How might Pallasmaa's insights about the nature of our interactions Essay

How might Pallasmaa's insights about the nature of our interactions with place help us to conceptualize the complex ecosystems d - Essay Example However, recent studies have shown that the practice of establishing national parks and other protected areas meant to conserve wildlife have not really been beneficial. The reason behind this is that the design of the effort itself takes into consideration the interests of humans more than that of the animals, the supposed beneficiaries. Caroline Fraser’s article Rewilding North America provides a detailed discussion on the problem. It profoundly describes the inadequacies of the national park and protected area systems that exist in the United States in Canada. It also defines the challenges that confront conservationists and the governments of the two countries as they try to seek the most effective ways of protecting the remaining wildlife species in North America. Juhani Pallasmaa’s Architecture of the Senses, on the other hand, may be dealing with how architects tend to disregard the basic human senses as they try to create infrastructure for the use of people. Ho wever, in deriving the basic principles from the architectural theories pointed out in his book, it is clear that Fraser’s key concerns can be addressed by Pallasmaa’s insights. ... When the appreciation of a problem is one-sided or when it does not consider the other angles that may be just as important as that which have been treated, it is only expected that the solutions formulated are those that are bound to fail. In his discussion, Pallasmaa points out that architecture sets limits as to what space man can exclusively use. He explains that â€Å"as a consequence of (the) interdependence of space and time, the dialectics of external and internal space, physical and spiritual, material and mental, unconscious and conscious priorities concerning the senses as well as their relative roles and interactions, have an essential impact on the nature of the arts and architecture.† (Pallasmaa 284) This statement clearly describes that the process of creating a good architectural design is only possible if the architect actually touches base with all the information gathered by using the five senses. If he employs only one of the senses, he is sure to disregard the interdependence of things. It is the issue of interdependence that has also been forgotten when a number of biologists were not able to see the importance of connected ecosystems in order for wildlife to flourish under the most normal natural conditions. Fraser points out that â€Å"many biologists were quick to agree that when it comes to preserving ecosystems, large is better than small, connected is better than isolated, and whole is better than fragmented... some were resistant, arguing against a rush to judgment, suggesting that protected areas in the real worlds might prove vastly more complex, each with unique characteristics that might affect the outcome.† (115) In this statement, Fraser was referring