or animate a building, so much of today’s art and architecture is looking at ways to animate or affect the body within three dimensional space.
Eisenman used two techniques to affect the viewers of this exhibition, with the hope of snapping them out of their normal/ expected attitude toward exhibitions. A screen is placed between the viewer and the exhibited work, and has slots cut out of it to enable the work to be viewed. Instead of placing the viewing slots at the expected height (eye level), some slots are positioned just above or below this height, providing the opportunity for the visitor to "get it". No signage exists to tell them.

The other technique is a little more obvious. The openings are placed at eye level, although there is an intrusive horizontal band in the middle of the opening right at eye level. To view the work, a viewer would need to peer over the band or else bend down and look under it.

While being moved or affected by architecture is an empowering experience, could there be a possibility of enhancing this feeling of empowerment by being able to affect the architecture as a user/inhabitant/ visitor? The experiences at the Deep Space exhibition at Federation Square may point the way.

more to come............