The Inner Studio - Riverside Architectural Press

PART THREE | INNER RESOURCES
posture. Your body needs to allow design decisions to move
through it. When I was starting out I worked for a crusty old architect
who would tell us that we were holding our pencils too tightly
when our work lacked resourcefulness. It is true that a fist can not
hold or receive anything. Relax into problem solving by allowing
an awareness of your physical posture, your balance, and your
center of gravity into your work.
A Checklist to Bring to Body-Centered Design
Let heaviness be there and let lightness be present.
Let any feeling of constriction, knots, or tensions be rendered
into form.
Gently become aware of your breathing.
Is there a difference between the tension on the surface of your
body and the tension inside your body? Can you draw an
image of this?
When you draw a space or an artifact, draw its user in a way
that includes his or her energetic body–not just a generic
body–and gives the body a more living reality.
Imagine an indoor place that would encourage body-centered
awareness.
Imagine an outdoor place that would encourage body-centered
awareness.
As you work, check in with your body. Does the work you are
doing agree with your body? Does it make you feel good? Some
people report being energized or excited by an image. We all have
had such experiences of wellbeing. Where are you now in relation
to that feeling? How does your body feel right now?
The Furniture of George Nakashima
Browsing through a favorite bookstore one evening, I came across
a stack of remaindered books on sale. From deep in the pile I
pulled out a dark cover, The Furniture of George Nakashima. I
flipped through a few pages and felt a surge of energy go through
me. The price was $1.99; I bought it. When I got home I knew I
had been searching for this book for a long time. Years later, while
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