On the pursuit of the tangible

The world’s physical architecture—its buildings, rooms, and public spaces—has always been a reflection of and response to the society and culture of the time. The same is true with how we design our lives, which is why I’ve been reflecting on this question: how is the architecture of my life a response to the architecture of modern society? In 2023 I found myself subscribing to physical magazines full of essays and photographs—ones that would arrive at our house, through our mailbox, and onto our dining room floor with a thud. The feel of the paper, the look of the black ink, the sound of a crisp page represented an almost subversive act. The relentless pace and fleeting nature of content online make the whole experience of absorbing digital content feel less spacious, more hurried, vulnerable at any moment to an unwanted distraction or impulse. I’m noticing that I’m architecting a life defined increasingly by tangible and physical experiences because so much of a life spent on devices and screens is defined by intangible, ephemeral ones.