Origins

Within this chaotic collection of thoughts and idle reflections is a large part of me. I am excited to be a part of the human condition as I have come to understand my place in it. Curiosity is a beautiful thing and I hope you enjoy reading from all the thoughts I’ve accumulated in this collection so far. I have arranged every kind of perspective that I consider when addressing Architecture, embodied in these reflections are essentially what I think it means to be an architect. I am trying to still establish how, why and when each of these diverse sets of opinions can be most effectively integrated into the design and critical analysis of architecture, architectural academia, the practice of architecture and the general enabling of collaboration in the field of architecture. The problem in these reflections lies in their synthesizing.

View of Pittsburgh from Flagstaff Hill taken by Sean McGadden

There is commentary through all of these research explorations that begins to question the starchitect, development, money, legislation, practice, construction, aesthetics. The conclusions drawn from organizing these reflections together have merit. Of which I am still unsure of what that merit is.

Outside of all the distractions and attractions that exist today, naturally, your inner most thoughts will always be the driving force behind your actions. Many people that I’ve had the pleasure of meeting, are sometimes afraid of what their thoughts really say about themselves and others. For the most part it’s because they are afraid of who they might really be. Humans are scary things, nobody fully understands any of them, nor do we have the time and patience to learn about every single culture and person. However, I believe being open about truths you have yet to discover and being available to love others is what connecting with the world is about.

photos by Sean McGadden

Accepting your own truths as well as your faults is by far the hardest thing to do. I am nearing 23 years of age and have spent my life questioning everything. All the good and all the bad. A constant, in some form or another, has been the act of creation. I think as humans, our purest acts of “goodness” are through creation. Even when someone understands this power of creation for acts of evil, needless to say, those evil acts are amongst the most evil. Despite all the war, the killing, the racism and the economic or political issues; creation, with ethical intent, is what we can do to make the world a kinder, more beautiful place. In all the archives of human existence we have understood ourselves through three things; Time, Love and Creation. Inception of many religions of old civilizations can be generalized as a way that people structured life to further understand people. Using only Time as a constant, Love as variable (with or without it) and Creation as a focus, people have progressed from sticks and stones to erecting towers in the sky with inches between their facades.

Exchange exhibition at Carnegie Mellon School of Architecture, photo by Sean McGadden

I am an architecture student who has gained an understanding of people and the world as well as expressed myself individually through the process of design, planning and construction. There are countless ways to express yourself; painting, drawing, poetry, photography, filmmaking, and many more with the increasing diversity of analog and digital media. Nearly all fields have been changed through technology and people are no exception. In my pursuits I have personally struggled with how my impact in the field of architecture could help humanity. It is a big question to have. There have been great figures in history who made their mark on cultures, economies, policies and societies. The real question is how do you get there? How does one help others to reach their own truths through humanity's already established answers without provoking them or forcing them under one's own views? I've found I won’t forget those big dreams and the real focus is making consistent progress on a daily basis toward being the best I can be. In short, creation and specifically my writing has been the clearest way for me to continue my self-education. Aside from any models, drawings, paintings, photos or videos I’ve seen or made; the books I’ve read have made the most impact on me.

Words have power although some try to dilute this. Seeing and making words are our original acts of creation. We realized our minds were far too complex to keep everything inside of them. Sharing writings and thoughts is the past, present and future. Words give people hope and they also tear them down. A mere painting hung on a wall, would never hold such power over a person. A building you walk through only has you within its grasp for the time you spend within its walls. A video has your attention for its duration. No other medium can provoke further thought like a series of poems or a collection of novels. Words are living and breathing like humans. They evolve through slang and die away like everything does one day. Our names have meaning to us because our speeches, poems, novels, and words create the foundation for the castles that we are.

If there was a way

To tell you,

How I really think

and feel about everything

I would do it

This second

Without delay.

Within the barrier:

all that is verbose and linguistic;

Exists a thickening fog,

impassable to the most golden tongues.

A resting uncertainty

Soaks this war torn

Battlefield, cold and dry

Through the simple exchange,

Between brain and lips.

We idle in conflicted realities

never coming to terms with the odds.

Because it is softer there

In the warm even sided womb,

Of perhaps, or what if, or maybe.

Forgive me,

For the times I cannot express

How I am weak, and how I am strong

I need you to remind me of this.

In the look from across a room

There is a light, between a blink

That can hold our hands

In the pursuit:

Our infinite abilities.

“If I try to be you, I will never be the best you that you could be.”

In this life do not waste time being someone you’re not. If you do not yet know, spend the time and energy to really figure it out because you’ll thank yourself you did it sooner than later. Once you do this, find out what the best you, is the best at doing. Success will follow these passions and acknowledge the trials. Everyone has obstacles to overcome, let them be obstacles to jump over, and not barriers that are impassable. Make your mark and be a leader not a follower, there are too few leaders in this world and too many people willing to accept what is truth as truth. We did not fly to the moon and back and dive into the depths of the oceans listening to those who said it was impossible. Travel is faster than ever, flight is a staple when it was once a dream. Imagine that! It is true we are slowly leaving our youth and becoming members of an adult real world. But it is not a truth that we must lose the spark of eagerness, curiosity and love for the world that we held on to in our youth. I think keeping your dreams alive no matter how silly is the key to happiness. As I said before, I don’t know if I really know anything yet, but I know a little. I think happiness is the most important thing in life. How can you imagine a dream that you have today as a possible constant in life in only 10-20 years or even sooner? At the click of a button any experience or item is at the palm of our hands. We should not waste our youth, our mid years and our old age by neglecting to use these amazing things for the best reasons. Find yourself and use that knowledge to help others find themselves. We as people need the best of everyone to deter evil and promote love. You want to make a difference as I do? Do you then, it’s all a matter of perspective. Create something good and worthwhile and lasting, whatever it may be.

We only have such limited time to accomplish what we want. And in order to address this thought I want to point you toward a prevalent figure in popular culture and politics today. His name is Kanye West. He has risen in fame for his impacts in, of course, music, but also fashion, popular opinion and politics. His newest album is the continuation of a narrative about the ups and downs of life. Starting originally with College Dropout all the way through his My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and up to The Life of Pablo. In all of these he is not only able to pinpoint popular music but he also makes cultural commentaries on the state of America, what it means to be a celebrity as well as what it means to have a family when the public eye is constantly on him. He speaks about love, success, hardship, fame and family. In so many ways Kanye is more than just a musician. He has mentored people like Kid Cudi, Chance the Rapper and gave them prominence. In no other genre of music is the featuring of other famous artists more prevalent than in Hip Hop, R&B and Trap music. Kanye has built his voice off of countless inspirations and that discussion is for another essay. Regardless, it can be stated that Kanye has paved his own path in music that is unparalleled by any other artist. There are connections and similarities but none that take his arrogance, confidence and success to such measures as through his music.