ECO LIVING SCHOOL
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| The latest Sheltermaker mag can be viewed here |
| LIVING ARCHITECTURE CENTRE |
| The Living Architecture Centre is a school of vernacular architecture operated by me, Peter Cowman. I am an architect, an eco-builder, a writer and a teacher, delivering courses internationally.
I was born in Ireland and am currently living and working in Australia. |
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| The LAC provides Courses & Workshops on the creation of affordable, low-impact buildings in which to live life to the full. |
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| Living Architecture articulates the vital link which exists between architecture and life. This synthesis of abstract and physical considerations has shown itself in practice to be an ideal means to address many of the demands of modern life, particularly the architecture of the places in which we live. |
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| The Living Architecture Centre offers a wide range of resources for those interested in achieving a sustainably way of life – Articles, Sheltermaker Magazine, LIVE & Distance Learning Courses, Talks, Workshops, Sheltermaker Theatre presentations and a Consultancy Service. |
| CONTACT THE LAC |
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| I have written extensively on this subject of Living Architecture and you can access many of these articles HERE |
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| I have a particular interest in creating homes free of mortgage debt: EconoSpaceMaking |
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| The LAC theme for 2011 is ‘Architecture & The Meaning of Life‘ |
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| You can learn how to create your own architecture in the Living Architecture Course |
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| The LAC also presents many LIVE Courses |
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| You can also sign up for Sheltermaker, the online magazine which is published every six weeks or so. |
| You can view video clips about Living Architecture HERE |
| Sheltermaker Theatre |
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| Sheltermaker Theatre is an educational/entertainment device being developed at the Living Architecture Centre. This facilitates exploration of the emotional aspects of architecture and a more direct engagement with people than is possible through pure teaching. |
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| CONTACT THE LIVING ARCHITECTURE CENTRE |
| All of the work at the Living Architecture Centre is carried out without grants or external supports. |
| If you find the information on this site useful consider ordering one of the Courses or make a donation to ensure this work can continue. |
| ARCHITECTURE & LIFE |
| Architecture encompasses all of the dimensions of the world as we know it: the 3 dimensions of space – length, breath and height – plus that most mysterious of dimensions, time. Such ‘spacetime’ encompasses the physical world and the invisible realm which characterises life. |
| The modern world devalues the invisible aspects of life and the instincts which allow us to interpret these. Because architecture allows us to engage with the 4 dimensions of the known world it is an invaluable tool in the quest to engage with life as it really is and to live our lives fully in that consciousness. |
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| The creation of architecture relies on two primary activities – design and construction. In the design process we articulate our abstract desires. These are then embodied in the building that is constructed in the physical world. |
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| When we wish to design sustainable buildings we must first express what this means to us before we can hope to ‘construct’ it in the physical world. To do this we must engage with the invisible dimensions of our lives – our feelings, our aspirations, our hopes, our imaginations, our dreams. |
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| We are natural sheltemakers. Millions of people worldwide still build their own homes. Knowledge of how to do this is in our genes. We simply need to tap into this knowing in order to re-engage with the process of sheltermaking. |
| Generally, architecture is presented as being complex when, in fact, it can be very simple – literally four walls and a roof. It is life which is complicated and full of hidden meaning. When we accept this fact, and the nature of this invisibility, we can begin to distinguish between the visible and invisible aspects of buildings. This allows us to interpret the abstract nature of inner space as a reflection of our own ‘invisible’, or, inner selves. |
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| The Living Architecture process has emerged from the original Be Your Own Architect courses first held in 1989. These courses revealed the deep psychological engagement that results from direct involvement in the building design and construction process. This emotional engagement forms a vital link between architecture and life. |
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| By recognising the emotional dimension of architecture and by making it a vital part of the design and construction process, it becomes possible to unite the inner world of our imagination with the outer world in which we physically exist. Essentially, the interior of the building represents our emotional inner world, the vehicle of our meaningful progression through life, while the exterior forms the interface where inner and outer worlds meet. The emotional engagement made possible by such a living architecture allows one to forge a spiritual connection with the higher dimensions of life. |
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| Formal architecture began to abandon its spiritual dimension in the 18th century with the predominance of rational thinking and the growth of the Industrial Revolution. Domestic architecture was similarly affected with an abandonment of traditional sheltermaking in favour of new utilitarian designs suited to the emerging industrial society. This Machine Age effectively deadened buildings, severing their links to the deeper process of life. Perceptions about architecture have changed as a result, to the point where the facades of buildings are now seen to represent the ‘architecture’ rather than the inner spaces and feelings which they enclose. |
| The loss suffered by the abandonment of traditional sheltermaking has been grievous. The Market Economy has ruthlessly exploited this loss by offering but a single way of obtaining shelter – by taking out a mortgage. The effect of this has been to lock people into a quagmire of credit and consumption from which there is no apparent escape. |
| The destructiveness of the Machine Age is thankfully now plain for all to see. Calls for change abound. More than anything it is the type of shelter we create that will allow such changes to be realised. By creating a ‘living architecture’ that nourishes us emotionally as well as physically we can begin the process of living sustainably. No one can do this for us. |
| Sustainability is not something that can simply be bought, it is a way of life, something we are drawn towards. Where it engages our emotions in this way we know that we are alive. That is the starting point on the path to ‘living one’s architecture’. The Living Architecture Course and EconoSpaceMaking articulate this process. |
| LIVING ARCHITECTURE DVD |
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| The Living Architecture Course |
This is really useful info, very inspirational for someone with an interest in this. Keep up the great work you are doing, thanks for the great post.
My friend emailed the link for http://www.livingarchitecturecentre.com/, smart reading, I can pass it along
Hi Alex
You can add comments directly from the website or submit an article for consideration for publication to; sheltermaker@gmail.com
Thanks
Peter
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