Pattern languages in seminary buildings

life at luthertwo buildings, compared

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Living or dead zones

A task is offered: choose a place that is alive,

and a place that is deadening, on your campus.


what does this mean?

difficult to choose at Lutherworking off the Alexander categories

chose to contrast two buildings


Alexander:

pattern of events that happen in a particular space lends the quality of life

to that building


alexander:

a specific pattern is alive when it lets inner forces loose, and sets us free; but when forces are locked in inner conflict

a space becomes “dead”


elements of a seminary

entrance waysgathering places

worship/prayer placeslearning placeseating places


And amenities:

art/plantsstairs/elevators

bathroomscoat racks, signage

public phonesparking spaces/transportation


two buildings

Olson Campus CenterGullixson Hall


why these?

both are multi-purpose buildingsboth are public buildings


Olson Campus Center


Gullixson Hall


entrance: OCC accessible, nestled into nature, sheltered walkway, automatic doors, multiple entry points, staff person welcome


Entrance: Gullixson

inaccessible, one main entrance (second entrance at basement level), steep opening staircase, no reception person


gathering places: OCC

narthex, reception, cafe entrance, chapel, outside eating spaces, benches


gathering spaces:Gullixson

classrooms (carefully controlled), entrance seating space few people use; exception is library reading room (but must be quiet in use)


worship/prayer:OCC

two chapels (main Chapel of the Incarnation, smaller meditation chapel), multiple places to be quiet for prayer


worship/prayer:Gullixson

no designated space for prayer or worship; chapel used to be what is now the rare book room (a room that is always locked)


learning/teaching:OCC

multiple classrooms (small, medium, large auditorium of chapel)


learning/teaching:Gullixson

several classrooms (although controlled through closed doors), library reading room, student computer lab


library/book spaces:Occ

Primary book space here is the bookstore (used by people from all over the Cities)


library/book spaces:Gullixson

Library is found here and is open to the public with free wifi, although it’s a pretty inaccessible


eating places:OCC

Cafeteria is in this building, and there are several indoor and outdoor gathering places to eat


eating places:Gullixson

As the library building, food is not really allowed, although students will sometimes sponsor events, and the staff lounge kitchen is here; there are also vending machines


art and/or plants:OCC

There are live plants throughout the building, and frequent art installations.


art and/or plants:Gullixson

I could only find one living plant (in the faculty support services office). There are many portraits on the walls, and a few other pieces of art.


stairs/elevators:OCC

All of the staircases are openly visible, ramped, and part of the aesthetic of the building. The elevator reaches all floors easily.


stairs/elevators:Gullixson

There is one main staircase, all the others are “hidden” or “back” staircase. There is one elevator that requires a staffperson to use, and only reaches some floors.


bathrooms:OCC

There are women’s and men’s bathrooms on all three levels of the OCC. All of them are accessible.


bathrooms:Gullixson

There are bathrooms in the basement and on the second and third floors of the building. The bathrooms are not handicapped accessible.


coatracks/signage:OCC

There is a large cloak room. Signage is consistent throughout the building.


coatracks/signage:Gullixson

The coatrack is no longer used for coats. Signage is often printed on paper and posted. There is only one main bulletin board.


public phones:OCC

There is one free public phone available for use in the OCC. (There is also free public wifi throughout the building.)


public phones:Gullixson

There are two public phones available for free: one in the faculty mailroom, and one by the elevator door in the basement.


parking:OCC

There is a large lot immediately adjacent to the OCC.


parking:Gullixson

There is a lot that serves three buildings down the hill from Gullixson.


Alive or dead?

OCC clearly has more of the elements identified

Gullixson is missing some, and has problems with others

But is that the answer to the question?


Pattern languages

Alexander speaks of “alive” as a relationship between ourselves and our

surroundingsWe can see some of that relationship in

repeating patternsWhat patterns do we see?


occ patterns non-right angles


OCC patterns circles


occ patterns curves


Gullixson patterns repeating rectangles


gullixson patterns angle grids


gullixson patterns closed doors


pattern languages

the pattern language of Gullixson is that of a fortress: steady, stable,

predictablethe pattern language of the OCC is

dynamic, organic, flowing


larger context

perhaps it is worth considering their surrounding context


From overhead:OCC

several sections, nestled into the landscape like repeating puzzle pieces, diagonally connected to surroundings


From overhead:OCC

several sections, nestled into the landscape like repeating puzzle pieces, diagonally connected to surroundings


from overhead:Gullixson

boxes into boxes, a fortress that is surrounded by land, not much connecting pathway


from overhead:Gullixson

boxes into boxes, a fortress that is surrounded by land, not much connecting pathway


together in context in some ways OCC reaches towards Gullixson, and away, while Gullixson is like a lower right hand corner anchor


together in context in some ways OCC reaches towards Gullixson, and away, while Gullixson is like a lower right hand corner anchor


whole campus overview

OCC lies at the center of the entire campus, and is generally aligned with the surrounding diagonals; Gullixson is at the lower edge








conclusions

both buildings are open to the public, but the OCC is inviting while Gullixson

is forbiddingLuther is in the middle of engaging

many internal contradictions


conclusions

both buildings are alive in some ways, but clearly Gullixson faces more

internal contradictions


contradictions the forces that oppose each other are stability and impermanence, solidity and decay; solidity is clear on the outside, while the decay is evident internally


Alive or deadening?

For now I’d argue that of the two buildings, Gullixson is the more

deadening -- largely because of these internal contradictions, these internal

forces at odds with each other.


I think a primary contradiction exists between Luther’s emerging missional goals, and its tradition of being a refuge for some

immigrants. until that contradiction is resolved Gullixson, at least, remains full

of deadening zones.


This presentation was prepared as an assignment for the Lexington Seminar Mentors Program.

It draws on ideas from Christopher Alexander’s “The Timeless Way of building”

and is also inspired by Gaston Bachelard’s “The Poetics of space”

For more information, contact Mary Hesswww.luthersem.edu/mhess


Education

Pattern languages in seminary buildings