THREE DIMENSIONAL SOUL

Bernhard Hoetger was a sculptor who also designed buildings. In 1928, he wrote. “We want no inhibitions and checks by recipes, we want the free spirit to find its own laws. The creative moment demands…synthesis. And this synthesis is not the sum of petty and doubtful details, but the outcome of an intuitive frenzy” “…attainment of an eloquent and final form often calls for a detour via superfluity.” His use of that last word shows that he believes in the high value of the creative act.

He goes on, “We want no violation of our creative feeling, not even by architecture, we want to live our life. The wealth of the spirit shall glow, all productive possibilities shall blossom, unconcerned about ‘objectivity’. Give form to the inner vigor, that cold souls may become warm.”

As I re-read Hoetger’s prose, I simply do not see representational drawing. “Intuitive frenzy” and “find its own laws” mandates solving problems holistically. Transparency yields an unconcern for objectivity and a search for a three dimensional soul.

A tall order for architecture. A tall order for architects and designers. Yet this focus on an inner soul for the basis of form is certainly a key starting point. This also demands a holistic understanding of the building; you cannot understand soul in two dimensions. Soul requires three dimensions at least.