AH
A. Hagen
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The voice of the water
Searching for the Sublime in the Biesbosch
This thesis explores the relationship between architecture and water in the Netherlands, focusing on how architecture can enhance the sublime experience of water in the Biesbosch. The concluding words of H. Marsman’s poem “Memory of Holland” – "And in all the regions, the voice of the water is dreaded and heard" – express the Dutch mentality towards water as a continuous battle. While the construction of the Deltaworks and the transformation of wetlands into polders may seem to show the victory of this battle, it raises the question: should we continue to adopt such a violent attitude towards water? Throughout history, water has been depicted in literature, art, and folklore not only as a destructive force but also as a source of life, imagination, and renewal. This duality aligns with the experience of the Sublime: a powerful tension Between awe and fear, urging reflection on our place within the greater natural world, while offering the possibility of spiritual engagement beyond institutionalized religion. This research addresses how architecture can create a meaningful relationship with water by examining Dutch attitudes towards water, exploring artworks and literature, and analysing the physical experience of water through fieldwork, mapping, and the study of natural processes. It also investigates water-related architectural case studies to understand how built environments can reflect and enhance the sublime qualities of water. The findings suggest that sublime architecture should embrace natural processes, acknowledging the frightening and discomforting aspects they may evoke. To deeply engage visitors, architecture should both harmonize with and challenge existing perceptions of self and place. By doing so, the dual nature of water can shift from a source of fear to one of sublime reflection.
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This thesis explores the relationship between architecture and water in the Netherlands, focusing on how architecture can enhance the sublime experience of water in the Biesbosch. The concluding words of H. Marsman’s poem “Memory of Holland” – "And in all the regions, the voice of the water is dreaded and heard" – express the Dutch mentality towards water as a continuous battle. While the construction of the Deltaworks and the transformation of wetlands into polders may seem to show the victory of this battle, it raises the question: should we continue to adopt such a violent attitude towards water? Throughout history, water has been depicted in literature, art, and folklore not only as a destructive force but also as a source of life, imagination, and renewal. This duality aligns with the experience of the Sublime: a powerful tension Between awe and fear, urging reflection on our place within the greater natural world, while offering the possibility of spiritual engagement beyond institutionalized religion. This research addresses how architecture can create a meaningful relationship with water by examining Dutch attitudes towards water, exploring artworks and literature, and analysing the physical experience of water through fieldwork, mapping, and the study of natural processes. It also investigates water-related architectural case studies to understand how built environments can reflect and enhance the sublime qualities of water. The findings suggest that sublime architecture should embrace natural processes, acknowledging the frightening and discomforting aspects they may evoke. To deeply engage visitors, architecture should both harmonize with and challenge existing perceptions of self and place. By doing so, the dual nature of water can shift from a source of fear to one of sublime reflection.
Finding meaning in the profane
How libraries can evoke spiritual experiences
Religion is in decline and spirituality starts to take on a more prominent role instead. Although there are abundant religious spaces, this shift did not cause a development in architecture yet. Libraries have similar qualities to religious spaces, like the sense of community and the feeling of retreat, so it is interesting to research how this typology can support spirituality. The Ets Haim library is the oldest Jewish library in the world and was founded to rediscover the Jewish identity of converted Jews who fled Spain and Portugal. This study aims to dissect the palimpsest of this library for a better understanding of the physical representation of spirituality by answering the question: How does Ets Haim Library support the notion of spirituality? There has been ample of research that addresses the impact of architecture on a transcending experience. Elements like urban context, light, geometry, materials and symbolism stand out as main influences, but it must be mentioned that spirituality is a subjective concept and it cannot be confined to a list of elements or a design manual. After a comprehensive analysis, it became clear that the Ets Haim supports spirituality by immaterial values like history, community and knowledge and material elements like geometry, light, colour and above that the book as a symbol.
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Religion is in decline and spirituality starts to take on a more prominent role instead. Although there are abundant religious spaces, this shift did not cause a development in architecture yet. Libraries have similar qualities to religious spaces, like the sense of community and the feeling of retreat, so it is interesting to research how this typology can support spirituality. The Ets Haim library is the oldest Jewish library in the world and was founded to rediscover the Jewish identity of converted Jews who fled Spain and Portugal. This study aims to dissect the palimpsest of this library for a better understanding of the physical representation of spirituality by answering the question: How does Ets Haim Library support the notion of spirituality? There has been ample of research that addresses the impact of architecture on a transcending experience. Elements like urban context, light, geometry, materials and symbolism stand out as main influences, but it must be mentioned that spirituality is a subjective concept and it cannot be confined to a list of elements or a design manual. After a comprehensive analysis, it became clear that the Ets Haim supports spirituality by immaterial values like history, community and knowledge and material elements like geometry, light, colour and above that the book as a symbol.