Illusions, Dreams, Optimism

Architecture, as a human-centric topic, interweaves many territories of study besides the basic skills of design. Architect, as a “chief of crafts”, suppose to think and perceive the world collectively with critical thinking on humanity subjects to serve an ultimate goal of benefiting mankind. I wondered how the collective knowledge in other fields of study would inspire and help construct my critical thinking on the methodology of designing architecture. Thinking of architecture as an art genre, it contains a deep layering in cultural narratives. I would see it as a habitat for humanity, a poetic motif, and a mnemonic attribute. Architect’s imagination addresses contemporary concerns and also questions current paradigms and construct possibilities for the future. I conclude my research with three keywords, illusions, dreams, and optimism. Being an architect is about staying optimistic. As architecture lives a long life, our imaginations for human inhabitation may not find its agency immediately to achieve accomplishments, but any potentiality worth a voice. Society raises complex issues on hierarchy, human rights, cultural conflicts, and the standards for righteousness is everchanging. Some would argue that architecture has its limitations to solve problems since it is deeply rooted in this circumstance itself, and the consequences after a built piece may not fall into our original plans. However, as scholars, every practice has its meanings and pave a path of archives to lead future generations to take a step forward. Then this optimism brings illusions and dreams of what architecture could be, the sweet dreams of escaping problematic reality and a mirage of what could be a better solution to the way we live. I see my projects as prototypes of statements that derive from the current situation and result in a series of possible solutions that may not merely stay in a contemporary context. They are statements or formulas that bring out questions and welcomes alternative factors to complete an answer