THE IMPOSSIBLE NECESSETY

project 1: mapping the edge

“May Contain Nudity”- a personal story on the edge of an accident -

Benjamin Barth, BAS 2009

MICRO SCALE: the fracture

process

THE LEG FRACTURE

a broken linear•a physical edge, where my body has surrendered•consequences `a trillion times´ its physical size•

torsion fracture - bone twisted apart•fracturerunslikeaspiralonthebone’slongaxis•

MACRO SCALE: the hospi tal of Bergen

HAUKELAND HOSPITAL

micro cosmos of Bergen a house of birth, death & all •kinds of illnesses in a lifespanbiggest hospital in Norway•10 000 visitors per day•the single largest employer in Bergen•built on the ideals of modernism (effectiveness)•

an architectural responce for a series of functions•a system designed to make itself `invisible´ in society •

SCALE: the relat ions between pat ient & a hospi tal

`Bar-coded´

WHERE IS MY `EDGE´ ?

Somewhere in between the fracture & the hospital, & within the boundries of

physical • limitations (beeing paralyzed)social • relations (letting go of personal control)

AT THE HOSPITAL

Surroundings adapted to immobility•Needs are provided by doctors & nurses•

SCALE: the relat ions between pat ient & hospi tal

perso

nal con

toldo

ctor

s, n

urse

s, p

or t

ers

& m

edic

ines

occat ional v is i t

s by fa

mi ly &

frie

nds

LIFE AT THE HOSPITAL

Organized surroundings adapted to immobility•Basic needs are provided by doctors & nurses•Regurarely prepared meals•Scheduled routines (e.g. medicines every 6th hour)•

SCALE: the relat ions between pat ient & social network

per sona l m

anagmen

t &

co

n to

l

LIFE AT HOME

Surroundings NOT adapted to immobility•Needs are provided either by • struggle or help from others

Social network make out sporadic interventions, like friends taking turn in prepaing meals •Series of accidental happenings, dependent on different social relations•Eachdaydifferenttoeachother(hence,manypositiveexperiencesdespitelackofcontrol...)•

spora

dic in i t ia

t ive & help from social network

THE EDGE I: border l ine of paral izat ion & funct ion

PRIM

O P

ROJE

CT

MED

IO P

ROJE

CT

ULT

IMO

PRO

JECT

HOW TO GET WELL? - FIRST PERSONAL PROBLEM:

wanting to get well fast = struggeling •actively to move • out of the (unpleasant) paralyzed stateactions based on static parameters (stubborness/willf/feeling of control)•

THE EDGE II: border l ine of consciousness

PRIM

O P

ROJE

CT

MED

IO P

ROJE

CT

ULT

IMO

PRO

JECT

HOW TO GET WELL? - SECOND PERSONAL PROBLEM:

lack of control is • not necessarely a negative thing...is it possible to • return to the previous state for further studies?

(e.g. go back to hospital after getting well)

situationinflux•newexaminationsofthepersonalconsciousness•

THE EDGE III: borderline of unconfortable choices

` l i ne of surrender´

PRIM

O P

ROJE

CT

MED

IO P

ROJE

CT

ULT

IMO

PRO

JECT

HOW TO GET WELL? - FINAL PERSPECTIVE:

Ifindthataccidentalsituationsleadtonew,interestingperspectives•as the `the line of surrender´ changes, I progressively learn• more about myself & my surroundingslevel of comfort is proportional opposite with loosing control (!)•the more I trust the uncontrolled, my body rests more & recovers faster•my personal edge • is the the `line of surrender´

MAPPING the mindscape

THE `LINE OF SURRENDER´:

mapping degree of comfort/discomfort of all •personal choices for one week (inner circle), injuxtapositiontooutcome (outercircle)

Comfort

Discomfort

“1. Of, or relating to a transitional or initial stage of a process

2. Occupying a position at, or on both sides of, a boundry or threshold

A LIMINAL PHASE

Liminal / l i m i n æ l /

`Liminality´ may also characterize the result of a personal crisis:

A psychological, neurological, or metaphysical subjective, conscious state of •being on the “threshold” of or between two different existential planes

Ariteofpassagethatmarksachangeinaperson’ssocialstatus•

Characterized by ambiguity, openness, and indeterminacy•

One’ssenseofidentitydissolvestosomeextent,bringingaboutdisorientation•

Normal limits to thought, self-understanding, and behavior are relaxed •- a situation which can lead to new perspectives

LOGO of liminality

A SCAR

symbol of a transitional period•manifistatingsuddenexperiences(notplanned)•may represent new ideas other than the obvious•may also apply for architecture & urbanism•

THE EDGE: a map of the liminal phase