The Beginning of The Affair

"We treat space somewhat the way we treat sex. It is there but we don’t talk about it." 

~Edward T. Hall, The Silent Language

My fascination with the notion of space began when I was a freshman in university, attending a lecture on Geographic Information System. Yes, you got that right. It was a pretty technical module about recording and processing spatial information using computer software like ArcGIS and stuff, but that is not what I want to talk about. On our first lecture, the lecturer asked the class a question, "Who can tell me what is the difference between space and place?"

Silence befell the class.

He then answered his own question by explaining that space is the physical existence of an area, or a volume - on this earth or anywhere - whereas a place is a space that has a subjective meaning attached to it. He gave the example of a coffee shop where one used to enjoy hanging out with a friend over a cup of coffee everyday. One day, the friend left town. Afterwards, when one visits the same coffee shop for lunch alone, the physical space of the coffee shop is still the same. However, it no longer feels like the same place it used to be because of the people and the memories associated with that particular space.

That particular lecturer was not exactly the best speaker in the world, but the concept that he introduced was new to me and it has intrigued me ever since.

 "Whatever space and time mean, place and occasion mean more. For space in the image of man is place, and time in the image of man is occasion."

~Aldo van Eyck

If, as van Eyck pointed out, space is a mere objectification of a point, an area or a volume without its relation to man, why is space so important to me? What is space actually? Why would anybody care about space? Why the need to talk about space?

 Well, I cannot answer all those questions right now, but we can start from Edward T. Hall's quote provided above. Indeed, the notion of space have been placed in this mystification in the same way that sex had in the past (or even now, in more conservative societies). It exists, it is everywhere and it is essential, yet nobody ever feels the need to talk about it. If you find someone talking about 'space', he/she is most probably either an architect or a geographer (and, no, I am neither). Okay, so nobody talks about space, and it exists, but why is it worth talking about, anyway?

My answer is, if the latest TV drama series or the who-is-dating-whom in the neighbourhood are worth talking about, 'space' is certainly worth talking about. Moreover, if you hadn't the slightest bit of interest in 'space', you wouldn't have been reading up to this point. Space matters because it is a factor often overlooked in the way we interact with people, buildings, objects and even with ourselves. Space can often be the invisible hand that makes or break your date or your business deals, makes your stay in the waiting room torturous or pleasant, and so on. We experience space in an exquisitely subtle manner. Space does not cry for attention, yet, once we are aware of it, it cannot be 'unseen'. That is why as I involve myself with the notion of space deeper, I notice its presence more and more, and the affair just gets more and more fascinating.

This blog will, therefore, be dedicated to my thoughts, opinions, questions and expressions with respect to my struggle in learning the language of space, paying specific attention to urban spaces. I chose urban spaces for the simple reason that I have been living my entire life in urban settings. Several different urban settings, yet urban anyways.

Happy reading!